Château Lafon Rochet - Saint-Estèphe 2012

Wine Advocate

86 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2015

A very soft, consumer-friendly style for a St.-Estèphe, Lafon-Rochet’s 2012 has a dark ruby/purple color, plum, black cherry and cassis fruit, medium body, and a rather superficial and shallow aftertaste. It has its charm and endearing qualities, but is not terribly concentrated or profound. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.

Jamessuckling.com

90 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2015

This is extremely floral and flamboyant on the nose for the vintage. Medium to full body, good fruit and a fresh, firm finish. Nicely done. Drink or hold.

Jancis Robinson

16,5 / 20

the12/11/2014

Spicy and dark-fruited. Leafy cassis on the mid palate, dry, firm tannins. A little austere but elegant and the tannins are extremely fine. (JH)13.5% Drink 2022-2035

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

87-90 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe6/30/2013

Bright deep purple.  Enticing, delicate aromas of blackcurrant, red cherry, violet and iris are complicated by a mineral twist.  Very suave on the palate, offering seamless flavors of dark fruits, minerals and black pepper.  Finishes long and clean, with a hint of cassis syrup and a bright mineral overlay.  Just like La Conseillante in 2012, this wine has a beautiful purity and a seamless texture; you can recognize the Jean-Claude Berrouet touch in both of these wines (he consults at both properties).

Le Point

15 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/16/2013

Nez fruits rouges, bouche tendue, vive, séveuse, mentholée, note d'orange, longue, tanins un peu accrocheurs. Frais et vif. O= 2016 G= 12 ans.

Asian Palate

87 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe5/15/2013

Well made Lafon-Rochet with velvety, firm tannins, plums and cherries with good balance and elegance in this challenging vintage. Good finish. Ready to enjoy fairly young.

Wine Advocate

89-91 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/30/2013

The Lafon Rochet 2012 is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot that was picked late from 8th October when they felt that the fruit was completely ripe and finished on the 19th October. Basile told me that 10 hectares are now being farmed biodynamically. It is being matured using 40% one-year old barrels rather than 100% and there is only a tiny amount of vin de presse, something that Jean-Claude Berrouet has advised. It has a lifted bouquet nose of dark plum and blackberry fruit with just a touch of iodine. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm, tannic entry. It is a little pinched at first but unwinds with aeration. There is a good backbone here, though it is not a “weighty” Lafon Rochet. It is nicely balanced with an attractive saline touch on the finish. Somewhat conservative in style and showing a touch of attenuation, but overall this is not bad at all. Fine. Tasted April 2013.

Wine Spectator

85-88 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/30/2013

Features plum and black cherry fruit, with a rather soft-edged feel, showing hints of licorice and spice on the finish. A bit too easy in the end. —J.M.

matthewjukes.com

17 / 20

byMatthew Jukesthe4/30/2013

Wine Advocate

90-92 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/26/2013

The opaque purple-hued 2012 Lafon Rochet reveals plenty of incense, blueberry, black raspberry and spring flower notes intermixed with a hint of forest floor. Rich and medium to full-bodied, it is a complete wine from beginning to end. It may tighten up once it’s in bottle, but this wine has 15 or more years of cellaring potential.This superb effort is a major sleeper of the vintage. Made from a final blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, it boasts 13.5% natural alcohol and was made by Basile Tesseron, whose family owns this chateau as well as the well-known Pontet Canet. Like his uncle Alfred, Basile has moved to biodynamic farming.

The Wine Cellar Insider

87-89 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/26/2013

With forest, tobacco and leaf aromas, along with scents of mocha, the palate offers cherry and cranberry sensations, but the finish is a bit too dry. 87-89 Pts

Jean-Marc QUARIN

15,8-16 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/25/2013

Couleur pourpre. Nez fruité, floral, frais et mûr. Bouche très agréable, parfumée au toucher caressant, au corps normal, à la finale au grain plutôt fin et très savoureux. De la nuance. Longueur normale.

My Bettane + Desseauve

16,5 / 20

the4/25/2013

Beau cèdre et tabac, à la pauillac, parfaite texture, très équilibré et précis, excellente préparation, réussite évidente.

Jancis Robinson

16 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/25/2013

Drink 2018-2026Very dark. Warm, cosy nose is very flatteringly ripe. But it lacks real savour and structure. Loose finish.

Decanter.com

17 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/22/2013

Ripe and well-extracted meaty, typically St Estephe volume of fruit, good spice, good character and good future. 17/20pts ( 90/100pts)Drink: 2016 - 2030