Bordeaux 2022 En Primeur

Located at the highest point of Saint-Emilion this newcomer to our list is destined to become a firm favourite. Suitably deep purple in colour and oozing perfumed notes of black and red berries, spice and vanilla, its balanced, nicely structured with ripe, smooth tannins. Juicy and generous in style this finishes with lengthy notes of toast and sweet tobacco. An excellent debut from this ambitious property. 5-15 years.

Quite open and fleshy with softly spicy red and jammy fruits, and some salinity. Black cherry on the palate, this is bright and juicy, showing good clarity. Medium-weight, with a mineral vein and attractive toast and coffee on the finish. 5-10 years.

Vibrant blueberry and silky fruit with an enjoyable perfume that leaps out of the glass. Generous blue and black fruit to taste with precise structure and freshness to balance. 3-9 years.


Lafon Rochet has been in the news because of a change of ownership in 2021. It was sad to see Basille Tesseron unable to see his project all the way through, but his groundwork puts the Lorenzetti family in great stead going forward and their appointment of Christophe Congé, formerly of Château Lafite, as Technical Director, adds a certain gloss. Scores of 92-94 and 95-97 initially, Antonio Galloni has given it 96 from bottle and talks of a host of floral and herbal aromatics and beautiful delineation. “A wine of sublime elegance and class, the 2022 is exquisite”.