Château Lafon-Rochet is a winery in the Saint-Estèphe appellation of the Bordeaux region of France. The wine produced here was classified as one of ten Quatrièmes Crus (Fourth Growths) in the historic Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.

History

The Chateau is owned by the Tesseron family who made their fortune in the Cognac trade and also own Château Pontet-Canet. Purchased by Guy Tesseron in the 1960s, it was the first Médoc chateau to be rebuilt in the 20th century.

In 2007, Basile Tesseron joined his father in order to continue the work started by his grandfather, who had already initiated the young Basile into the subtleties of the aromas and flavours of cognac. With passion, humour and ambition, Basile pursued the work of his predecessors enabling Lafon-Rochet to live on through the centuries. He began by redesigning the vat room of the property, reviving the quest for excellence and quality in keeping with the exceptional terroir and the human and family values that have punctuated 5 centuries of adventure. Lafon-Rochet is a story of wine, men and taste.

Vineyards

The grapes follow the same grandmother’s recipe for the cultivation of old apple trees, of which apples have more taste, a genuine flavour and a very particular length that is not only due to the variety but at the age of this apple tree. Coming from the oldest wines of the vineyard, they bear less fruit, but offer greater complexity. 

Wines

Lafon-Rochet is a wine that is both simple and complex, it expresses aromas of black fruit in most vintages. There is truly a blend and features specific to Saint-Estèphe, a certain warmth and roundness, full of delicacy coming from Merlot’s grape variety. The Chateau has 45 ha planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Lafon-Rochet previously had a reputation for very tough, tannic wines. In recent vintages, the increase usage of Merlot has soften the blend. A second wine is produced under the label Les Pelerins de Lafon-Rochet.