2017 Château Lafon-Rochet

Description

“This is a lovely St-Estèphe this year, firm and bright with bristling fruit right out of the gate – hugely unusual to see that this year. This is one of my favourites, and is totally charming with its cassis and damson fruit, but it’s the juice and friendly tension that sets it apart. Silky and enjoyable. Buy. Drinking Window 2025 – 2040” (5/2018) Jane Anson for Decanter

“The 2017 Lafon-Rochet has matured in 50% new oak and the remainder in one-year old. I have to say, the bouquet is very expressive with plenty of blackberry, wild hedgerow, oyster shell and pressed flower that blossom in the glass. It is very well defined and more sophisticated than I have detected in recent vintages. Perhaps this is the first vintage where the new winery, replete with concrete vats, has really played a serious role in meliorating quality. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, quite saline in the mouth with just a hint of black olive. There is a slightly grainy texture with a sustained peppery finish, completing a crisp and vivacious Lafon-Rochet that should please many wine-lovers. Expect this to land at the top of my banded score. Drink 2020 – 2040.” (5/2018) Neal Martin for Vinous

“Solid, ultra-clean 2017 with a very pretty core of fruit and chewy tannins. Flavorful and fresh. Extremely long and focused.” (5/2018) James Suckling

“The 2017 Lafon-Rochet is wonderfully deep and fleshy, but in the mid-weight style that is typical of the year. Dark red and purplish fruit, lavender, licorice, spice and leather all flesh out in this attractive, if somewhat understated, wine from Lafon-Rochet. Silky tannins accompany the mid-weight finish nicely. The 2017 is a very pretty wine, although it is a touch light in this vintage. Tasted three times.” (5/2018) Antonio Galloni for Vinous