The freshness and aromatic finesse of a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Estate: Situated on a limestone plateau, Château Laroque shines bright in the prestigious Saint-Émilion appellation. This Saint-Emilion Classified Growth has been a stronghold in the region for more than 9 centuries and still today has the largest vineyard in the appellation.
Sensory Features:From an estate that has been on an incredible run of late, largely due to the talents of director David Suire, the 2020 Château Laroque shows the cooler, limestone-driven style of the terroir beautifully and has a clean, focused style in its darker (almost blue) berry fruits as well as chalky minerality, violets, spice, and floral nuances. Medium-bodied on the palate, this focused, straight, remarkably pure Saint-Emilion has terrific mid-palate depth and a great finish. It needs to be hidden in the cellar for a solid 4-5 years if possible and is going to have 30 years of longevity. If drinking any time soon, give it an hour in a decanter.
Grape Varieties: 99% Merlot & 1% Cabernet Franc.
Vineyard: Situated in the Saint-Émilion appellation, the Château Laroque vineyard is planted in the clay and limestone plateau characteristic of the Saint-Émilion appellation. The terraces and hillsides of the 61-hectare vineyard enjoy an east to west exposure and very fine, bluish, limestone clay soils. The old vines are subject to massal selection.
Winemaking and Ageing: Harvested manually, the grapes were carefully selected in order to keep only those of optimal quality. Whole berries were vatted by gravity. The plot-by-plot vinification was carried out in small concrete vats, with punch-downs and pump-overs to ensure a smooth extraction. The ageing on fine lees was carried out in barrels and oak casks. A first racking took place after 4 to 6 months of ageing, and a second one year later for bottling.
