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Manage Subscriptions2003 Château Lafon-Rochet
Red Bordeaux Blend
- France
- Bordeaux
- Médoc
- St. Estèphe
Community Tasting Notes 201
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englishman's claret wrote: 87 points
April 12, 2024 - Lafon Rochet certainly shows the vintage character with a nose of cooked and dried fruits: prune, cooked fig, and kirsch. Paradoxically the palate offers fresher fruit at times - still sweet but not stewed - and accented by a little floral appeal and soy sauce. Despite its 21 years, the palate remains grippingly tannic. Happily the 14% ABV (as labeled) doesn't seem particularly conspicuous. Striking Lapsang souchong, beef blood finish. This bottle, in excellent condition, requires some time for the fruit to awaken on the palate and shows its best with 30 minutes - 2 hours of time in the decanter. This has its merits, but the nose is marked enough by the vintage that I find it hard to love. I could imagine that more vivacity earlier in life could have imparted a better impression than tonight's bottle.
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1wine1 Likes this wine: 89 points
January 4, 2024 - Still wonderful but drink it this year
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Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 points
May 29, 2023 - Twelfth bottle from a full case purchased from a Dutch wholesaler in 2005. Pristine condition, perfect level, perfect cork. Opened and decanted two hours in advance. On fine form, closer to the harmonious elegance of the 10th bottle (7 June 2022) than the burly power of the 11th (14 February 2023). Ripe cherry fruit, lovely freshness, leather and cedar evolution, graphite minerality, creamy texture, hint of black tea on the finish. This case has served me very well.
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chatters wrote:
April 25, 2023 - En Primeur campaign for the 2022 vintage Day Four (Bordeaux): From Double Magnum. Smoked bacon, sweet spice, savoury black fruits in support, earth, leather and alcohol warmth. Juicy, fleshy, dark hued fruits; sweet spice followed by massive drying tannins, off, time but I don't this will ever be in balance.
1 person found this helpful Comment -
brybts Likes this wine: 86 points
April 16, 2023 - Overall: well integrated, balanced wine, but fruit is drying out and seems to be over the hill
Nose: soil, cinnamon, clove, smells a bit like a barrel cellar, subtle fruit is way in the background; some leather, cedar
Palate: medium acidity helps with freshness; completely integrated, soft tannins. Fruit is subtle- blackberries only. Earthy, spicy notes, some citrus rind; body is medium
Finish: medium-short, mouthwatering, not bitter but maybe a bit sour
Pro Reviews 11
Add a Pro ReviewVinous
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By Neal Martin
A Century of Bordeaux: The Threes (Aug 2023), 8/1/2023 (link)(Lafon-Rochet Lafon-Rochet Red) Subscribe to see review text.
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By Neal Martin
Moving On: Lafon-Rochet 1955-2017 (Jun 2023), 6/1/2023 (link)(Lafon-Rochet Lafon-Rochet Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Winedoctor
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By Chris Kissack
June 2016, 6/1/2016 (link)(Château Lafon-Rochet St Estèphe Red) Subscribe to see review text.
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By Chris Kissack
March 2013, 3/1/2013 (link)(Château Lafon-Rochet St Estèphe Red) Subscribe to see review text.
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By Chris Kissack
June 2011 (link)(Chateau Lafon-Rochet (St Estèphe)) Subscribe to see review text.
JancisRobinson.com
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By Jancis Robinson, MW
10/1/2010 (link)(Ch Lafon-Rochet St-Estèphe Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Winedoctor
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By Chris Kissack
April 2007 (link)(Chateau Lafon-Rochet St Estèphe) 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.
Winedoctor
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By Chris Kissack
October 2005 (link)(Chateau Lafon-Rochet St Estèphe) Subscribe to see review text.
JancisRobinson.com
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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.
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, 7070292697533
Community Holdings
- Pending Delivery 43 (1%)
- In Cellars 1,854 (53%)
- Consumed 1,621 (46%)
Food Pairing
Community Recommendations
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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