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Lafon Rochet 2022

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

Recent vintages here at this classed growth St Estéphe have been amongst the best ever while under the stewardship of Basile Tesseron. In late 2021, Jacky Lorenzetti bough the property from the Tesseron family to increase his holdings in Bordeaux (he already owns Pédesclaux and Lilian Ladouys, with a 50% stake in d'Issan). This striking property, with its yellow walls, is just along the road from Cos d'Estournel and overlooks the vineyards of Lafite. En primeur prices remain reasonable. The 40 hectare vineyard is planted 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot.

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

Label

Tasting Notes

The 2022 Lafon-Rochet is fabulous. Once again, Lafon-Rochet is the most elegant wine in Saint-Estèphe. There's a bit more richness and mid-palate intensity than in the past, likely a combination of the year and the approach of the new team headed by Technical Director Christophe Congé, who was formerly at Lafite-Rothschild. The 2022 signals a new era for the château that is likely to see a greater focus on selection and a slightly richer style. Even so, the signatures of Lafon-Rochet are evident. It's an exciting time. 2030-2052

95/97
Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, May 2023

The inaugural vintage for winemaker Christophe Congé, the 2022 Lafon-Rochet is an ambitiously styled blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. Offering up aromas of crème de cassis, burning embers and loamy soil, it's medium to full-bodied, broad and velvety, with supple, generously extracted tannins and a rather lavish, demonstrative profile. It's a wine crafted to grab one's attention, but if élevage is kind to it, it may make my score seem conservative.

90/92
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (266), April 2023

Deep purple colour. Earthy with a hint of camphor and cedar on the nose, there is a leafy edge to the blackcurrant fruit. The tannins are slightly coarse for now, bringing a chalky, chewy mouthfeel against the bright fruit. Compact but driven to the finish.

90/93
Thomas Parker MW, Farr Vintners, April 2023

This shows a terrific tannin backbone with blackcurrants and berries. Medium body. Solid fruit. Vivid. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 31% merlot and 4% cabernet franc.

94/95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2023

A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Lafon-Rochet has a pH of 3.77 and a TPI of 83. It has a deep garnet-purple color and after a bit of shaking it erupts with intense scents of fresh blackcurrants, black raspberries, and kirsch, followed by hints of underbrush, camphor and iron ore. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and yet possesses lovely freshness, featuring ripe, grainy tannins and loads of mineral sparks which lift the ripe black fruit to a long finish. Impressive effort for the first full vintage under the new management!

93/95
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, May 2023

Baked plum, damson, black pepper, edges of cut herbs and dried rose petals, campfire smoke and soot. This is intense but has an aromatic quality that hugs through the palate, and the tannins are plentiful but well controlled. 50% new oak plus some large oak casks, and 400l barrels; almost 60% 1st wine, down from 70% last year (in a better vintage this year, really an indication of the focus on quality under the new team). Harvest September 12 to 27. Eric Boissenot consultant together wtih director Christophe Congé, ex Lafite, in his first full vintage. As of 2024 this will be the first Cru Classé in St Estèphe to be certified organic.

94
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, May 2023

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc. First vintage for technical director Christophe Congé (ex Lafite). Cask sample.
Dense and concentrated with dark-fruit and floral notes. Smooth attack then plenty of punch and drive, the tannins fine but present. Tighter tannic frame than in the past. More gravitas. (JL) 14.5%
Drink 2030– 2042

16.5+
James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson.com, May 2023
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.