2010 Chateau Lafon-Rochet St. Estephe

Pro Reviews

Wine Spectactor (WS)

Features a dark currant and blackberry coulis core, surrounded by charcoal, singed savory and light coffee notes. The solid, firm, taut finish should let this linger in the cellar for a decade. Best from 2014 through 2024. 10,000 cases made. –JM

Wine Advocate (WA)

Proprietor Basile Tesseron may have produced his finest Lafon Rochet to date. The 2010’s inky/blue/purple color is followed by a distinctive bouquet of spring flowers, blueberry pie, blackberry liqueur and crushed rocks. Although a classified growth, this wine is an undeniable sleeper of the vintage as its price remains reasonable. The wine possesses terrific structure, ripe tannins and a voluminous, broad, deep impression on the palate. The fruit intensity, purity and richness suggest 4-5 years of cellaring will be required and the wine will last for 20+ years.

Vinous Media (VM)

Dark ruby-red. Deep, pure, perfumed aromas of black fruits, cured tobacco and black tea. Brawny and a bit chunky on the palate with a minty quality to the black fruit and flint flavors. Finishes with big, chewy tannins and a persistent note of cassis. Shows a creamy texture and plenty of palate weight but seems a little unrefined presently. This will need a good eight to ten years in the bottle to harmonize fully and should go on for another 20 after that. Incidentally, I sampled this wine three times and once it was vegetal and green; my guess is that it was the sample. The other two samples were superb, and are the basis for my score. – Ian D’Agata