The vivacity and smoothness of a Saint-Estèphe wine
Sensory Features:This has a delightful, well-defined bouquet with pure aromas of blackberry and blueberry with touches of iris flower percolating through. This is nicely controlled. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. It is "old-school" Lafon-Rochet in a way and introspective compared to others, with firm grip. This is "serious" with a tannic, slightly briny finish. Give this three to five years in bottle.
Grape Varieties: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot & 4% Cabernet Franc.
Estate: The origins of Château Lafon-Rochet date back to the 17th century. Located in the Saint-Estèphe appellation, Château Lafon-Rochet made its mark in 1855 when it was awarded the title of Grand Cru Classé. In 1960, Guy Tesseron acquired the property, and thanks to his hard work and passion, gradually raised Château Lafon-Rochet to the top of its appellation. Basile Tesseron, Michel Tesseron's son, took over the reins of the family estate from 2007 until September 2021, when businessman and founder of the Foncia Group, Jacky Lorenzetti, acquired the estate. Jacky Lorenzetti owns several estates on Bordeaux’s Left Bank, including Château Lilian-Ladouys (Saint-Estèphe) and Château Pédesclaux (Pauillac), and is also co-owner of Château d'Issan (Margaux).
Vineyard: Château Lafon-Rochet, with its golden-yellow charter house, is now a veritable standard-bearer among the great wines of Saint-Estèphe. The vineyard stretches across 40 hectares, superbly situated in the Saint-Estèphe appellation. The vines are an average of 38 years old and are planted on two hilltops with different terroirs. The gravelly soils provide excellent drainage, while the clay helps to regulate water stress.
Vintage: A mild, dry winter advanced early budburst, preceding an early spring when frost had little impact on the vineyards. Subsequently, the weather was mild and wet, with no disease pressure. Flowering was rapid and uniform. The vines withstood a particularly hot, dry summer thanks to sufficient water reserves.
