Chateau Laroque Saint-Emilion Grand Cru - 2018

75 cl

Robert Parker: 95 points

Alcohol content: 14.5% vol.

Grape varieties: 97% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc

Tasting note:

The Laroque 2018 consists of 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, aged in 50% new barriques. It has an alcohol content of 14.5% and a pH of 3.48. It has a deep garnet-purple colour and exudes extravagant notes of stewed black plums, Black Forest gateau and boysenberries in the glass, as well as hints of candied violets, star anise and unsmoked cigars with a playful hint of sassafras. The medium to full body is packed with juicy black fruits, supported by soft tannins and plenty of freshness, and finishes long and fragrant.

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