Chateau Lafon-Rochet
- Region
- France, Bordeaux
- Appellation
- Saint-Estèphe 4ème Grand Cru Classé
- Grapes
- 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc (2022)
- Color
- Red
- Vintages
- 2022, 2020
- Mevushal
- No
- Supervision
- OU; Rabbi Its’hak Katz Kehal Yereim Paris Chareidi
Critical acclaim
Once again, the most elegant wine in Saint-Estèphe.
An exceptional wine in 2022.
A seriously good, concentrated, powerful expression.
Dark chocolate, cigar box, blackcurrants, white pepper and graphite.
A rich, ripe, somewhat Napa-styled Saint-Estèphe.
Represents the essence of classicism in Bordeaux.
Richly structured, powered by dark tannins and rich blackberry fruits.
Pleasingly silky, polished and smooth. Sheer pleasure!
Plump and open, with a burst of loganberry and mulberry fruit.
Expert Notes
"This is a lovely St-Estepe this year, firm & bright with bristling fruit right out of the gate- hugely unusual to see that this year. This is one of my favorites, & is totally charming with its cassis & damson fruit, but it's the juice & friendly tension that sets it apart. Silky & enjoyable. Buy." -Decanter
Tasting Notes
The nose is pleasing, open, fruity, and oaky with notes of fresh pepper. The wine is agreeable and elegant in the mouth, with a subtle attack despite the boldness and power of the mid-palate and finish. The aromas are fruity, smoky and salty. This is a well-made and nicely structured wine.
Food Pairing
Classic meat dishes, veal, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms and pasta.
Serve at 17 to 18°C (63 to 65°F). Decant young vintages for an hour.
The Region
Saint-Estèphe is one of the many famous Left Bank red wine appellations of Bordeaux, known for reds based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Situated at the northern end of the Haut-Médoc region on the gravelly western shores of the Gironde estuary, Saint-Estèphe is separated from its famous neighbor, Pauillac, only by a stream, yet there are significant differences between them. With 1,229 hectares (3036 acres) it accounts for 8 percent of the vineyard area of the Médoc. Because Saint-Estèphe is marginally further from the gravel-bearing waters of the Garonne river, the soil here is far less stony than that found in the southern part of Haut-Médoc. Instead, a heavy clay and limestone base dominates this area, resulting in poorer-draining soils, delayed ripening and higher acidity levels in the wines.
The Grape
Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon are two of the key grape varieties (along with Merlot) used in the red wines of Bordeaux. The combined blend of the two has been so successful that it has been adopted in wine regions the world over. Typically Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant member in this blend, and provides both structure (acidic and tannic) and aromatic complexity (cassis, cedar, tobacco). The Cabernet Franc component brings a lifted, slightly more floral aroma, and a hint of spice on the palate. Exceptions to this rule of Cabernet Sauvignon dominance are most likely to be found in the Loire Valley, where Cabernet Franc has long been a staple red wine variety. In Tuscany this blend has been warmly adopted. Sassicaia – one of Italy's most famous wines – is arguably one of the world's finest examples of this marriage of the two Cabernet grapes, and is largely responsible for the proliferation of the style throughout the region. This "Super Tuscan" wine is routinely described as having characteristics of cassis and five-spice with firm tannins in its youth. With age these wines soften and start to show more secondary qualities – often led by Cabernet Franc – of tobacco, coffee and earthy minerals.
