Château Laroque, Grand Cru Classé, St Émilion, 2021
David Suire has resurrected this magnificent estate in Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, with a string of highly impressive wines. The 2021 is another excellent example from this high-flying St Emilion. Produced from 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc from very old vines (more than 50 years old). Dark and seductive, notes of mulberry, cinnamon and liquorice mix with bright red berries. There’s a good core of black cherry, hedgerow fruit and crushed rocks. Intense and focussed, this finishes with smooth tannins and an array of salty minerals.
critic reviews
Laroque 2021 is deep garnet-purple in color. It is a little reticent to start, soon unfurling to offer evocative notes of star anise, ripe black plums, and juicy blueberries, followed by hints of violets and charcoal. Medium-bodied, the palate has impressive tension and a great core of intense black fruits, framed by rounded tannins, finishing long and minerally. Nicely done!
Well-judged clove, sage and anis spice lifts this above the average in the 2021 lineup, and there are delicous black tea, spiced plum and blueberry fruits. Clear grip and limestone character. A success in the vintage, but that doesnt mean it escapes the cool vintage character. Beaurmartin family, David Suire director, 61ha size, 41hl/h yield. 45% of production in the Grand Vin.
The 2021 Laroque has a well-defined, complex bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, loam and tobacco scents, a touch of damp undergrowth emerging with time, The palate is medium-bodied with a sapid entry and fine acidity, slightly powdery in texture with a hint of Japanese nori on the finish. This is well worth seeking out.
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.