Château Lafon-Rochet 2019

The 2019 Lafon-Rochet has turned out nicely in bottle, mingling aromas of blackberries and red fruits with hints of violets and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, deep and seamless, with lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins, it's a bright, precise wine, with plenty of depth and structure to support sustained bottle age, but with enough modern polish to temper any suggestion of structural asperity.

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. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2038. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.

A bit rustic and wild on the nose, in a good way; not so much savoury tones as brambles with cocoa powder, black pepper and spice — lots going on. The palate has a lovely soft yet sumptuous feel, rich fruit flavour with a deep core and soft tannins that settle, giving a wonderfully comforting sensation. There’s also a cooling effect in the mouth, refreshing and tinged with pencil lead, wet stone and dark ripe fruits. A heady style but enjoyable, with a sweet, lively lift on the finish. You could almost drink this now and enjoy the youthfulness, or it will age gracefully.

Ripe blackcurrants and blackberries with hints of sweet tobacco, walnuts and dark chocolate. Medium- to full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and a lingering crushed-stone character. Firm finish with a touch of nuttiness. Bold and solid, classic St.-Estephe. Try after 2026.

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.

Deep in color, the wine exudes black and blue fruit, smoke, spice, tobacco and lilacs on the nose. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, with chewy tannins and vibrancy, leaving you with layers of ripe, fresh, spicy red fruit with earthy overtones in the endnote. Allow it a few years in the cellar and it should soften and fill out nicely. Drink from 2025-2040.

Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Delicate notes of nougat and precious woods, fine roasted aromas, delicate notes of blackberries, dark cherries and cassis. Complex, full-bodied, fresh structure, fine chocolate sweetness, integrated tannins, mineral and persistent, savoury finish, will benefit from bottle ageing.

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. It's going to evolve for 20-25+ years.

Kunz barrel sample 2020: (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 14.3% vol. alcohol) Dense, dark, powerful bouquet, plum, fine woods, dark caramel, graphite. Velvety, full, aromatic palate with dark fruit, plenty of fine tannins, a well-muscled structure, powerful aromatics, dense fruit, long, powerful, slightly bitter finish.

(65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 14.3% vol. alcohol) Dense, dark, powerful bouquet with plum, fine woods, dark caramel, graphite. Silky, full, aromatic palate with dark fruit, plenty of fine tannins, a well-muscled structure, powerful aromatics, concentrated fruit, and a long, powerful, firm-bitter finish. 18/20 2026 - 2048

Clear tension and a hold that heads towards austere, with tannins that close in on the finish and an emphasis on gunsmoke, graphite and pencil lead. This needs time in the glass, but unwinds to show cassis and bilberry fruits, a little subdued but impressive, with the potential to develop further over the next 10 to 15 years. The penultimate vintage under Basile Tesseron, just as this wine is reaching the market, ownership has changed from the Tesseron family to Jacky Lorenzetti.

A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Lafon-Rochet is deep garnet-purple in color. It is quite closed to begin, revealing glimpses at blackcurrant jelly, fresh blackberries, and dark chocolate hints, followed by wafts of roses, cedar, and cumin seed. The medium-bodied palate is muscular and densely laden with serious black fruit and earthy layers, framed by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with a spicy lift.

A straightforward, natural nose, with no frills and a sanguine edge. On the palate, a firm, shimmering yet light texture, with bitter notes of cocoa beans and dark fruits. This wine will gain in generosity over the years.

Logo on the cork: DF Dark, intense, beautiful color. An intense, very fruity nose. A bit discreet on opening and more perfumed after airing in the glass. Caressing and very fruity all across the palate, with a melting core and plenty of flavor, the wine unfolds aromatically, with classy texture and fine-grained tannins. Long and very good. Blend: 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 5% cabernet franc. Alcohol: 14% – pH: 3.79.