Les Pélerins de Lafon Rochet – 2012 – Saint Estèphe

Youthful quite intense colour here, still blue-purple. A bit more evolution on the nose. Some finely roasted flavours. A slight hint of coffee and oak, with a mix of red and dark berries, cassis and plum. Palate has good weight, good density, and pretty high extract. It is still appearing youthful there with ridged tannin. However, I don’t think it anything harsh. It is just youth showing through. I like core of dark fruit there, it is like freshly crushed berries, with gentle herbal spiciness, notes of sage, plum. It certainly has length and it has good weight. A style that will need another few years to fully open up, but to judge its potential. Good weight, good density, good length. It is still a bit youthful and tight on the finish, but another two to three years in the cellar it should do really well.

Tasted by the Best Sommelier of the World, Andreas Larsson.