Chateau Lafon-Rochet

Newstime：2009-07-13 10:59:56 Befrom： Writer：

History

The origin of the “Rochet” name lies quite obviously in the word “roches”, as in the “rocks” that make up the soil of the Lafon-Rochet domain. The origins of Lafon-Rochet date back to the 16th Century, when the “Rochet” vineyard is part of the vast Roussillon Valley fiefdom, which came into the ownership of Janot Bernard de Leyssac in 1557. In 1650, when Antoinette de Guillemotes marries Étienne Lafon, Counselor in the Bordeaux Parliament, she offers him, as part of her dowry, the “Rochette” land which she inherited. As such, the Lafon and Rochet names are also joined together. Now merged with the Lafon dynasty, Lafon-Rochet embarks on two centuries of winemaking adventure. In the early 18th century, a period affectionately nicknamed “The Planting Frenzy”, Étienne de Lafon purchases parcel after parcel of land to increase the size of the Rochet domain. The estate remained with the Lafon family for much of the century. In the middle of the18th century, Jean Lafon took over the property; he maintained control of the estate during the years of the Revolution. The estate went from strength to strength, and was it not for the usual litany of vineyard disasters, namely oidium and phylloxera, this situation may well have continued. But as it was the two were forced to sell the property in 1895 and the ownership of Lafon-Rochet by the descendents of Etienne Lafon came to an end.

The new owner was Frederic Audon, who acquired the property including its 26 hectare vineyard, and with some suitable investment it was once more a productive and fruitful venture. It remained with Audon until 1924.In 20th Century in Bordeaux, war and depression, lead to a lack of demand for the wine, a rapid succession of disillusioned proprietors and a lack of investment. The vineyards shrank, production fell, and by the middle years of the century it was in a sorry state. It was purchased in 1959 by cognac producer, Guy Tesseron. It has been slowly but surely restored since that time. His wife is Nicole Cruse, of the Cruse dynasty who owned d'Issan. In 1975 he subsequently acquired Pontet-Canet, which the Cruse family could no longer maintain following the Bordeaux scandal of the early 1970s. Both chateaux subsequently passed to the next generation with Lafon-Rochet coming to Michel Tesseron.
Nowadays’ Owner: Guy Tesseron
Technique Information
Location: This chateau is located in the appellation of Saint Estephe in Medoc.
Appellation: Appellation Saint-Estephe Controlee
Neighboring chateau: Chateau Cos d'Estournel(2nd Growth of Saint Estephe in 1855)
Chateau Lafite Rothschild(1st Growth of Pauillac in 1855)
Acreage: 40 hectares
Soil: A layer of gravel dating back to the period formerly know as the Quaternary (Günz) and features a mixture of quartz, gritstone, silex, volcanic lydianite, millstone grit, sand and clay.
Grape Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon 55%, Merlot 40% and Cabernet Franc 5%
Average age of vines: 30 years
Cultivation density: 9200 vines/ha
Viticulture: Well-adapted grape varieties, carefully selected grafts, perfectly controlled yields, mastered maturity, tirelessly well-tended vines. Harvesting is done by hand.
Winemaking: In 2000, an air-conditioned chai and a new vat house were built.

Fermentation takes from 6 to 8 days with a total of 2-3 weeks in the vats. The vats are water cooled for temperature control. A fining with egg whites takes place before bottling to clarify the wine.
Aging:
Chateau Lafon-Rochet (First Label): 16 to 20 months, 50 to 60% new casks.
Les Pelerins de Lafon-Rochet (Second Label): 15 months in casks.
Yield: 50 hl/ha
Brand:
Chateau Lafon-Rochet(First Label)(A.O.C. Saint Estephe)
Les Pelerins de Lafon-Rochet(Second Label)(A.O.C. Saint Estephe)
La Chapelle de Lafon-Rochet(Second Label)(A.O.C. Saint Estephe)
Annually production:
Chateau Lafon-Rochet(First Label): 12,000 cases
Les Pelerins de Lafon-Rochet(Second Label): 8,000 cases
Character:

Chateau Lafon-Rochet(First Label): This intense, rich and concentrated wine perfectly stands the test of time. Lengthy aging yields a full-bodied, subtle and refined wine.
La Chapelle de Lafon-Rochet(Second Label) : Powerful, rich, and concentrated, which helps it stand the test of time, whilst staying full, smooth and civilised. A subtle balance.
Best Vintages: Chateau Lafon-Rochet(First Label):1995, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2005
Award: 4th Grand Cru Classe in 1855 Saint Estephe.
Website: http://www.lafon-rochet.com/
Serving Suggestion
Cellar Humidity and Temperature: 70-85%, 15℃
Serving Temperature: 17-19 °C
Optimal Drinking and Aging Potential: 5-15 years; 20-30 years.
Food match:
Chateau Lafon-Rochet(First Label):
Western Food：Beef, poultry, cheese, pasta with tomato sauce, hearty stew, pizza, pork, veal, game meet. Saint Nectaire, Edam, Gouda.
Les Pelerins de Lafon-Rochet(Second Label):
Western Food：beef filet en croûte；Goose steaklet；Rabbit; Cheese: Gouda, Mimolette.

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