Château Lafon-Rochet 2016 (St-Estèphe 4ème Cru Classé) is a classic, finely balanced Bordeaux with focused blackcurrant and plum fruit, gravelly minerality and sweet spice. Structured yet elegant, it combines fresh acidity, polished tannins and well-integrated oak, offering both early pleasure and excellent aging potential.

Decanter | D 95
Published: Apr 20, 2025

A St-Estèphe fourth growth with a bright future, Château Lafon-Rochet has been going through a quiet renaissance under the Tesseron family and, since 2021, the Lorenzetti family, which also owns Lilian Ladouys (St-Estèphe) and Pédesclaux (Pauillac 5GCC). The vineyard covers 45ha of gravel and clay, planted mainly to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The 2016 is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, vinified in both concrete and stainless steel vats, and aged for 12 months in oak barrels, 50% new. Georgie Hindle: Blackcurrant and plum, fleshy and focused. Less demonstrative than some, but has definition and persistence. Juicy strawberries, cranberries and raspberries, tannic but not too dry, with sweetly spiced oak on the finish. Vincenzo Arnese: Fresh and young. A bit shy, but the palate is rich with good intensity. A powerful style, showing good integration of oak and a pleasant finish. Robert Mathias MW: Spice, incense and nutmeg aromas. Dark cherry and cassis fruit is very focused. Gravelly mineral core and bright acidity. Real balance and tension here.
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 14.00%
Body: Medium
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 6% Cabernet Franc 67% Cabernet Sauvignon 25% Merlot

James Suckling | JS 94
Published: Jan 19, 2019

An explosion of all manner of black berries with discreet, toasty and smoky oak, makes this a joyful St.-Estèphe. Then the great balance of ripeness, lively acidity and velvety tannins come together beautifully at the elegant finish to make this the best wine from this producer in modern times. Needs two or three years to soften. Try in 2022.

The Wine Advocate | RP 91-93
Published: Apr 28, 2017

The 2016 Lafon Rochet is a blend of 25% Merlot, 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot and 6% Cabernet Franc cropped at 46 hectoliters per hectare and matured in 50% new oak. The harvest was between 1 October and 20 October. The alcohol is 13.6%, which is just a little higher here than say Cos d'Estournel or Montrose. It has a very succinct bouquet with blackberry, bilberry and light oyster shell aromas, classic in style, more reserved than I found the 2015 Lafon Rochet last year. The palate is medium-bodied with powerful tannin on the entry, a keen line of acidity (3.65 pH), fine symmetry with a pleasant rondeur on the finish sprinkled with black pepper and tobacco. This is a very fine Lafon Rochet from Basile Tesseron and his team.

Jancis Robinson | JR 17.5
Published: Jan 23, 2020
Drink: 2026-2040

Tasted blind. Firm and minerally with lots of ripe, correct fruit in the middle. Very St-Estèphe. Dry finish but not drying tannins. Whizzy and lively and pure pleasure for fans of this commune.