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Lafon Rochet 2005

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Estèphe
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Lafon-Rochet

Label

Tasting Notes

The 2005 Lafon-Rochet has a very expressive bouquet with raspberry, blackberry, briary, black pepper and light scents. The palate is medium-bodied with tobacco-tinged red and black fruit, beautifully balanced with good substance. This is fresh and saline on the finish. The 2005 is a really superb Lafon-Rochet that will continue to drink well for several years. Tasted at the Lafon-Rochet vertical at the property. Drink: 2021 - 2036

93
Neal Martin, vinous.com, June 2021

Dense ruby/purple and still youthful and exuberant, with oodles of cassis and incense, the 2005 Lafon-Rochet is medium to full-bodied, with ripe tannin and a long finish. Just becoming approachable, this wine should continue to drink well for another 10-15 years. Drink 2015-2030.

91
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (219), June 2015
90
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, February 2008

Tasted blind. Light, fresh nose. A tad skinny but correct and stony. Lots to chew on. Should have a long life. Very clean and energetic. Tannins there in abundance. Very racy.
Drink 2018-2035

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, March 2017

Good red-ruby. Very ripe aromas of musky currant , black raspberry, camphor and tobacco leaf. Round and plump for St. Estephe, with noteworthy volume and seamless texture; sweeter by far than the chateau's 2007 or 2006 samples but possesses harmonious framing acidity. Finishes with broad tannins that arrive late. A big success.

91
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, June 2008

Perfumed, very elegant, good finesse. Really suppled, refined and good concentration. Drink from 2017. Awarded 5 stars.

18.5+
Decanter.com, Decanter.com, July 2008
Read more tasting notes...

At present, this structured, backward 2005 is dominated by the vintage’s substantial tannins. It exhibits a saturated ruby/purple color, a reticent but promising bouquet of sweet black fruits intermixed with weedy tobacco, licorice, and leather characteristics. Medium-bodied and powerful, with excruciating tannin, but promising potential, patience is most definitely required. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2030

90
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (176), April 2008

A dark ruby/purple color and a bouquet of plums, black raspberries, licorice, roasted herbs, and incense are followed by a medium to full-bodied, rich, structured, backward wine that requires 6-10 years of bottle age. It should drink well for two decades. For some reason, Lafon Rochet remains under-priced for the quality of wines it is producing.

90/93
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (170), April 2007

Although it does not yet display much complexity, this stunning, opaque purple-colored wine exhibits sweet creme de cassis fruit, enormous concentration, loads of tannin, and superb purity as well as length. A medium to full-bodied, structured effort, it will require time in the bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025.

91/93
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (164), April 2006

Blackberry with light spice and toasted oak character. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a sweet, ripe fruit finish. Yummy to taste.

89/91
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, March 2006

Dark with a little evolution. Medium intensity nose. Firm and very sweet and rich on the front for a St-Estèphe. Is this the vintage? Very gorgeous and intense. Dry but not drying tannins on the finish. Long

16.5+
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2009

Lively, though not especially deep purplish crimson. Intense animal ripeness. Sweet attack and then some oak. Not the subtlest. Marked acidity but slightly stewed fruit. Fades very fast on the palate. Drink 2014-22

16
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2006
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.