Lafon Rochet - Saint-Estèphe 2020

Vinous

94-94

byNeal Martinthe2/28/2025

The 2020 Lafon-Rochet has a very delineated and fresh bouquet of marine-infused black fruit, crushed stone and a touch of pencil box. The palate is medium-bodied with plenty of fruit concentration and real weight in the mouth. Notes of black pepper and red fruit linger through the persistent yet backward finish. This will require serious aging. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Wine Advocate

91.00

byWilliam Kelleythe4/6/2023

The 2020 Lafon-Rochet opens in the glass with aromas of cassis, plums and licorice, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep palate with good concentration, lively acids and plenty of powdery structuring tannin that asserts itself on the finish. This, too, is more structured than its 2019 counterpart and will require a bit of patience.

Wine Spectator

90

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2023

Plump and open, with a burst of loganberry and mulberry fruit backed by light tobacco, warm earth and savory notes. Shows a savory edge, which moves to the lead on the finish. Solid. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2034. 2,000 cases made.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/30/2023

Showing the pretty, elegant style of the vintage, the 2020 Château Lafon-Rochet exbibits a ruby/purple hue to go with a perfumed bouquet of ripe black cherries, spring flowers, graphite, and violets. Medium-bodied and elegant, with firm tannins, it needs 4-6 years of bottle age and should evolve for two decades in cold cellars.

The Wine Cellar Insider

95

byJeff Levethe3/22/2023

Flowers, cigar wrapper, wet earth, smoke, chocolate, blackberries and red pit fruits open the nose. But, it is on the palate, where the wine really shines with all of its layers of full-bodied, concentrated, long, dark, round, energetic, creamy, plush, ripe, fruits. The finish is long, clean and vibrant with a creamy textured endnote that will be even better once the minor amount of oak remaining has fully integrated. This is the final vintage from the Tesseron family who brought in the harvest and vinified the wine. The new owner, Jacky Lorenzetti, along with Emmanuel Cruse finished the wine. Starting with the 2021 vintage, the new owners were fully in charge. Drink from 2024-2045.

Wines Critic

91

byRaffaele Vecchionethe3/10/2023

Decisive in the floral sensory profile alternating notes of lavender, hibiscus, guaranà , cherry, lemon juice and linden. Medium bodied, light tannins and a spicy finish which is slightly rigid at the moment. Better from 2025.

Vinous

96

byAntonio Gallonithe2/24/2023

The 2020 Lafon-Rochet represents the essence of classicism in Bordeaux. Medium in body and finely-cut, Lafon-Rochet is one of the classiest, more refined Saint-Estèphes readers will come across. Dark fruit, earthiness, lavender, licorice, menthol and cloves add nuance, but it is the wine's balance and vibrancy that impress most. Give the tannins a few years to melt away. Superb.

Vinous

93

byNeal Martinthe2/15/2023

The 2020 Lafon-Rochet was bottled at the end of June. It has quite an expressive bouquet, leaning more towards black fruit, touches of undergrowth and pencil box. This is very harmonious and actually quite similar in style to the Phélan-Ségur. The palate is medium-bodied with very pliant tannins, well judged acidity, fresh and displaying commendable depth. Hints of black pepper and cedar, a pleasing strictness on the finish, whereas I commented that it was quite Pomerol-like out of barrel, now it is much more Pauillac in style, with graphite lingering on the aftertaste. Excellent.

Jamessuckling.com

91

byJames Sucklingthe1/16/2023

Subtle dried spices and berries with chocolate undertones. It’s medium-bodied with fine tannins and a savory finish. Fresh and bright. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but better in a year or two and onwards.

Vinous

93-95

byAntonio Gallonithe6/1/2021

The 2020 Lafon-Rochet is fabulous. The aromatics along are dazzling. Gracious and yet effusive, with tons of nuance, the 2020 dazzles from start to finish. Inky dark fruit, new leather, spice, lavender and menthol fill the room with soaring intensity. Silky, elegant and so pure, Lafon-Rochet is shaping up to be one of the real under the radar gems of 2020. It's a terrific effort from Basile Tesseron. Don't miss it.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/28/2021

I loved the 2020 Château Lafon-Rochet, a rich, powerful, concentrated Saint-Estèphe that stays beautifully balanced and elegant. Lots of pure cassis and darker currant fruits as well as tobacco, chocolate, and damp herb notes define the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with plenty of mid-palate depth, building tannins, and a great finish. It's going to take 7-8 years to hit the early stages of maturity, but it's a brilliant wine. The blend is 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, with an alcohol of 13.5 and a pH of 3.68. Tasted twice.

Vinous

92-94

byNeal Martinthe5/27/2021

The 2020 Lafon-Rochet was picked September 15–20 and marks the first collaboration between consultants Jean-Claude Berrouet and Eric Boissenot, who both worked on the blending. It has a really lovely bouquet of blackberry, briar and faint estuarine scents, hints of crushed iris flower emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and modest depth, and quite fleshy; lip-smacking salinity urges you to take another sip. Intriguingly, it comes across a tad Pomerol-like on the finish, completing a top-notch Lafon-Rochet that may well end up at the top of my banded score.

Decanter.com

93

byJane Ansonthe5/25/2021

Attractive, well-paced fruits, plenty of clarity to the flavours, together with a feeling of linearity to the tannins. Austerity through the mid-palate constrains the brambled cassis fruit, but things build back up again and this is a measured, successful wine that will age well. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend. First year with Eric Boissenot accompanying Jean-Claude Berrouet as consultants.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/23/2021

I loved the 2020 Château Lafon-Rochet, a rich, powerful, concentrated Saint-Estèphe that stays beautifully balanced and elegant. Lots of pure cassis and darker currant fruits as well as tobacco, chocolate, and damp herb notes define the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with plenty of mid-palate depth, building tannins, and a great finish. It's going to take 7-8 years to hit the early stages of maturity, but it's a brilliant wine. The blend is 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, with an alcohol of 13.5 and a pH of 3.68. Tasted twice. 93-95+

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96

byJeff Levethe5/21/2021

Deeply colored, the wine is full-bodied, concentrated, long, dark, round, dark and energetic. The fruits are plush, ripe, sweet and fleshy. The mid-palate shows off its blend of cassis, blackberry, cocoa, tobacco leaf and spice with little effort. The finish is long, clean and vibrant with a creamy textured endnote. This should age and develop nicely for at least 2-3 decades. 94-96

Anthocyanes

92-94

byYohan Castaingthe5/11/2021

Fruits frais, notes de cassis, de framboise pour un nez plus terrien et plus graphite que d'habitude. En bouche, on retrouve les fondamentaux de la propriété avec de la densité contenue, de beaux tanins, du jus et une texture charnue. Attendons les élevages mais ce vin pourrait gagner en enrobage.

Falstaff

91-93

byPeter Moserthe5/10/2021

Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, breitere Randaufhellung. Zart nach Nougat, feine Brombeerfrucht, schwarze Kirschen, dezente Kräuterwürze. Mittlere Komplexität, feine Fruchtsüße, reife Kirschen, seidige Tannine, angenehme mineralische Textur, ein Hauch von Schokolade, bereits entwickelt.

My Bettane + Desseauve

96

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/7/2021

Jamessuckling.com

93-94

byJames Sucklingthe4/23/2021

Blackberry and spice with firm, chewy tannins that show polish and focus. It’s medium-to full-bodied with excellent energy. Blackberry and blackcurrant character on the finish with a touch of cedar and spice.