Chateau Lafon Rochet 2014

JAMES SUCKLING: „Here’s a St.-Estèphe that’s really appealing young but also has good aging potential. Great balance between crisp acidity, ripe fruit and elegant dry tannins. The finish is long and rather subtle. Hard not to drink now."

DECANTER: „Appealing, fresh and bright in colour, with lively characters in the glass. Doesn't have the weight of a warmer vintage but makes up for this with freshness and purity. Some herbal elements on the nose, touches of liquorice and blackcurrant fruit on the palate which exhibits fine tannins. Will still improve with further cellaring. An underrated but very successful vintage in St-Estèphe."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: „Could this be the best wine ever from Lafon Rochet? I think so! With its soft, supple textures, blast of ripe, sweet, black, dark red and blue fruit, coupled with its long, character filled finish, this was showing quite nicely indeed. Age will only improve this wine from here. The wine was produced from a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: „Big-hearted fruit dominates this smooth wine. The estate, owned by the Tesseron family and close to their other property of Pontet-Canet, is performing well and it shows in this juicy ripe wine, full of generous tannins. The aftertaste shows both acidity and concentration."

JANCIS ROBINSON: „66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot. Tasted blind. Sweeter than most wines of this appellation. And smoother. Though there is muscle and charm here. Should not disappoint. Lots of drive and a confident, quite nuanced finish."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: „The 2014 Lafon Rochet has a very attractive, slightly floral bouquet with raspberry and crushed strawberry fruit, a touch of rose petals lending this a feminine allure. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, ripe tannins. This feels quite dense in the mouth, a welcome pinch of white pepper and cedar lending complexity to the finish with tart cherries on the aftertaste. This is probably more forward than other Saint Estephe wines, but it should give 15-20 years of pleasure."

WINE SPECTATOR: „This delivers a direct beam of red and black currant fruit mixed with a note of blood orange. Picks up tobacco and warm stone accents through the finish. Best from 2018 through 2026."