Château Lafon-Rochet 2010 Magnum

94/100 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (March 2020). Deep garnet in colour, the 2010 Lafon-Rochet comes bounding out of the glass with sit-up-and-beg notes of crème de cassis, blackberry pie and blueberry preserves followed by suggestions of Chinese five spice, potpourri and tilled soil. Full-bodied and concentrated, with loads of black and blue fruit layers, it has a rock-solid backbone of grainy tannins and compelling freshness, finishing long and fragrant. Drink 2020-2046.

94/100 Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, February 2014 Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. Wow – this Saint Estèphe appears to be just getting into its stride. This seems reticent on the nose at first, but modest coaxing reveals scents of blackberry mixed with gravel and incense. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip, firm tannins and a pleasant salty tang on the finish. Masculine and structured, with good persistency and a lovely austere personality, Basile Tesseron and his team have overseen an aloof but engaging Lafon-Rochet that could be the dark horse of the appellation. Tasted January 2014.