Château Lafon-Rochet 2023

On the nose, plenty of blackcurrant, floral notes, expressive; structured, with tension and tannins finely interwoven with the fruit, showing breed and elegance. Once again, a success.

Cool blue fruits and dark chocolate on the nose with blackcurrant and bramble fruit. Lovely fresh fragrance. Round and textured, a nice filling weight and body to this, almost chewy, juicy and lively, really in balance - very welcoming and generous and verging on charming. I like the pep to this, upbeat and fun, on the high acid side but there’s something very welcoming about it. Chalky and mineral on the finish, a powdery sensation lingers on the tongue. This will need some time to age in oak to soften it a touch and allow it to expand but this is a stylish 2023. 55% grand vin production. The estate will be certified organic as of the 2024 vintage. 3.75pH.

The 2023 Lafon-Rochet is much more intense and fresher than the Pélerins, graphite- and tobacco-tinged black fruit, just a light floral note in the background. Well-defined. The palate is medium-bodied with a supple entry, fine tannins, classic in style with quite a liberal sprinkling of cracked black pepper. Quite graphite-driven on the finish, afford this three or four years in bottle to get the most from it.

The combination of blackberries, flowers, spice, and tobacco is the perfect entree to the wine. The palate is medium-bodied, vibrant, fresh, and gentle, with softness and polish to the mid-palate and a peppery finish. The wine was made from blending 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2028-2045.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections. Dark plum fruit, black cherries, fine savouriness, candied oranges. Firm, tight-knit minerality, red cherries, vivid tannins, red-berry nuances on the finish, a delicate leafy touch, a good food wine.

Confident colour extraction: this is dark ruby yet nuanced, with vibrant reflections. After two years with Christophe Congé as director, you can begin to see greater precision and focus in the construction of the wine, with blackberry and bilberry fruits set against slate and smoked earth. Balanced alcohol, firm tannins. All four varieties are in the blend.

Score: 92–94. The nose is welcoming, with notes of ripe fruit and powdery floral aromas. After a supple attack, the palate reveals itself rich and luxurious, carried by a racy mineral framework that stretches through to the finish.

A lovely fruity nose, elegant and precise, with well-judged concentration, purity, fine grain and a fresh, textured feel. It shows notes of fresh blackberry, pulpy/fresh raspberry and, more subtly, small pulpy fruits, with fine hints of smoke and star anise, plus a touch of morello cherry and infusion. The palate is beautifully mineral, fresh, balanced and multidimensional, offering brightness, fine concentration, deliciousness, a fresh-textured profile, and well-managed, discreet bitters in the background. It reveals notes of juicy/ripe blackberry, blackcurrant, roasted raspberry and, more subtly, licorice (zan), toasted tones, with fine hints of cardamom, fresh-toast, grilled nuances, as well as delicate almost-fresh-flower notes in the background and a subtle hint of fresh black tea. Good length. The tannins are savory and gourmand. A fine suppleness at the finish/persistence. Nicely mineral. Attractive juiciness from the bitters on the finish (grilled bitters, sappy bitters and cocoa-tinged bitters). Lovely mouth-coating suppleness.

A dense, silky palate with indulgent flavors of morello cherry jam and raspberry, a retro-olfactory note of toast, yet only 40% new oak, complemented by 13‑hl foudres and 400‑L barrels. Everything is designed to preserve the tightly framed fruit within a structure of very fine tannins. The finish goes the distance.