Chateau Lafon Rochet - Saint Estephe 2019
Price: $59.96
Sale Price: $50.00
| Producer | Chateau Lafon Rochet |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Subregion | St. Estephe |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Sku | 602745 |
| Size | 750ml |
Sure, we knew about the wines of Chateau Lafon-Rochet prior to our recent visit. After all this Chateau was rated as one of ten fourth growths in 1855 and was owned until 2021 by the Tesseron family. They don't settle for mediocre. Still, this visit gave us a deep, fresh new understanding of this Chateau under new ownership with lofty goals and a plan to improve what already were very good wines. This Chateau a must watch.
On our visit we met with one of Lafon-Rochet's new leaders, Christophe Congé. Christophe left his position as Oenologist and Wine Operations Manager of Chateau Lafite-Rothschild and Duhart-Milon in 2022 for a the same role at Lafon-Rochet. Christophe's twenty-two years at those Chateau means that he knows intimately how special Lafon-Rochet's terroir is. Situated on the border of Saint-Estephe and Pauillac, Lafon-Rochet's vineyards are just a stone's throw away from Cos d'Estournel's and perhaps a hulk-like golf drive away from those of Lafite-Rothschild. Lafon-Rochet's vineyards are by Bordelaise standards elevated (20-25m) and feature soils rich in small stones, pebbles and blue clay. Christophe is pushing towards organics (certification will be official this year 2024) and in the winery they are investing into new fermentation vessels to allow for more precise parcel by parcel fermentation opposed to plot by plot.
Jeb Dunnuck: 95 Points
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.
Antonio Galloni: 95 Points
The 2019 Lafon-Rochet is every bit as compelling today as it was from barrel. There is a feeling of elegance to the 2019 that is so striking. Sweet dark cherry, plum new leather, tobacco, licorice, spice and rose petal all grace the 2019 as it unwinds to its long finish. Lafon-Rochet is not huge nor obvious, as some Saint-Estèphes are, but it is absolutely compelling.
Wine Spectator: 94 Points
Ripe and sleek, delivering cassis, damson plum, loganberry and mulberry notes that glisten, with iron, anise, black tea and savory accents. Offers lovely precision and poise, even as the fruit flirts with an exotic blend. Mouthwatering finish. (JM)
James Suckling: 94 Points
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.
