2020 Chateau Lafon Rochet

The 2020 Lafon-Rochet represents the essence of classicism in Bordeaux. Medium in body and finely-cut, Lafon-Rochet is one of the classiest, more refined Saint-Estèphes readers will come across. Dark fruit, earthiness, lavender, licorice, menthol and cloves add nuance, but it is the wine's balance and vibrancy that impress most. Give the tannins a few years to melt away. Superb.

- Antonio Galloni (12/2022)

Subtle dried spices and berries with chocolate undertones. It’s medium-bodied with fine tannins and a savory finish. Fresh and bright. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but better in a year or two and onwards. (05/2023)

Showing the pretty, elegant style of the vintage, the 2020 Château Lafon-Rochet exbibits a ruby/purple hue to go with a perfumed bouquet of ripe black cherries, spring flowers, graphite, and violets. Medium-bodied and elegant, with firm tannins, it needs 4-6 years of bottle age and should evolve for two decades in cold cellars. (03/2023)

Lafon-Rochet 2020 has a deep garnet-purple color. It slowly unfurls to offer notes of baked plums and stewed black cherries, leading to wafts of cassis, cedar, and cinnamon toast. The medium-bodied palate is bright and soft, with a lively backbone and spicy lift on the finish. (03/2023)

Plump and open, with a burst of loganberry and mulberry fruit backed by light tobacco, warm earth and savory notes. Shows a savory edge, which moves to the lead on the finish. Solid. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2034. 2,000 cases made.

- J.M.

The 2020 Lafon-Rochet opens in the glass with aromas of cassis, plums and licorice, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep palate with good concentration, lively acids and plenty of powdery structuring tannin that asserts itself on the finish. This, too, is more structured than its 2019 counterpart and will require a bit of patience.

- William Kelley (04/2023)