Chateau Laroque, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe 2021

"The 2021 Laroque opens in the glass with aromas of dark, minty berries, orange zest and toasty oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered palate with a sweet core of fruit, supple tannins and a long, mineral finish. This has turned out very nicely in bottle, and given its low-pH profile, it's likely to reward some bottle age."

92+ The Wine Advocate

David Suire, Nicolas Thienpont's longtime right-hand man at the likes of Pavie Macquin and Larcis-Ducasse, is resurrecting one of Saint-Émilion's sleeping giants in the form of Château Laroque. Some 60 hectares are under vine today in the commune of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, with more to come; but in the early 20th century, the estate was allowed to lie almost entirely fallow (the advantage being that the soils are largely virus-free). Laroque itself represents less than 50% of the production, permitting exigent selection, and winemaking is thoughtful, with fruit from clay soils matured in classic 225-liter barriques, while blocks from soils richer in limestone are matured in larger barrels, foudres and oak tanks. Much of the fruit from those clay soils ends up in the second wine, Les Tours de Laroque, which is fleshier and more immediate than Laroque itself."