Proprietor Basile Tesseron may have produced his finest Lafon Rochet to date. The 2010`s inky/blue/purple color is followed by a distinctive bouquet of spring flowers, blueberry pie, blackberry liqueur and crushed rocks. Although a classified growth, this wine is an undeniable sleeper of the vintage as its price remains reasonable. The wine possesses terrific structure, ripe tannins and a voluminous, broad, deep impression on the palate. The fruit intensity, purity and richness suggest 4-5 years of cellaring will be required and the wine will last for 20+ years. 92-94 points

Tasted twice at the UGC and the Château, the Lafon-Rochet has a very lifted, pure bouquet with tarry blackberry, cassis and dark plum, all very well defined although needing time to coalesce. The palate has a tarry, graphite tinged entry, firm, slightly coarse tannins but very good definition on the fresh finish. Again, just a little disjointed at the moment, but the foundations are here for a great wine. Tasted April 2011. 92-94 points

Superb nose of black fruits. clean and elegant, slightly smoky, with a pinch of vanilla. Pretty flesh on the palate, with taste and mature fruits overtones. Good tasty length with extremely well-coated tannic backbone. A wine of poise and balance. I do not know if the press wine has been added - if it has not, the score could well go up. 88-89 points

Dark ruby-red. Deep, pure, perfumed aromas of black fruits, cured tobacco and black tea. Brawny and a bit chunky on the palate with a minty quality to the black fruit and flint flavors. Finishes with big, chewy tannins and a persistent note of cassis. Shows a creamy texture and plenty of palate weight but seems a little unrefined presently. This will need a good eight to ten years in the bottle to harmonize fully and should go on for another 20 after that... 90-93 points