Chateau Lafon-Rochet Saint Estephe 2016 750ml

Name: Chateau Lafon-Rochet Saint Estephe 2016 750ml
Brand: Chateau Lafon-Rochet
SKU: 874663
Price: 51.95 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 95 (6 reviews)

size

750ml

country

France

region

Bordeaux

appellation

Saint Estephe

6 Ratings

See 6 Professional Reviews

Additional vintages

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2000 1999 1996 1995 1990 1986

Rated 95 by Vinous Media

The 2016 Lafon-Rochet has a very engaging bouquet, a mixture of red and black fruit laced with pencil shavings and loamy scents. In fact, the more you nose this wine, the more its complexity becomes apparent. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a fine line of acidity, ripe and generous yet maintaining outstanding tension and revealing a judicious touch of peppercorns on the finish, which fans out gloriously. This is a fabulous Lafon-Rochet and certainly the best bottle of 2016 that I have encountered. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. ... More details

Chateau Lafon-Rochet Saint Estephe 2016 750ml

Rated 95 by Vinous Media

Rated 94 by Wine Enthusiast

Now producing impressive wines, this estate has made a firm, rich wine in this vintage. Its tannins are very present, but they have a velvet edge that is immediately attractive. Not that the wine won't age: its structure and good acidity will see to that. Drink from 2025. (Cellar Selection)

Rated 94 by James Suckling

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.

Rated 93 by Decanter

Based on 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot, the 2016 Château Lafon-Rochet comes from healthy yields of 46 hectoliter per hectare and was raised in 50% new barrels. While I wasn't able to taste this wine on release (I purchased this bottle locally), it's certainly showing potential today. Deep purple/plum-hued, it has a ripe, powerful bouquet of blackberries, truffly earth, licorice, bay leaf, and spicy oak. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated Saint Estèphe with a solid spine of acidity, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age and should have two decades of prime drinking. I don't think this matches the brilliant 2019, but it's not far off.

Rated 93 by Wine Advocate

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.

Rated 93 by Wine Spectator

This is vivid, with a mix of steeped red and black currant coulis flavors streaming through, while ample savory, bay leaf, tobacco and warm stone notes course underneath. The elements meld wonderfully on the finish, revealing a tug of savory and earth at the very end. Best from 2023 through 2033. 8,333 cases made.

Sample image only. Please see Item description for product Information. When ordering the item shipped will match the product listing if there are any discrepancies. Do not order solely on the label if you feel it does not match product description

Chateau Lafon-Rochet Saint Estephe 2016 750ml

SKU 874663

Case Only Purchase

Long-term Pre-Arrival

$623.40

/case

$51.95

/750ml bottle

Quantity

min order 12 bottles

Add to Cart

* This is a Long-term Pre-arrival item and is available for online ordering only. This item will ship on a future date after a 4-8 months transfer time. For additional details about Pre-arrival Items please visit our FAQ page.

Professional Ratings

Rated 95 by Vinous Media

Rated 94 by Wine Enthusiast

Rated 94 by James Suckling

Rated 93 by Decanter

Rated 93 by Wine Advocate

Rated 93 by Wine Spectator

Product Details

size

750ml

country

France

region

Bordeaux

appellation

Saint Estephe

Additional vintages

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2000 1999 1996 1995 1990 1986

Overview

Varietal: Red Bordeaux

The Bordeaux method of blending quality grape varietals is something which has long been imitated and envied around the world. Whilst there are six Bordeaux grape varietals allowed for the production of red wine in this region of France â€“ Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and CarmÃ©nere â€“ the most common and widely used combination involves a careful blend of the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, usually with a small percentage of Petit Verdot to boost the overall flavor and balance things out. This process accentuates the finer points of all these varietals, and takes the astringency of one type whilst rounding it out and mellowing it with the light tannins and fleshiness of another. The results are rarely short of spectacular, and are perfect for oak aging, where the flavorful magic of Bordeaux wine making can really take place, and the complex aromas and characteristics can truly come forward.

Region: Bordeaux

Of all the wine regions in France, the mostly highly esteemed and famous is surely Bordeaux. Most commonly associated with their superb examples of blended red wines, usually made with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot varietals, Bordeaux consistently demonstrates that their mix of traditional and modern wine-making styles is the recipe for fame and success. The region benefits greatly from its humid climate, and the fact that its clay and gravel based soils are perfect for growing the fine grape varietals which flourish there. The region is split into quite distinct sub-regions, with the finest generally believed to be the Left Bank and the MÃ©doc region, where many of the most well known chateaux are based and produce their wonderful red and white wines.

Country: France

It is widely understood and accepted that the finest wines in the world come out of France. Whether you are drinking a vintage bottle from one of the famed Grand Cru wineries of Bordeaux - such as Chateau Margaux or Chateau Lafite-Rothschild - or a more simple and affordable bottle from one of the lesser known appellations in Burgundy, the likelihood is that the wine is packed full of intense and interesting flavors, and has a fine, balanced structure typical of almost all French produce. This reputation for excellence is taken extremely serious by the French, with dozens of regularly updated laws and regulations ensuring the quality and accurate labeling of wines. Such dedication and passion for fine wine, representative of the region in which it is produced, means customers can be assured that when they buy a bottle from France, they are buying something almost certain to please and delight.

Customer Reviews

There have been no reviews for this product.

Also Recommended

Picture

Product Name

Vintage

Price

Highest Rating

Varietal

Country

Region

Appellation