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Quite often in October, during the grape harvest, a cloud of morning mist rises from the estuary to cover Saint-Estèphe. Yet at the end of the road, perched on the top of a hill, Lafon Rochet, the yellow château, illuminates the appellation like the Cordouan lighthouse, guarding its southern entrance.
Classified in 1855 like its prestigious neighbors, Cos d’Estournel and Lafite Rothschild, Lafon Rochet’s history dates back to the 16th century. Prestigious families succeeded one another until the arrival of Guy Tesseron in 1960. A virtuoso of Cognac, this Charentais with a sharp business sense, but above all a landowner, sees in this estate a future like no other. The single vineyard surrounding the house appealed to him, not only because of its location, but also because of its potential. For while the Médoc is famous for its gravel, there’s no doubt that the greatest terroirs are above all clay, and Lafon Rochet has large, beautiful plots planted on this blue clay, the envy of the world.
Rebuilding the vineyard takes time, and Guy’s son Michel, who took over the estate in 1999 with the help of his sister Caroline Poniatowska, knows all about it… It will take several generations to give Lafon Rochet its rightful place. In fact, there are now three generations of Tesserons at the head of the vineyard, with Michel’s son Basile joining the ship in 2007.
Often defined by journalists and connoisseurs alike as one of Bordeaux’s best value-for-money estates, Lafon Rochet never seems to stop progressing, and recent investments in the winery do not belie this. The choice to develop the wine in raw concrete and stainless steel vats is a bold but above all judicious one. Vinification benefits from the well-known advantages of both materials: the porosity and inertia of concrete, and the neutrality and reactivity of stainless steel.
Château Lafon-Rochet 2014 is a classic vintage, a wine built on natural power, with a very fleshy, very round attack, balanced, silky sweetness. The second part of the palate is more classic, tauter. The long finish reflects this year’s gentle, patient style.
CHATEAU LAFON-ROCHET 2014 IS AVAILABLE AT AN AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF 32 EUROS
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