2020 CHÂTEAU LAFON-ROCHET 4ème Cru Classé Saint Estèphe, Lea & Sandeman

CHÂTEAU LAFON-ROCHET

2020 4ème Cru Classé Saint Estèphe

Grapes Merlot, Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Petit Verdot
Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Other Practising Organic
Sub-district Haut Médoc
Village Saint Estèphe
Classification 4ème Cru Classé
ABV 13.5%

2020 marks the 60th year of Tesseron family ownership here and is a celebrated release. It also is the first time that 2 of Bordeaux's most famous consultants have worked together on a wine - with Jean-Claude Berrouet and Eric Boissenot collaborating on the blend with Basile Tesseron.
The nose here is floral and attractive. Really draws you in. Bright and energetic attack. Really good. Glossy, but still pretty fruit. There is great underlying weight and intensity that adds a serious feel after the more gentle and inviting opening. Basile Tesseron is rightfully delighted with this release rating it as possibly the estate’s best ever. It marks a significant step in Lafon Rochet’s evolution, as he embraces ever greener credentials with huge developments in the estate's farming practices and bio-diversity. Their organic certification starts this year. Basile is trying to make a real difference to this land and the resulting wines are proving this approach to be most wise! (Release volumes is down 50% on a normal vintage) L&S (May 2021)


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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% Drinking range: 2025 - 2040 Rating: 17 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2021)

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 range: 2027 - 2042 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2021)

Subtle dried spices and berries with chocolate undertones. It’s medium-bodied with fine tannins and a savory finish. Fresh and bright. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but better in a year or two and onwards. Rating: 91 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2023)

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.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
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