Lafon Rochet is schitterend en intrigerend in 2017. De stijl ligt volgens Basile Tesseron in de lijn van 2008, 2012 en 2014 en dat is zeker OK voor ons. Samen met Jean-Claude Berrouet vervaardigde hij een mooie Saint Estèphe Grand Cru Classé die smaakt naar meer en dus zijn plaats opeist bij een excellente familiale keuken, met talloze mensen rond de tafel. Hij is digest en verkwikkend, animeert het gesprek met krokant fruit en gulle intensiteit. De stijl van 2017 “lukt” met deze charmerende Lafon Rochet en de wijn is al uw aandacht waard: niet te zacht, niet te warm, niet te hard, niet te betweterig… Een Saint Estèphe die poëzie uitstraalt, zoals Jean-Claude Berrouet zou zeggen. 55% Cabernet Franc, 34% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, en 5% Petit Verdot. Bravo!
IN DE PERS
91-93 Neal Martin – vinous.com (Mei 2018)
The 2017 Lafon-Rochet has matured in 50% new oak and the remainder in one-year old. I have to say, the bouquet is very expressive with plenty of blackberry, wild hedgerow, oyster shell and pressed flower that blossom in the glass. It is very well defined and more sophisticated than I have detected in recent vintages. Perhaps this is the first vintage where the new winery, replete with concrete vats, has really played a serious role in meliorating quality. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, quite saline in the mouth with just a hint of black olive. There is a slightly grainy texture with a sustained peppery finish, completing a crisp and vivacious Lafon-Rochet that should please many wine-lovers. Expect this to land at the top of my banded score. Drink 2020-2040.
89-91 Antonio Galloni – vinous.com (Mei 2018)
The 2017 Lafon-Rochet is wonderfully deep and fleshy, but in the mid-weight style that is typical of the year. Dark red and purplish fruit, lavender, licorice, spice and leather all flesh out in this attractive, if somewhat understated, wine from Lafon-Rochet. Silky tannins accompany the mid-weight finish nicely. The 2017 is a very pretty wine, although it is a touch light in this vintage. Tasted three times.
93 Jane Anson – decanter.com (April 2018)
This is a lovely St-Estèphe this year, firm and bright with bristling fruit right out of the gate - hugely unusual to see that this year. This is one of my favourites, and is totally charming with its cassis and damson fruit, but it's the juice and friendly tension that sets it apart. Silky and enjoyable. Buy. Drink 2025-2040.
85-87 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW – robertparker.com (April 2018)
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Lafon-Rochet gives up subtle cassis and black cherry notes with hints of sautéed herbs, damp soil and pencil lead. Medium-bodied and slightly thin in the mouth, it has a well-played chewy texture and nice freshness, finishing with an herbal lift.
92-93 James Suckling – jamessuckling.com (Maart 2018)
Solid, ultra-clean 2017 with a very pretty core of fruit and chewy tannins. Flavorful and fresh. Extremely long and focused.
16,5/20 Julia Harding MW – jancisrobinson.com (April 2018)
Tangy, almost salty, nose. Smooth, layered, very fine texture. Not hugely fruity but balanced with a long, elegant aftertaste following a relatively light mid palate. Longer than it is deep but attractive. Drink 2024-2032
91 Jean-Marc Quarin – quarin.fr (April 2018)
87-90 James Molesworth – winespectator.com (Maart 2018)
16,5-17/20 Revue des Vins de France – rvf.com (April 2018)
92-94 Roger Voss – wineenthusiast.com (April 2018) | 
