CHÂTEAU LAFON-ROCHET
2024 4ème Cru Classé Saint Estèphe
72 Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 Merlot, 3 Cabernet Franc: 40% new oak, 10% wooden casks & 10% concrete vats: 13% alc: 3.67 pH: 67 IPT: Harvested between 24 September and 9 October I enjoyed my romp around the wines from the Lorenzetti family portfolio, and as a long-term fan of Lafon-Rochet, having missed out on tasting a couple of vintages in the last few years, it was a joy to taste this delicious wine. The intention here is to bring more refinement and more definition to the wines, and this was achieved in 2024. While the perfume and front of the palate are bright, correct, and teasing, the main action happens as the violet and blackcurrant notes expand towards the finish, where the tannins cascade perfectly, ending in a classically dimensioned and perfectly tailored finale. This is an excellent vintage for Lafon-Rochet and another confident step forward for this superb property. Rating: 18+/20 QP Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2025)
In Bond
75cl bottles (wood case of 6)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
This is juicy, drawn out, balanced, elegant, showing lean black fruits laced with fennel and anis, plenty of slate tannins, just a little leafy on the finish. 3.67 pH. 40% new oak, highest proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon on record. Drinking range: 2030 - 2045 Rating: 91 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2025)
The 2024 Lafon-Rochet contains the highest amount of Cabernet Sauvignon (72%) in thirty years, matured in 40% new oak. This, again, has a rather light and straightforward bouquet. It is clean and delineated, though it does not deliver the same complexity as the previous two vintages. Fine tannins frame the cohesive palate, and the prudent use of oak (with 10% aged in concrete) proved to be an assiduous decision as it imparts elegance on the finish. Overall, this Lafon-Rochet doesn't possess the complexity of the best recent vintages, but is a capable and fresh Saint-Estèphe that should drink well for 15 years or more. Drinking range: 2029 - 2045 Rating: 89-91 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2025)
Understated aromas of minerals, white pepper, chalk, red cherries and grapefruit. Typical St.-Estephe structure, which is a little more severe and austere this year, with tight, chalky tannins toward the back of the palate. Lots of vibration. 72% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot and 3% cabernet franc. Rating: 92-93 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2025)
72 M 25 CS 3 CF 13% This is a lovely return to form for Lafon under its new ownership. Some inviting chalky and fresh notes to the aroma but none of the rustic edge of the last vintage. Great delicacy of tannin extraction and with blue fruit and a chalky violet touch. Good finish and depth. This has the lightness of the vintage, but in a classic and enjoyable way Rating: 92 Rod Smith MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2025)
The 2024 Lafon-Rochet is sleek, elegant and polished, as it so often is. Silky tannins and lifted floral overtones are immediately alluring. Soft but persistent, with fine balance, the 2024 has a lot to offer. Punchy red/purplish fruit, blood orange, spice and new leather are beautifully delineated. There's a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in this vintage, and yet it is the personality of site that speaks loudest. Lafon-Rochet is always a bit lithe. That quality is present in 2024, although a second sample showed more overt body. Tasted two times. Drinking range: 2029 - 2044 Rating: 92-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2025)
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.
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do contact our private client team via email or on 020 7018 0187.
Ordering
Prices are all in bond by the case size stated.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price is within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.
Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought-after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of email confirmation. Pre-orders are not binding if the release price is above your upper price band.
Invoices are all raised at the in bond price (excluding any duty and VAT) which will become payable at the prevailing rates when the wines arrive in the UK, should you wish to take duty paid delivery.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We regret we cannot accept credit cards for en primeur orders. We reserve the right to apply a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (at LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £500. Orders below this total will be charged an administration and handling fee of £16.50+ VAT when invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery of 2024 Bordeaux bought en primeur is expected during 2026. Delivery dates may vary as wines are shipped from Bordeaux at different times.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes). Immediate payment of invoices is then required by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option but please note that confirmed orders are still binding even if the final invoice has not yet been issued.
Please specify on your wishlist order form where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. If this is to a third-party bonded warehouse, please specify the relevant account details. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue a second invoice for duty and VAT at the prevailing rate when the wines are available for delivery.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the format you want. Many properties specify a standard case format, and may make additional charges for six-bottle cases, for example. We offer wood cases of six bottles as standard where these are available without extra charge, but we can source wines in any format that is offered by the Château. If you want six-bottle cases where a 12 bottle case is offered, please check for the extra case charge. Please note that format requests cannot be changed once wines have been invoiced. Additional charges for special formats do apply and are as follows:-
- +£18.00 per case of 12 half-bottles
- +£30.00 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£9.50 per case of 3 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£11.00 per case of 6 Magnums
- +£45.00 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£60.00 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.
Storage Options:
Wines bought en primeur won't arrive in the UK until 2027. If you do not wish to take home delivery at that point, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our private client team for more information.