| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Estèphe |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Recent vintages here at this classed growth St Estèphe have been amongst the best ever with the latest generation of the family - Basile Tesseron - now in charge of the property. The new consultant is the legendary Jean-Claude Berrouet of Pétrus - his first job on the left bank. This striking property, with its yellow walls, is just along the road from Cos d'Estournel and overlooks the vineyards of Lafite. En primeur prices remain reasonable. The 40 hectare vineyard is planted 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot with a little Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
The 2019 Lafon-Rochet has a bouquet very similar to the sample I tasted last year, featuring disarming, fragrant, beautifully defined blackberry and crushed violet scents and fine mineralité and elegance. The palate is medium-bodied and fresh, with fine-grained tannins, gentle grip, and a little chalkiness toward the saline finish. Very classic in style, less fruit-driven than the previous vintage, but with greater persistence. Tasted three or four times, at the château and elsewhere. 2025 - 2050
The 2019 Lafon-Rochet has turned out nicely in bottle, mingling aromas of blackberries and red fruits with hints of violets and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, deep and seamless, with lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins, it's a bright, precise wine, with plenty of depth and structure to support sustained bottle age, but with enough modern polish to temper any suggestion of structural asperity. Drink 2025-2055.
Bright ruby colour. Cool and savoury, with tones of camphor and cedar together with fresh hedgerow fruit. The palate is midweight, with a compact core of fresh black and ripe red fruit. There is an earthy, savoury tone throughout and chalky, firm tannins that are to be expected from St Estephe. This is a classically proportioned, vibrant and well made wine, one for lovers of structure and savour.
Ripe blackcurrants and blackberries with hints of sweet tobacco, walnuts and dark chocolate. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and lingering crushed-stone character. Firm finish with some nuttiness to it. Bold and solid, classic St.-Estephe. Try after 2026.
Tasted blind. Looks reasonably evolved. Lots going on here with real fruity attack and a rather drying, hot finish. Needs quite a bit of time. 14%
Drink 2030– 2045
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc.
Black core. Very dark and charry on the nose. Savoury though there's no lack of black fruit. Dark, rocky elegance. Big tannic presence but not aggressive. (JH) 14%
Drink 2032 – 2045
Vibrant ruby purple in the glass. Mineral and cool on the nose, with hints of graphite, fresh blackcurrant and blackcurrant leaf. This is compact and fresh, with chunky, grippy tannins and dark cherry fruits at the core. Lithe and lifted through to a crunchy finish.
Brilliant stuff, the 2019 Château Lafon-Rochet shows the best of the vintage with its pure, precise, elegant, yet at the same time concentrated style. Showing lots of ripe currant, plum, tobacco, Asian spice, and cedar pencil aromatics, it's medium to full-bodied, has nicely integrated acidity, and just seamless tannins. It's beautifully done and well worth seeking out. It's going to evolve for 20-25+ years.
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot. Barrel sample.
Dark and subdued but very fresh. Adequate fruit but long and linear with plenty of drive. Good persistence and lovely palate-cleansing finish. (JL)
Drink 2027 – 2038
The 2019 Lafon-Rochet, which was picked from 25 September to 5 October, requires a little coaxing from the glass, eventually unfurling with blackberry, bilberry, violet and light crushed stone/clayey scents that is quintessential Saint-Estèphe. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins, fresh and saline in the mouth, old school in the best sense of that expression. No, it is not the most flamboyant Lafon-Rochet, but it is imbued with a sense of nobility and classicism that I much admire. Tasted three times with consistent notes. 2025 - 2050
The purity of fruit and balance in this young St.-Estephe is really beautiful with crushed-currant, stone and orange-peel aromas and flavors. It’s medium-to full-bodied with fine tannins and a pretty finish. We will see if this is better than the 2018 or not.
