92pts Neal Martin

A very dense, quite opulent plum-scented nose with briary, blueberry, a touch of hoi sin and macerated cherries. Good lift and definition. Full-bodied, rich, dense black fruits with thick chewy tannins. Dense structure, great weight and persistency with a succulent blackberry finish. Still very primal with a long future ahead. Superb.

91pts Wine Spectator

Concentrated wine. Intense aromas of grilled meat, spice and plum skin. Full-bodied, with big silky tannins and lots of fruit. Long and chewy. 

90pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

One of the better wines (and also reasonably priced) to emerge from this property over recent years, this dense ruby/purple-colored wine shows a complex nose of earth, underbrush, creosote, creme de cassis, and dried herbs. Sporting a new yellow/orange label that matches the dramatic paint job on the chateau itself, the wine has a deep ruby/purple color, medium to full body, fine ripeness as well as purity, and moderate tannin in the finish.

90pts Int'l Wine Cellar

Dark red. Assertive, oaky nose features smoked meat and leather. Sweet, dense and packed with fruit. Really spreads out on the back end, finishing with broad, powerful tannins. 

90pts Vinous

The 2000 Lafon-Rochet is a vintage that I have not encountered for many years. Now showing some bricking on the rim, it has quite an exotic bouquet with maraschino cherry, strawberry, balsamic and brown spices, nicely defined and holding up well. The palate is medium-bodied and well-balanced, with grainy tannins. Maybe a little dryness is beginning to creep in, yet there is a fine grip and a long tobacco finish.

Winemaker Notes

A particularly successful vintage that offers a complex nose which, although still quite estrained, has clear potential. In the mouth, the wine is superbly balanced, silky and warm, with a lingering, elegant finish. Both modern and classic, the 2000 vintage perfectly represents the essence of Lafon-Rochet.

Blend: 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc