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: 1997 Lafon-Rochet, St-Estèphe

1997 Lafon-Rochet, St-Estèphe

SKU #110544 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Outer quote mark This dark plum-colored, sexy, soft, medium-bodied, low acid Lafon Rochet reveals chewy black fruits intermixed with new wood and minerals. Exhibiting good density and ripeness, it is a very good effort in this accessible, drinker-friendly vintage. (RP) Inner quote mark (4/2000)

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Outer quote mark Moderately saturated ruby-red. Rather subdued aromas of plum, currant and game. An accessible midweight, with ripe, oak-enhanced tannins and good length. Not at all dilute. "A good lunch wine and a good first wine for dinner," says Tesseron. (ST) Inner quote mark (5/2000)

Wine Spectator

Outer quote mark Good spicy vanilla and mineral aromas. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a fruity finish. Inner quote mark (1/2000)

K&L Notes

55% cabernet sauvignon, 45% merlot. Only 55% as much as the ‘96 crop. Put together a property that makes big wines and a light year and you have an excellent combination. The 1997 Lafon is such a wine. Deep color and spicy, slightly meaty (bacon) nose. Some licorice on the palate. Very good length and a chewy finish. Has some tannin and plenty of fruit for cellaring. Good value. Usually this wine is 60% Merlot, but Cabernet was king in 1997.

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1997 Lafon-Rochet, St-Estèphe

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Varietal:

Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends

- Cabernet Sauvignon has come a long way from its role as a blending varietal, however dominant, in the wines of Bordeaux. Today it is the most planted red varietal in the world. Identified as a descendent of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon needs to be planted in warmer climates to fully ripen. Its small berries can easily be identified for their distinctive blue color, thick skins and high tannins. And while the varietal has its own definitive characteristics: green pepper-like aromas and black currant flavors among them, it is perhaps most prized for its ability to convey terroir, vintage and winemaking. A relatively new varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon started making inroads into the wines of the Médoc and Graves in the late-18th century. Today it is also dominant in the up-and-coming Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux and can also be found in Southwest France. It is the companion varietal to Sangiovese in Italy's Super Tuscans and is planted all over Europe, stretching to lesser-known winegrowing regions like Russia and Lebanon. In the Americas Cabernet Sauvignon has found champions in every nook and cranny of California and among winemakers in Washington, where it complements plantings of Merlot. In South America, Cab thrives in Chile, but can also be found in smaller amounts in Argentina and even in Mexico.

Country:

France

- When it comes to wine, France stands alone. No other country can beat it in terms of quality and diversity. And while many of its Region, Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne most obviously, produce wine as rare, as sought-after and nearly as expensive as gold, there are just as many obscurities and values to be had from little known appellations throughout the country. To learn everything there is to know about French wine would take a lifetime. To understand and appreciate French wine, one only has to begin tasting them.

Sub-Region:

Bordeaux

Specific Appellation:

Saint Julien

- St. Julien, the smallest of the four famous appellations of the Haut Medoc, is known for highly extracted, finely structured, Cabernet-based reds. It is nestled between Pauillac to the north and Margaux to the south. Like St. Estephe, there are no first growths in this area. Leoville-las-Cases, Leoville Poyferre, Leoville Barton, Ducru Beaucaillou, and Gruard Larose are the second-growths of St. Julien followed by Lagrange which is the only third-growth. Beychevelle, Branaire Ducru, St. Pierre, and Talbot, which are all fourth-growth wines, round out the grand cru classe chateaux. In the last several vintages, wineries from this appellation have been out-performing their traditional rankings making many of the wines from this region some of the best values in red wine today.