Chateau Rocheyron 2024

JAMES SUCKLING: "This has purity of fruit, showing plums, sweet cherries and raspberries with some spice on the nose, following through to a medium body, fine tannins and an elegant finish. Some chalk and stones. Bright at the end. A blend of 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc."

FALSTAFF: "Kräftiges Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, breitere Randaufhellung. Reife Herzkirschen, ein Hauch von Pflaumen, Nougat, zarte Kräuterwürze. Straff, engmaschig, feine Extraktsüße, finessenreich strukturiert, mineralisch und salzig im Abgang, sehr gute Länge, ein delikater, hamonischer Wein mit sicherem Reifepotenzial, klar vom Kalkstein geprägt."

WEINWISSER: "80 % Merlot, 20 % Cabernet Franc. Delikates Bouquet, rote Johannisbeere und Kirschtabak, dahinter Grafit. Am geradlinigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, engmaschigem Tanningerüst, saftig, edle Salznote und trainierter Körper. Im konzentrierten, feinaromatischen Finale rotbeerige Konturen, gepaart mit dunkler Mineralik."

ANSON: "As ever I enjoy watching the Rocheyron project showcase the character of these cooler limestone soils, and it does that expertly here, but this is certainly on the slimmer, more austere side compared to many vintages, with the footprint of the terroir very much in evidence, even in the colour that is soft pale redcurrant. Pure palma violets on the nose, chalky and precise, pared back and slim, red cherries, raspberries, lemongrass, with a subtle intensity, ash and gunsmoke, fine and tighly grained tannins, perfecty balanced and in place, soft and gentle unrolling through the palate. Mathieu Raveraud winemaker. 10% new oak, 10% foudres, rest older barrels. 3.45ph. 30hl/h yield, Axel Marchal consultant, 13,000 bottles instead of 20,000 (usual target yield is 35hl/h so not so far away). Potential upscore in bottle."

VINUM: "Helles Rubinrot; feinduftig, Blütentee, Weihwasser, welke Blüten, rosa Grapefruit, rote Grütze; am Gaumen mit süsser Frucht, burgundisch anmutend; rotfruchtig und ungemein würzig am Gaumen, markante Gerbstoffe verleihen Halt, die Säure verleiht Zug, erinnert etwas an einen Wein vom Ätna, warm im Ausdruck, doch mit kühlem Kern; langanhaltendes Finale, salines Finish. Ein hochwertiger und eigenständiger Wein."

DECANTER: "Bright and shining nose, really lively and expressive - lots of high toned red berry fruit - strawberries and cream - with softly perfumed aromatics. Clean and clear, super juicy and fresh. It’s lightly presented in terms of texture - almost razor sharp acidity meets super fine tannins. Not as chewy as some but this is lean and straight without being too austere. Some bitter orange and grapefruit on the finish - the acidity at the fore. Purity and clarity with a lot of salty stones. Definitely delicate, it’s on the leaner side, but you can't fault the precision and terroir nuance. Some sweet juicy acidity comes on the second taste which gives this a more fun and friendly aspect. I like it! Organic. A yield of 33hl/ha. 66% production. 3.50pH. Ageing 12 months."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Flowers, mint, tobacco, cherries, and licorice create the perfume. The medium-bodied palate reveals a sense of purity, elegance, and refinement. The fruits are sweet, vibrant, and clean, finishing with plums, cherries, and black raspberries, alongside a touch of chalk in the finish. The wine consists of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Harvesting took place September 23 - October 3. 13.2% ABV. Drink from 2028-2044."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "We tasted a variety of components that will inform the final blend of the 2024 Rocheyron. Offering up aromas of sweet red berries, petals and pencil shavings, it's medium-bodied, pure and fine-boned, with chalky tannins and a mineral finish. Just under 15,000 bottles are set to be produced."