Chateau Rocheyron 2017

James Suckling: " This has a refined air to the nose with very rich black-fruit aromas and notes of cedar, earth and crushed violets. Tile and terracotta, too. The palate delivers a very concentrated impression. This is a boldly expressed wine, in terms of tannin and flavor. Super tight, concentrated and rich in every respect. Needs some time. Try from 2023."

Jane Anson: "A complicated vintage but Rocheyron delivers, showing delicate rosebud and raspberry leaf character, and a subtle gourmet generosity. This is almost aporoachable now, certainly in a year or two, with a tightrope walk of floralily, sharp minerality and cool blue fruits, very much a physical experience in the mouth. Widens through the palate into creamy raspberry, blueberries, smoked earth, saffron and fennel. A frost vintage, but only impacted the lower parts of the Rocheyron vintage, so almost no impact on the estate's main wine. 30% new oak for ageing, organic farming."

Weinwisser: "Dichtes Granat mit violettem Rand. Intensives Schattenmorellenbouquet, dahinter reife rote Pflaumen, Heidelbeergelee, Lakritze und frischer schwarzer Bergpfeffer. Am Gaumen mit superfeinen Tanninen, erinnert an einen F1-Boliden, hat perfekte Spannung und Tiefe. Im langen Finale mit getrockneten Pflaumenhäuten, Cassis und Rosenholz, zarte Adstringenz."

Decanter: "Impressive for 2017 - a vintage overshadowed by 2016/2018. Cool, intense nose with a touch of menthol; deep and impenetrable colour and crisp, dark berry fruits on the palate. The tannins stand out a bit more than the two preceding vintages but, given the damage from spring frosts in Saint-Emilion, and the higher level of disease pressure in 2017, this is a fine result. Bottled in July, this needs a few months to flesh out but has plenty of ageing potential. Drinking Window 2025 - 2045"

The Wine Cellar Insider: "Lilies, dark cocoa, truffle and juicy, black plum notes pop right from the glass. On the palate, the wine is rich, sweet and round. Inky ruby with purple accents in color, the wine offers a tannic backbone, which requires time in the cellar to clarify the freshness in the lush, fruity character. Like many establishments this year, close to 50% of the vineyard was devastated by the frost."

Wine Spectator: "Crushed plum, red currant and raspberry fruit stretches out, while judicious toast, singed anise and black tea nuances fill in the background. Offers a suave, caressing feel on the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2021 through 2030."

Jancis Robinson: "L'If (tasted alongside) and this wine are very different. This has dusty dark fruit and a more minerally dry finesse in the texture. Almost delicate in its freshness and elegance. Long and cool-tasting, more restrained, compared with the exuberance of L'If. "