Tasting notes

2009:  A blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot, with a small amount of Cabernet Franc yet to be added to the blend.  Lovely freshness, with ripe red and black fruits, and fine and silky tannins.  There is some exotic spice and smoke, and lovely graphite flavours on the finish.  The wine is complex and concentrated, but with its inherent freshness, should age superbly.  13.5% alcohol, 92-94 points, drink 2015-2030 (April 2010).

2008:  Approximately 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot - will be bottled in early May.

Slightly subdued at the moment, with lovely Ribena-like blackcurrant flavour, good freshness, medium-bodied.  There is good complexity - it should evolve into a classically-styled Lafon-Rochet.  There is a noticeable degree of freshness since Basile has commenced winemaking.  90-91 points, drink 2012-2020 (April 2010).

2007:  From barrel in April 2008, the wine was very attractive, lifted nose of sweet fruits, with loads of red currants and fresh red fruits.  Quite powerful on the palate, with fine, elegant structure and a lovely touch of spice.  Very good complexity and length of finish, this is extremely impressive given the vintage conditions and the fact it is the winemaker’s debut, 90-92 points.  Two years on (April 2010) the wine has evolved precisely as predicted, showing pretty, floral aromas of red fruits.  On the palate the wine has fine, very dry tannins, lovely freshness, and good weight of ripe fruits.  There’s some minerality and lovely mouthfeel - quite a substantial 2007.  91 points (drink now to 2020).

2006: A blend of 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.  Quite spicy aromas showing bramble, chocolate and spicy dark berries.  The palate is quite ripe and linear, with plenty of tannin but it’s very fine and chalky, with good complexity and length of finish.  Really needs a decade or so to hit it’s straps.  88-90 points (April 2008).

2005:  55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.  Tasted three times, with great consistency.  In April 2008 the wine showed very beautiful and lifted aromas of pure red fruits, florals and minerals.  Very complex and complete on the palate, with an impressive length of finish.  Extremely delicious, albeit youthful, and promising many years of longevity.  93 points.  In February 2009 very similar flavours, with an added hint of delicious spice.  The tannins were slightly more apparent, but the complexity and length of finish remained most impressive (92 points).  By October 2009, when many other 2005s had begun shutting down, the wine remained open and expressive, with a similar flavour profile and complexity as earlier bottles (93 points).

2004:  From barrel sample, the wine is quite pure, with ripe red fruits on the nose and fine, chalky tannins, which have good ripeness.  Quite intense, and with good complexity, the wine remains quite elemental, but very good.  Classic Bordeaux, with a modern, pure and clean, style.  87-90 points (April 2005).

2003:  Noticeably ripe, almost exotic aromas of dark berry fruit and spice, with hints of mocha.  On the palate the wine is very forward, rich and sweet, but not overly dense, with really delicious flavours and fine, substantial but not dominating tannins.  The wine has some freshness to it, but I suspect it will mature quite quickly.  Impressive and compelling.  92 points (November 2006).

1998:  Quite cool, reserved aromas of berries and cassis, with a hint of tobacco.  On the palate the wine is relatively light (for St.-Estèphe) on the palate, lacking density but still attractive in style.  Moderate complexity and a long, complex finish.  88 points (April 2004).

1996:  Classical for the vintage, with powerful blackcurrant and cassis aromas, with some minerals.  On the palate the wine is quite tight and reserved, but with obvious potential.  Quite sweet and ripe, fleshy fruit, lovely fresh acidity and fine, well-integrated tannins give this wine both a sense of power and poise or delicacy.  A long, complex finish completes the package.  Impressive.  92 points (April 2004).  A second bottle in December 2004 the wine showed very minerally, not much fruit, but plenty of complexity.  Very dry, lovely texture.  Really attractive wine, but far from fruit-driven style.  89 points.

1995:  Ripe, sweet aromas of cassis and red berries, which follow through on the palate, which is quite concentrated and rich.  Noticeable oak sweetness too, with slightly chunky but ripe tannins.  A long finish of good complexity.  Probably at its best now.  90 points (March 2009).

1970:  Classic, fully mature aromas of cassis, herbs, leather and tobacco.  There’s no obvious fruit remaining, even on the palate, yet the wine is delicious and harmonious, surprisingly deep and complex, and long on the finish.  The tannins are very fine but persistent on the finish - this has matured beautifully, and due no doubt to perfect provenance (it came from the Château that afternoon).  91 points (April 2008).

Click here to return to top.

Click here to return to Château Lafon-Rochet.