2016 Chateau Lafon Rochet (750ml)
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Wine Type
Red Wine
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Size
750ml
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Vintage
2016
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Country
France
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Region
Bordeaux
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Sub-Region
Saint Estephe
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Grape
Blend
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Farming Method
ConventionalMost products with this label come from producers who do their best to avoid any intervention at all but it’s possible that some of the aforementioned preventative measures and additions are deemed necessary. Learn More
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ABV
14%
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Food Pairing
Aged CheeseBeefLamb
Château Lafon-Rochet is a family-owned estate in St Estèphe, Bordeaux. It dates back to the 17th century. In 1855 it was one of the 61 estates represented at the Exhibition in Paris to form the classification of the Medoc. In 1960 Guy Tesseron becomes the owner of the estate and many great vintages are crafted during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1999 Guy entrusts the estate to his children, Michel and Caroline who take steps to modernize the estate on all levels, even painting it a vibrant bright yellow. In turn Michel passes the estate to his son Bastille who further improves builds cellars, one equipped with stainless steel vats and another concrete tanks.
41 hectares of vines cover two outcrops in Saint Estèphe. On one side gravel ensures exceptional natural drainage, on the other side, clay regulates an excess or lack of water, providing the vines with what they need. 57% of the vineyard is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by 37% Merlot and smaller parcels of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The average age of the vines is 37 years.
Tasting Notes
Château Lafon-Rochet is a wine that is both simple and complex, it expresses aromas of black fruits in the majority of vintages, there is really a fade and a particular expression of Saint-Estèphe, a certain warmth and roundness while finesse from the Merlot grape variety. The 2016 has an enticing bouquet of red and black fruit intermingled with pencil shavings and earth that continues to evolve and open in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, showing a fine line of acidity, ripe and generous with good tension. Fruit notes and a touch of peppercorn on the long and satisfying finish.
Method
This is the estate’s “grand vin”, their flagship wine; it comes from the oldest vines. The 2016 vintage is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvigon, 25% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The grapes are hand harvested by a team of experienced harvesters from Portugal who has been harvesting at Lafon Rochet for the last 30 years. The juice ferments in a combination of stainless steel and concrete tanks and the wine ages for at least 12 months in barrel before bottling.
Our Thoughts
If you’re searching for a wine as a gift or to commemorate a special occasion, then look no further than this beautiful Bordeaux. Layers of milk chocolate, blueberries, pencil shavings, and sweet tobacco combine forming an entrancing nose. This wine is just coming into its drinking window and will continue to age and develop over the next 10-15 years.
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