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Red
2003 Château Lafon-Rochet
Red Bordeaux Blend
- France
- Bordeaux
- Médoc
- St. Estèphe
Label borrowed from 2004
Label borrowed from 2004
Label borrowed from 2004
Label borrowed from 2004
Label borrowed from 2002
Label borrowed from 2002
Label borrowed from 2002
Label borrowed from 2004
Label borrowed from 2004
Label borrowed from 2004
Label borrowed from 2005
Label borrowed from 2005
Label borrowed from 2005
Label borrowed from 2001
Community Tasting Notes 170
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ledocq Likes this wine:
June 15, 2019 - More "interesting" than "good," this took an hour to resolve in the glass. Once it did, I was having more of an intellectual experience than that easy "am I enjoying this wine" thing. That's because it has all the components of mature Bordeaux and none of the excitements. It's..fine. Just fine. So I was having to ask myself if I prefer this phase to the youthful fruit kind of thing. No? No, I don't? Drying, drying tannins, like licking a chalkboard.
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Xavier Auerbach wrote: 91 points
May 24, 2019 - Ninth bottle from a full case purchased in 2005. Pristine. Decanted for one hour. Completely ready but with time in hand. It has now reached that stage where the component parts which contribute to its character are all well expressed, and tertiary evolution (beef stock) starts to set in. The tannins are not drying but quite tight, with gravel and clay minerality and the warmth of its Merlots; the finish is a bit pinched, but overall this Château has dealt very well with the difficulties of the vintage.
2 people found this helpful Comment -
EricLi wrote: 90 points
February 1, 2019 - Fruit, Tannins, acidity and alcohol together have a somewhat harmony. Not too exciting. Feel it would be better with than without food. No need to wait and no hurry to drink.
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Julian Marshall wrote: 88 points
January 27, 2019 - I really enjoyed my last bottle, back in 2011, and this has none of the burnt flavours of other 2003s, but it couldn't match the Ferrière 00 tasted alongside. The nose is reticent, with blackcurrant and dark, earthy notes. In the mouth, burly and masculine, even after six hours in the decanter - blackcurrant and red berries, but mostly Xmas cake flavours and a little stodgy. It never gets out of second gear. Probably a bad phase, hence the score (in real terms this would have got 84 or 85), but I'll come back to it in another three years time.
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Paul D wrote: 88 points
January 17, 2019 - 2003 Bordeaux (Piccolino, Exchange Square, London): Nose shows blackcurrant fruit and a touch of gravelly mineral. Palate is full bodied with ripe dark fruit, a touch of mineral, beefy notes, moderate acidity some firm tannins on the medium/good length finish.
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More notes
Pro Reviews 8
Add a Pro ReviewJancisRobinson.com
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By Jancis Robinson, MW
10/1/2010 (link)(Ch Lafon-Rochet St-Estèphe Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
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By Stephen Tanzer
May/June 2006, IWC Issue #126 (link)(Chateau Lafon Rochet Saint Estephe) Subscribe to see review text.
JancisRobinson.com
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By Jancis Robinson, MW
11/3/2005 (link)(Ch Lafon-Rochet St-Estèphe Red) Subscribe to see review text.
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By Jancis Robinson, MW
4/7/2005 (link)(Ch Lafon-Rochet St-Estèphe Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
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By Stephen Tanzer
May/June 2004, IWC Issue #114 (link)(Chateau Lafon Rochet Saint Estephe) Subscribe to see review text.
Winedoctor
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By Chris Kissack
June 2011 (link) (16-17?) points(Chateau Lafon-Rochet (St Estèphe)) A very dark and indeed rather opaque wine here, near black at its core, with a dusty claretty rim. The fruit character on the nose has a rather deep and roasted feel, with nuances of cherry, cedar and tar. On the palate it has a rather dry, austere feel, although this feeling comes mainly from the firm backbone of ripe, rich tannins. Around it there is a nice presence of texture and fruit, but none of the soft sweetness that you might expect from the vintage. Which is good, but it also feels a little withdrawn and inexpressive. The low level acidity also contributes to the rather dull feel of the wine, lacking definition through the midpalate and finish. There is hope here as the wine has a closed down feel, but I hope time helps this evolve into something brighter and better defined.
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By Chris Kissack
April 2007 (link) 16.5+ points(Chateau Lafon-Rochet St Estèphe) Another chance to try this wine. An impressive nose, with a lovely, deep presence of fruit. Ripe and deep and concentrated on the palate, yet still very firm, with a slightly hard, core of tannin. But there is a great presence of fruit which is more than a match for it, it seems. This has fine potential indeed.
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By Chris Kissack
October 2005 (link) 16.5+ points(Chateau Lafon-Rochet St Estèphe) A really deep, glossy colour here. Rich and intense on the nose, with ripe fruit in abundance, with a floral, slightly exotic, pickling spice note. Ripe, supple entry, although this favourable impression fades a little through the midpalate, although it maintains a healthy presence of super-ripe fruit and succulent texture. Piles of tannins, quite an exposed unknit structure, but I think there is the fruit and substance to cope with this in the cellar. Very good potential.
Wine Definition
- Vintage 2003
- Type Red
- Producer Château Lafon-Rochet
- Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
- Designation n/a
- Vineyard n/a
- Country France
- Region Bordeaux
- SubRegion Médoc
- Appellation St. Estèphe
- UPC Codes 087000345621, 3258691146416, 3284396007585, 3364610016514, 3468171831088, 400005997044, 616773359483
Community Holdings
- Pending Delivery 43 (1%)
- In Cellars 2,132 (64%)
- Consumed 1,144 (34%)
Food Pairing
Community Recommendations
Jarret d’agneau, Last day of 2012 skiing - strip steak w/ Big DogWho Likes This Wine
97% Like It 35 votes
More About This Wine
Articles
- ProducerChâteau Lafon-Rochet
- VarietyRed Bordeaux Blend
- CountryFrance
- RegionBordeaux
- SubRegionMédoc
- AppellationSt. Estèphe
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- Wine2003 Château Lafon-Rochet (add)
- FamilyChâteau Lafon-Rochet (add)
- ProducerChâteau Lafon-Rochet
- VarietalRed Bordeaux Blend
- CountryFrance
- RegionBordeaux
- SubRegionMédoc
- AppellationSt. Estèphe