2018 Chateau Lafon-Rochet - 4eme Cru Classe St. Estephe

Decanter.com – 94 pts – JA: *Smoke and grilled cedar on the nose. Clearly ambitious, this is good-quality, with plenty of power and forward motion, depth of liquorice and a Bendicks Mint feel of bitter chocolate and mint. Precision, depth and power, with years ahead of it, if closed and a little austere right now. Brilliant value among the classifieds. A 46hl/ha yield also, so generous.* - 11/2020

Falstaff Magazin – 92 pts – PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart tabakig unterlegte frische dunkle Beerenfrucht, ein Hauch von reifen Pflaumen, dezente Kräuterwürze, zartes Cassis. Mittlerer Körper, rote Herzkirschen, feine Tannine, gut Frische, mineralischer Nachhall, zeigt Balance und gute Länge, ein facettenreicher Speisenbegleiter. (2020–2040).* - 02/2021

*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.* (90-92/100)

Vinum Magazin – 17/20pts: *Zurückhaltende Nase, bei Belüftung Noten von schwarzen Beeren; fleischiger satter Auftakt, von geschmeidigem Bau, ausgewogen, seidige Gerbstoffe, von guter Länge, harmonisch, endet fruchtig-würzig; liebenswürdig, unglaublich sinnlich, macht schon jetzt Spass und kann doch reifen.* - 09/2021

WeinWisser – 17,5/20pts - WL: *Purpur mit rubinroten Reflexen. Delikate Nase mit Schattenmorellen, roten Johannisbeeren und hellem Tabak. Am druckvollen Gaumen mit cremiger Textur und burschikosem Körper, reifes Tannin, gut stützend. Im gebündelten Finale rote und blaue Beeren, Wachsnoten und endet mit fein spröder Adstringenz. Wird er die höhere Wertung erreichen können?* – 04/2021

*Light pepper and bay leaf accents lead the way, followed by ripe plum and blackberry compote flavors. Juicy and open in feel up front, but acquires a nice tug of earth through the finish.—J.M.* (90-93/100)

JancisRobinson.com – 17,5/20pts – JR: *Tasted blind. Interesting zestiness on the nose. Clean as a whistle on entering the palate and rather restrained but with real class. Great balance and intensity. Long.* - 01/2022

JamesSuckling.com – 93-94pts - JS: * A firm and silky red with blackberries and hints of chocolate and hazelnut character. Medium to full body. Beautiful, fresh finish.*

Vinous.com – 94 pts – AG: *The 2018 Lafon-Rochet is such a classy wine. Power and finesse meld together in this Saint-Estèphe that is gorgeous, right from the very first taste. Black cherry, herbs, leather, licorice and dried flowers all build in the glass. In 2018, Lafon-Rochet is richer and bolder than it usually is, and yet all the elements are so nicely balanced. I would give it a few years in the cellar to allow some of the baby fat to melt away.* - 03/2021

Vinous.com – 93 pts – NM: *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 years of cellaring. One of the best in recent years.* - 03/2021