The Tesseron family has been owner here since 1959, and also at Ch Pontet-Canet in Pauillac since 1975. When current Managing Director Basile Tesseron joined his father at Lafon-Rochet in 2006, the estate was still very much in the shadow of Pontet-Canet, despite being barely half a mile from its vines, and sandwiched directly between Cos d’Estournel and Ch Lafite. Under Basile’s management, Lafon-Rochet has slowly but surely become one of the most exciting estates in the Médoc. It has borrowed some of the artisan philosophy of Ponet-Canet in terms of biodynamic and organic practices (the 2016 is the first Lafon-Rochet that is 100% organic), investment has been made in vineyards and winery, and the great Jean-Claude Berrouet (who was winemaker at Ch Pétrus for 40 years) is now their wine making consultant. The greater quality here is startling: the 2016 is the best Lafon-Rochet that we have ever tasted.
In 2016, the wine was made from 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. It is deep purple in colour, with expressive, finely perfumed violet and blackcurrant aromas. The palate is richly structured around a tightly-knit, concentrated, pure middle, with a lively, multi-layered, fresh, gently tannic finish. This is a beautiful, elegant wine – a great success story (for drinking 2022-2036+).