2022 Lafon-Rochet (St-Estephe)

The 2022 Lafon-Rochet was bottled in June 2024. This has a delightful, well-defined bouquet with pure aromas of blackberry and blueberry with touches of iris flower percolating through. This is nicely controlled. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. It is "old-school" Lafon-Rochet in a way and introspective compared to others, with firm grip. This is "serious" with a tannic, slightly briny finish. Give this three to five years in bottle. 92 points

The 2022 Lafon-Rochet is pure class. Silky, aromatic and gracious, Lafon-Rochet is quite possibly the most under-the-radar Saint-Estephe. Bright blue/purplish fruit, lavender, sage, mint and spice are all beautifully delineated. A wine of sublime elegance and class, Lafon-Rochet is exquisite in 2022. 96 points

Baked plum, damson, black pepper, edges of cut herbs and dried rose petals, campfire smoke and soot. This is intense but has an aromatic quality that hugs through the palate, and the tannins are plentiful but well controlled. 50% new oak plus some large oak casks, and 400l barrels; almost 60% 1st wine, down from 70% last year (in a better vintage this year, really an indication of the focus on quality under the new team). Harvest September 12 to 27. Eric Boissenot consultant together wtih director Christophe Conge, ex Lafite, in his first full vintage. As of 2024 this will be the first Cru Classe in St Estephe to be certified organic. 94 points

The inaugural vintage for winemaker Christophe Conge, the 2022 Lafon-Rochet is an ambitiously styled blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. Offering up aromas of creme de cassis, burning embers and loamy soil, it`s medium to full-bodied, broad and velvety, with supple, generously extracted tannins and a rather lavish, demonstrative profile. It`s a wine crafted to grab one`s attention, but if elevage is kind to it, it may make my score seem conservative. 90-92 points