Château Laroque
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend
St. Émilion, Libournais, Bordeaux, France
Popped and poured. The 2019 pours a deep ruby with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, developing with black plums, black bramble fruit, purple flowers, tobacco, damp earth and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This a balanced wine with many admirable traits. While this is my first time trying the wines of Chateau Laroque, I have to believe we will be seeing/hearing more from this estate as investment and quality continues to go up. Drink now and through 2034+.
Popped and poured. The 2019 pours a deep ruby with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, developing with black plums, black bramble fruit, purple flowers, tobacco, damp earth and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This a balanced wine with many admirable traits. While this is my first time trying the wines of Chateau Laroque, I have to believe we will be seeing/hearing more from this estate as investment and quality continues to go up. Drink now and through 2034+.
Feb 27th, 20242020 vintage. Laroque is a very large estate by Saint-Emilion standards, but only the best part of the vineyards is used for the grand vin. The 2019 was pretty good, but this 2020 is a horse of a different breed!
2020 vintage. Laroque is a very large estate by Saint-Emilion standards, but only the best part of the vineyards is used for the grand vin. The 2019 was pretty good, but this 2020 is a horse of a different breed!
Dec 19th, 2023
The 2019 Chateau Laroque, the first bottle I’ve tried from my orders from the vintage, showed quite differently on the three times I tried it over two days. The overwhelming impression, though, is of an austere, young St. Emilion with great potential.
Tasting best on the second night with no decant from a bottle stoppered with vacuvin, it takes quite some coaxing to reveal aromas of fresh blackcurrant, cherry paste and tobacco. There’s a lot of graphite, too, but little else - it feels really coiled up, with great walls of defense. The palate is much more forthcoming, especially on the second night, immediately gushing with cassis, blueberry and fig, and a very tannic mouthfeel. FYI, on the first evening I decanted the wine for 4+ hours, and it didn’t show as well.
I’m curious: in your experiences with young BDX, do you decant or pop ’n pour?
Either way, this is a potentially great wine that’s hard to score right now - and I won’t touch again for another four years at least.
The 2019 Chateau Laroque, the first bottle I’ve tried from my orders from the vintage, showed quite differently on the three times I tried it over two days. The overwhelming impression, though, is of an austere, young St. Emilion with great potential.
Tasting best on the second night with no decant from a bottle stoppered with vacuvin, it takes quite some coaxing to reveal aromas of fresh blackcurrant, cherry paste and tobacco. There’s a lot of graphite, too, but little else - it feels really coiled up, with great walls of defense. The palate is much more forthcoming, especially on the second night, immediately gushing with cassis, blueberry and fig, and a very tannic mouthfeel. FYI, on the first evening I decanted the wine for 4+ hours, and it didn’t show as well.
I’m curious: in your experiences with young BDX, do you decant or pop ’n pour?
Either way, this is a potentially great wine that’s hard to score right now - and I won’t touch again for another four years at least.
This is my 2nd '18 from Saint Emilion tonight, the first I didn't rate... Selection Bias..it was a 91 ... Anyway, this one well integrates the front forward red, blue and black fruit. Equally, it is a bomb of the combo of the 3, but with a slight leaning towards the blue berries. Nice balance with medium plus alcohol and medium tannins. Medium minus acidity. It's a very well balanced wine. I would like another shot at this one as it may be a notch or two higher.
93 points
This is my 2nd '18 from Saint Emilion tonight, the first I didn't rate... Selection Bias..it was a 91 ... Anyway, this one well integrates the front forward red, blue and black fruit. Equally, it is a bomb of the combo of the 3, but with a slight leaning towards the blue berries. Nice balance with medium plus alcohol and medium tannins. Medium minus acidity. It's a very well balanced wine. I would like another shot at this one as it may be a notch or two higher.
93 points
201o vintage. A large estate with 61 hectares of Saint-Emilion of which 41 are classified as Grand Cru Classé (the other being Grand Cru). In reality only the best 27 hectares are used for the Grand Cru Classé. Flowers and red fruit. Very fresh with bright fruit, subtle spices and a mineral finish. Better on day 2, so you might want to decant. Good value at 24 euros.
201o vintage. A large estate with 61 hectares of Saint-Emilion of which 41 are classified as Grand Cru Classé (the other being Grand Cru). In reality only the best 27 hectares are used for the Grand Cru Classé. Flowers and red fruit. Very fresh with bright fruit, subtle spices and a mineral finish. Better on day 2, so you might want to decant. Good value at 24 euros.
Oct 5th, 2021
This gem from Chateau Laroque was opulent and fresh. Coming in at 15% alcohol this Bordeaux blend, comprised mostly of merlot, was very well balanced. Jammy nose with slight oak followed by fresh cassis and cranberry on the palate. This was a bit young for a 2010 but I've got another stashed away for a rainy day in the future.
This gem from Chateau Laroque was opulent and fresh. Coming in at 15% alcohol this Bordeaux blend, comprised mostly of merlot, was very well balanced. Jammy nose with slight oak followed by fresh cassis and cranberry on the palate. This was a bit young for a 2010 but I've got another stashed away for a rainy day in the future.
2 people found it helpfulJan 10th, 2016
So good balance overall. Notes remarkable more at the front tongue. Couple of years aged should taste even better
So good balance overall. Notes remarkable more at the front tongue. Couple of years aged should taste even better
1 person found it helpfulSep 1st, 2015
Deep and liquoricey. Gorgeous.
Deep and liquoricey. Gorgeous.
1 person found it helpfulMar 7th, 2015