CHÂTEAU LAFON-ROCHET

2018 4ème Cru Classé Saint Estèphe

Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Sub-district Haut Médoc
Village Saint Estèphe
Classification 4ème Cru Classé
ABV 13.5%

64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc. A richly fruited, intense Lafon-Rochet that tops 14.5%. There's plenty of volume and power but it's not the freshest of the St Estephes at the moment and the structure is quite firm at present. This should come round and that deep compote of well ripened fruit will open up and shed some of that beef. Another release that will please fans of this ever consistent estate. Even if not as showy and immediately lovable as the impeccable 2015 and 2016 en primeur. Drinking range: 2025 - 2040 L&S (Apr 2019)


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The 2018 Lafon-Rochet has an intense bouquet of black and red fruit, touches of wild mint and incense. It is still a pretty and engaging nose, just as I found from barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, fine backbone and – what I really appreciate – superb precision and detail toward the saline finish. This is a classy, quite sophisticated Lafon-Rochet that deserves four or five years of cellaring. One of the best in recent years. Drinking range: 2024 - 2044 Rating: 93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Mar 2021)

The 2018 Lafon-Rochet is such a classy wine. Power and finesse meld together in this Saint-Estèphe that is gorgeous, right from the very first taste. Black cherry, herbs, leather, licorice and dried flowers all build in the glass. In 2018, Lafon-Rochet is richer and bolder than it usually is, and yet all the elements are so nicely balanced. I would give it a few years in the cellar to allow some of the baby fat to melt away. Drinking range: 2026 - 2043 Rating: 94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Mar 2021)

Blackberry and blueberry on the nose, as well as dark-chocolate, mineral and earthy undertones. It’s full-bodied with firm tannins. Fleshy and savory texture with layers. Flavorful finish and beautiful length. Lovely ripe fruit in the center palate. Try after 2025. Rating: 94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Feb 2021)

Château Lafon-Rochet

Saint Estèphe Quatrième cru 1855 A somewhat complicated history eventually placed the Rochet vineyard - so named due to its rocky soil - into the hands of the Lafon family in the early years of the 17th Century. The family owned the estate until 1895. It passed through several hands until Guy Tesseron, who's family had prospered in the Cognac business, bought the, now run-down, estate in the 1960's. Guy completely renovated Lafon-Rochet, even to the extent of demolishing all of the delapidated buildings and rebuilding a grand 18th Century style chateau, which was painted yellow to match the labels. Thus Lafon-Rochet are almost unique among Haut-Médoc châteaux in being built in the 20th Century. In the 1960's Château Lafon-Rochet's vineyards consisted of just 15ha of Merlot. Today, there are 41ha under vine, and at a more Médoc-like 54% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Grand Vin spends up to 20 months in wood (50% ish new). Sitting inland from Cos d'Estournel, facing across the Jalle de Brieul at Duhart Milon and Lafite, Lafon-Rochet has some very noble neighbours. The Tesseron family also own Château Pontet-Canet.

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