Lafon Rochet 2020

The 2020 Lafon-Rochet has a very delineated and fresh bouquet of marine-infused black fruit, crushed stone and a touch of pencil box. The palate is medium-bodied with plenty of fruit concentration and real weight in the mouth. Notes of black pepper and red fruit linger through the persistent yet backward finish. This will require serious aging. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 2030 - 2055

Blackberry and spice with firm, chewy tannins that show polish and focus. It’s medium-to full-bodied with excellent energy. Blackberry and blackcurrant character on the finish with a touch of cedar and spice.

Lafon-Rochet 2020 has a deep garnet-purple color. It slowly unfurls to offer notes of baked plums and stewed black cherries, leading to wafts of cassis, cedar, and cinnamon toast. The medium-bodied palate is bright and soft, with a lively backbone and spicy lift on the finish.

Attractive, well-paced fruits, plenty of clarity to the flavours, together with a feeling of linearity to the tannins. Austerity through the mid-palate constrains the brambled cassis fruit, but things build back up again and this is a measured, successful wine that will age well. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend. First year with Eric Boissenot accompanying Jean-Claude Berrouet as consultants.

Drinking Window 2027 - 2042

The 2020 is a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 3% each Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Harvest was completed by the end of September. Deep ruby colour. Fresh, cool berries, cedar and tobacco on the nose. The palate is bright and crunchy, full of red berries and a hint of blackcurrant. There is a herbal note that pairs with a graphite edge. This is compact and fresh, and should offer enjoyable mid-term drinking.

Full bottle an admirably light 1,290 g. Cask sample taken 6 April. 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot.
Deep lustrous purplish crimson. Interesting vitality to the nose, almost as though biodynamic techniques were employed here. Lovely balance of ripeness and vitality. This is a very successful 2020. It may be dismissed by some because the tannins are not obvious but it's a delightful drink – already! Very distinctive. Perhaps not for seriously long-term cellaring but well done Basile Tesseron for producing something so appetising and groundbreaking. The finish is impressively persistent. 13.5%
Drink 2025 – 2040

(61% CS, 33% M, 3% CF, 3% PV; 13.5% ABV)
Freshly cassis-sweet to smell, a hint of gravel; medium-full, fresh in acidity, very finely tannic; succulently rich yet restrained, a classic “drier” claret profile, but freshly sweet-cored, beautifully textured, long, and graceful, concentrated without being in any way thick, and with an absolutely lovely farewell, a perfect mirror of all the tastes before. Classy, complete, aristocratic wine. 2030–50+.