Chateau Lafon Rochet 2018

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This wine comes from an estate that is performing with distinction. It is rich, the tannins cushioned by ripe blackberry fruits and good acidity. Showing both structure and fruitiness, the wine will develop well, everything in balance. Drink from 2026."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Blackberry and blueberry on the nose, as well as dark-chocolate, mineral and earthy undertones. It’s full-bodied with firm tannins. Fleshy and savory texture with layers. Flavorful finish and beautiful length. Lovely ripe fruit in the center palate. Try after 2025."

DECANTER: "Smoke and grilled cedar on the nose. Clearly ambitious, this is good-quality, with plenty of power and forward motion, depth of liquorice and a Bendicks Mint feel of bitter chocolate and mint. Precision, depth and power, with years ahead of it, if closed and a little austere right now. Brilliant value among the classifieds. A 46hl/ha yield also, so generous. Drinking Window 2026 - 2040"

JEB DUNNUCK: "The upper Médoc did brilliantly in 2018, and that's certainly apparent when tasting the 2018 Château Lafon-Rochet. Sporting a deep purple hue as well as a gorgeous bouquet of ripe black and blue fruits, lead pencil, forest floor, chocolate, and leafy herbs, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a round, mouth-filling texture, ripe, velvety tannins, and a great finish. It doesn't quite have the precision of the top wines in the appellation, but it's loaded with charm and character, and I'd certainly be thrilled to drink a bottle. This rich, textured, flavorful Saint-Estèphe will benefit from 4-6 years in the cellar and keep for two decades."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Espresso, flowers, cocoa, tobacco leaf, wet earth and red pit fruit aromas are all over the place. The wine is rich, round, juicy and loaded with sweet, lifted red fruits. The tannins are soft, the freshness provides the right amount of lift and you find intriguing notes of spice and spearmint in the finish. Give it a just a few years to soften and develop additional nuances and enjoy it over the following 2 decades or more. The wine was made from blending 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc."

WEINWISSER: "Purpur mit rubinroten Reflexen. Delikate Nase mit Schattenmorellen, roten Johannisbeeren und hellem Tabak. Am druckvollen Gaumen mit cremiger Textur und burschikosem Körper, reifes Tannin, gut stützend. Im gebündelten Finale rote und blaue Beeren, Wachsnoten und endet mit fein spröder Adstringenz. Wird er die höhere Wertung erreichen können?"

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart tabakig unterlegte frische dunkle Beerenfrucht, ein Hauch von reifen Pflaumen, dezente Kräuterwürze, zartes Cassis. Mittlerer Körper, rote Herzkirschen, feine Tannine, gut Frische, mineralischer Nachhall, zeigt Balance und gute Länge, ein facettenreicher Speisenbegleiter. (2020–2040)"

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Interesting zestiness on the nose. Clean as a whistle on entering the palate and rather restrained but with real class. Great balance and intensity. Long."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Seductive, with a gush of dark plum and blackberry preserve notes leading off, while light bay, dark tobacco and charcoal notes peek through. Has a racy edge through the finish, even with the warm fruit keeping the upper hand. Nicely done. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2032."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Lafon-Rochet delivers impactful scents of baked blackberries, warm cassis and black cherry compote, with suggestions of chargrill, tar and tobacco leaf, plus a waft of wild mushrooms. The medium to full-bodied palate is laden with black fruit preserves and earthy accents, supported by firm, chewy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with great length, if a little chewy."