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Chateau
Lafon-Rochet
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St.
Estèphe
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Location:
This chateau is one of the five classified properties in the
appellation of St. Estèphe. It's neighbors include Cos
d'Estournel and Chateau
Lafite Rothschild.
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Vineyard:
The vineyard covers 40 hectares and is planted with
the classical grape varieties of the Medoc:
Cabernet Sauvignon
(55%), Merlot (40%) and
Cabernet Franc
(5%) . It has a gravelly soil over a clay and limestone
subsoil. The vines have an average age of 30 years and
are planted to a density of 9,000 vines per hectare. All
harvesting is done by hand with an average annual yield of 50
hectoliters per hectare. Yearly production of the first
wine is 12,000 cases.
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Second Wine:
A second wine is produced in most years called Numéro 2
du Château Lafon-Rochet. Average production is 8,000 cases
per year.
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Vinification:
Fermentation takes from 6 to 8 days with a total of 2-3
weeks in the vats. The vats are water cooled for temperature
control. The wine rests in oak casks from 15 to 20 months
depending on the vintage. 40% of the casks are replaced
each year. A fining with egg whites takes place before
bottling to clarify the wine.
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History:
This ancient estate dates to the middle of the 17th century,
when, in 1650, Antoinette de Guillemotte, brought the land of
'Rochette' as her dowry to her husband, Pierre de Lafon, a Councillor
in the Bordeaux Parliament. It soon took on the
name of its owner, and became Château Lafon-Rochet.
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The chateau
remained in the hands of the Lafon family well past the French
revolution. They built its reputation and were included
in the 1855 classification of the Medoc region as a 4th growth.
It was one of only five members to come from St-Estèphe.
Madame Lafon de Camarsac died in 1880 and the estate changed
hands several times and fell in reputation until it was purchased
in 1959 by cognac producer, Guy Tesseron. It has been
slowly but surely restored since that time.
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Visits:
The chateau receives visitors by appointment only on week
days.
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