Château Lafon Rochet, 4ème Cru Classé, St Estèphe, 2023

Confident colour extraction, this is dark ruby but nuanced, with vibrant reflections. After two years with Christophe Congé as director, you are starting to see more precision and focus in the constructino of the wine, with blackberry and bilberry fruits set against slate and smoked earth. Balanced alcohols, firm taninins. All four varieties in the blend.

DRINKING WINDOW 2027 - 2040

date of review 05/2024

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Lafon-Rochet leaps with vibrant notes of kirsch, cranberry preserves, and fresh blackberries leading to hints of bay leaves, graphite, and damp soil. The medium-bodied palate is lively and lightly chewy, with great tension adding sparkle to the red and black berry layers, finishing with an herbal lift. The blend is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, with pH 3.75.

DRINKING WINDOW 2028 - 2042

date of review 04/2024

The 2023 Lafon-Rochet was picked from September 13 to October 5 at 42hL/ha with no saignée. It contains 4% Petit Verdot, as there was more water during the growing season (which Petit Verdot needs_. Matured in 40% new oak, this has quite an intense bouquet with mainly black fruit, hints of graphite and chimney soot, nicely focused though it needs time to absorb the wood. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins that frame the layered blackberry and raspberry fruit laced with white pepper and pencil shavings. This errs slightly toward Pauillac on the finish, which is no surprise given its proximity. Displaying moderate length, this is a fine but grippy, denser Lafon-Rochet that should give 20 years or more of drinking pleasure.

DRINKING WINDOW 2029 - 2047

date of review 04/2024