Château Lafon-Rochet
Château Lafon-Rochet is a fantastic value, forward-thinking estate based within the commune of St-Estephe, on Bordeaux’s left bank. They were classified as a Fourth Growth estate in the notorious 1855 Bordeaux Classification. Over its rich history, the estate has changed hands numerous times, been completely rebuilt and rebranded, and subsequently increased drastically in quality.
The estate sits on the same gravel outcrop as Cos d’Estournel, with a core of Pomerol-clay, and overlooking Chateau Lafite. It has been owned by the Tesseron family since 1960, who resurrected Lafon-Rochet from a state of disrepair after several decades of changing hands frequently. They replanted the vineyards and heavily invested in the estate. Today, Basile Tesseron is at the helm, with the assistance of ex-Petrus winemaker, Jean-Claude Berrouet.
The vineyards are planted to 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. They use 40% new oak for maturation, for a period of approximately 18 months. Over the years, they have increased the proportion of Merlot used in the blend, leading to more supple and elegant wines. These wines show best after 10 years of bottle ageing.
