Chateau Laroque Saint-Emilion Grand Cru - 2009

75 cl

James Suckling: 90 points

Alcohol content: 14.5% vol.

Grape varieties: 97% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc

Tasting note:

The velvety texture of this wine is very seductive, with blueberry, sweet tobacco and mushroom character. Full-bodied, with ripe tannins and a clean finish.

Château Laroque is a highly regarded winery in Saint-Émilion on the right bank of Bordeaux, which is known as Grand Cru Classé is classified as. Since the 2015 vintage, this historic estate has undergone a renaissance in quality under new operational management and is regarded as one of the finest and best-value wines in the entire appellation.

Name & Origin

Origin of the name: The name is derived directly from the geological characteristics of the vineyard. It refers to the striking, rocky limestone plateau (French: Roche / roc), on which the vines grow.

History: The origins of the estate date back to the 12th century back when it served as a defensive fortress. The imposing castle, which still stands today, was built in the 17th and 18th centuries by the Marquis de Rochefort-Lavie family.

Location & Terroir

Geography: The estate is situated to the east of the medieval town of Saint-Émilion, in the commune of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes. It is situated on one of the highest points in the entire region.

Size: With a total of 61 hectares of vineyards (comprising a single contiguous block), it is the largest vineyard in Saint-Émilion in terms of area. For the first wine Château Laroque However, the land is rigorously selected, and only the best 27 hectares or so are used.

Floor: The terroir consists mainly of Limestone formations (Asterian limestone) as well as thick layers of reddish and blue clay.

Owners & Management

Owner: The winery has been located there since 1935 owned by the The Beaumartin family, which bought the château after the Great Depression and completely restructured the vineyards.

The Creator: The huge leap in quality over recent years is David Suire to. He took over as technical director in 2015 (also known for his work on Château Larcis-Ducasse) and propelled Laroque to the very top of the appellation in terms of quality.

Style

grape varieties: Dominated by Merlot (approx. 87 % to 99 % depending on the vintage and plot), supplemented by a small proportion Cabernet Franc (and a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon). The average age of the vines is an impressive 45 to 50 years.

Character: David Suire deliberately focuses on Precision, freshness and elegance rather than relying on sheer power and over-extraction. The wines are perfectly balanced, possess silky, fine-grained tannins and always retain a lively mouthfeel with excellent ageing potential