Winery Info/Brand
Château Lafon-Rochet is a winery in the Saint-Estèphe appellation of the Bordeaux region in France, also a "Cru" region where Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are grown on the 111 acres (45 ha) of land. The terroir has three soil types: limestone, marl and clay. Also, the estate has Merlot vines that were planted in 1938. Today, Lafon Rochet experiments with organic and biodynamic farming techniques for a clean and rare treat.
Region Info/Origin
Saint-Estephe is located marginally further away from the gravel-bearing waters of the Garonne river, and the soil here is far less stony than that found in the southern part of Haut-Medoc. Instead, a heavy clay base dominates this area, resulting in poorer-draining soils, delayed ripening and higher acidity levels in the wine. These factors mean that Saint-Estephe's blended wine are predominantly made from Merlot, as it performs better on clay soils than Cabernet Sauvignon. Because these wine are often austere and tight in youth, Merlot also serves to soften the palate.