In Bond Fine Wine. 2018 Château Lafon Rochet, Saint-Estephe, Bordeaux, France. Fourth Growth • Red Bordeaux in 6x75cl. Top critic score: 94/100 (JA). Drinking window: 2024–2044. Sold in bond by Albany Vintners, independent fine wine merchants.
Julia Harding MW (JH) — 17/20 · JancisRobinson.com, 23/04/2019 · Drink 2028-2038
Barrel sample. Deepest crimson core with wide purple rim. Unusual nose: wild black fruits, vibrant fruit. Intense too, a bit like a blackcurrant pastille. Really expressive on the nose. Chocolate flavour and texture on the palate, not as vibrant as I expected from the nose, perhaps just all curled up inside the oak. The freshness on the finish is lovely. And the finish very long. Very good. (JH)
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW (LPB) — 90–92/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 23/04/2019
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Lafon-Rochet is scented of cassis, blackberries, herbs and soil with tar and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is firm and grainy with herb sparks and an earthy finish.
Neal Martin (NM) — 93/100 · Vinous, 22/08/2021 · Drink 2024 - 2044
The 2018 Lafon-Rochet has an intense bouquet of black and red fruit, touches of wild mint and incense. It is still a pretty and engaging nose, just as I found from barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, fine backbone and ' what I really appreciate ' superb precision and detail toward the saline finish. This is a classy, quite sophisticated Lafon-Rochet that deserves four or five…