Château Lafon-Rochet Saint-Estèphe 4. Cru Classé 2018 i trækasse

"95 points. An estate that is performing with distinction" - Wine Enthusiast

1600-tals slottet skiftede ejer utallige gange, inden det i 1959 blev købt af Cognac-familien Tesseron. Samme Tesseron-familie, der senere føjede Pontet-Canet til sin portefølje. Lafon-Rochet er placeret tæt på Pauillac, i smørhullet mellem (2. Cru) Cos d’Estournel og (1. Cru) Lafite Rothschild.

Lafon-Rochet var længe ret rå og Cabernet-domineret i stilen, men en større andel Merlot har gjort vinen indsmigrende allerede som ung. I dag ledes Lafon-Rochet af Michel Tesseron og sønnen Basile,i tæt samarbejde med Jean-Claude Berrouet, der er tidligere winemaker på selveste Pétrus.

Anmeldelser af Château Lafon-Rochet Saint-Estèphe 4. Cru Classé 2018

95/100 Wine Enthusiast
"This wine comes from an estate that is performing with distinction. It is rich, the tannins cushioned by ripe blackberry fruits and good acidity. Showing both structure and fruitiness, the wine will develop well, everything in balance."

95/100 Anthocyanes, Y. Castaing

95/100 Tastingbook.com

94-95/100 Vert de Vin Magazine
"The nose is fruity, fresh, elegant, justly built and offers concentration, intensity. It reveals notes of bright cassis, Boysen berryand small notes of small wild red berries associated with touches of violet, lily as well as hints of racy minerality, rose, zan, pepper. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a beautiful juiciness, gourmandize, a beautiful finesse of the grain, complexity, deepness, a fine fleshiness, suavity as well as a small concentration and power. On the palate this wine expresses notes of bright wild blackberry, cassis and small notes of violet associated with touches of bright raspberry, tonka bean, toasted, vanilla, a subtle hint of nutmeg as well as a very discreet hint of sugared tobacco and grilled (in the background).Good length. A very fine hint of chocolate in the finish."

94/100 James Suckling
"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."

94/100 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
"Espresso, flowers, cocoa, tobacco leaf, wet earth and red pit fruit aromas are all over the place. The wine is rich, round, juicy and loaded with sweet, lifted red fruits. The tannins are soft, the freshness provides the right amount of lift and you find intriguing notes of spice and spearmint in the finish."

94/100 Decanter
"Smoke and grilled cedar on the nose. Clearly ambitious, this is good-quality, with plenty of power and forward motion, depth of liquorice and a Bendicks Mint feel of bitter chocolate and mint. Precision, depth and power, with years ahead of it, if closed and a little austere right now. Brilliant value among the classifieds. A 46hl/ha yield also, so generous."

94/100 Le Figaro Vin 
"A stunning, expressive and confident nose with full-bodied tobacco aromas. A power that is confirmed with a limpid and languorous palate of ripe fruit, dark chocolate, distinguished above all by this texture in which one would like to lose oneself, and this lively, complex, gently salty finish..."

94/100 Antonio Galloni
"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."

94/100 Jeb Dunnuck
"The upper Médoc did brilliantly in 2018, and that's certainly apparent when tasting the 2018 Château Lafon-Rochet. Sporting a deep purple hue as well as a gorgeous bouquet of ripe black and blue fruits, lead pencil, forest floor, chocolate, and leafy herbs, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a round, mouth-filling texture, ripe, velvety tannins, and a great finish. It doesn't quite have the precision of the top wines in the appellation, but it's loaded with charm and character, and I'd certainly be thrilled to drink a bottle. This rich, textured, flavorful Saint-Estèphe will benefit from 4-6 years in the cellar and keep for two decades."

94/100 Jean-Marc Quarin

94/100 Houlberg
"5,5 Thumbs Up. Duftmæssigt er vinen meget ædel ... elegant og nærmest overdådig med en gammel, mulle kælderskakt, gammelt træ med noget, der så minder om husene i Den Gamle By. Der er samtidig godt med blæk, kul og cedertræ, men frugten er meget ren, moden, solbær, jordbær, hindbær ... måske endda lidt aromatisk. Smagsmæssigt er der godt med angribende kraft, men alt virker fuldstændig kontrolleret, således tingene rammer helt rigtigt og så bare lige falder på plads. Tanninerne er tørre og tydelige, syren er nærmest glat og poleret, så alt sidder, hvor det skal sidde. og det smager bare rigtig godt. 94 point."

Om Chateau Lafon Rochet 

Grand Vin: Château Lafon-Rochet, 4. Cru Classé (1855 Médoc & Graves)
2. Vin: Les Pélerins de Lafon-Rochét
Beliggenhed: St-Estèphe 
Beplantet areal: 45 ha 
Plantede druesorter: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc 2% Petit Verdot
Fadmodning: 18 mdr. 50% ny barrique