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CHÂTEAU LAFON ROCHET 2015
WINE TASTING NOTES
ABOUT THE WINE
Appellation | Saint Estephe
Classification | 4th Growth AOC St Estephe
Grape | 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot
Ageing | At least 12 months in barrels
Tasting Notes | The nose is elegant, relatively complex and thin. There are notes of black fruit (black cherry, blackcurrant) associated with a small note of blueberry, graphite, toasted woody and fine notes of spices. The palate is balanced, fruity, sweet, greedy, precise and offers a nice tension. Good silky material in the mouth. The tannins are well conducted and elegant
Pairing | Red and white meat, game meat and cheese
Drinking | 2020-2035
Critic Notes / Awards | Wine Enthusiast: 95, James Suckling: 93, Decanter: 92, Robert Parker: 91
ABOUT THE CHÂTEAU
What we know of today as Château Lafon Rochet in St. Estephe, dates back to the middle of the 17th century. The estate was founded In 1650, when Antoinette de Guillemotte, brought the land of Rochette as her dowry to her husband, Pierre de Lafon. Shortly after they were married, following the custom of the day, they renamed the estate, using their last name, coupled with the previous name of the property, Château Rochet, and Château Lafon Rochet was born.
While many Bordeaux vineyards were confiscated during the French Revolution, that did not happen to Lafon Rochet. In fact, the Left Bank estate remained the property of the same family for more than two centuries.
Chateau Lafon Rochet the Modern Age -
Everything changed at Château Lafon Rochet in 1959 when Guy Tesseron purchased the estate. The property needed extensive work as it had fallen into a dilapidated state. The Tesseron family, under the direction of Guy Tesseron completely renovated Lafon Rochet from top to bottom. Much of the land needed to be replanted in part, but the grape varieties that already existed in the vineyards were planted in the wrong types of soils for their varietal. The Merlot was in the gravel and the Cabernets were in the clay.
Even the Château had to be replaced! In fact, Château Lafon Rochet is the only 1855 Classified growth with a new chateau that was constructed in the 20th century!
In 1999, after being in the Bordeaux wine trade for more than four decades, Michel Tesseron, took over the property and decided to change the classic style of the 18th century design that was created for the chateau. Michel Tesseron did it by adding some color to Lafon Rochet in 2000.
Chateau Lafon Rochet is still in the Tesseron family hands. Currently the Saint Estephe property is ably managed by the son of Michel Terreron, Basile Tesseron. It is Basile Tesseron who is helping usher Château Lafon Rochet into the modern age.
Current Owner: Basile Tesseron
Farming: Hand picked harvesting. Lafon Rochet continues to experiment with various farming techniques. Over time they have tried using organic farming on at least 10% of their vineyards, but the results were not what they were hoping for so still a work in progress.
Vines: 37 years of age