CHÂTEAU LAROQUE

The 2020 Laroque has a nose that has closed down a little since bottling, though the quality still shines through with blackberry and raspberry fruit, undergrowth, rose petals and light orange rind aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, sweet and candied with a plush finish. It just needs a little more grip and sapidity, though that should emerge with bottle age. Impressive. Drinking range: 2027 - 2047 Rating: 93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Feb 2023)

The 2020 Laroque is silky, sensual and polished right out of the gate. Crushed flowers, cedar, mint and sweet pipe tobacco meld into a core of red/purplish berry fruit. What I like most about the 2020 is its incredible finesse and impeccable balance. This is another terrific effort from Laroque under the leadership of technical director David Suire. Tasted two times. Drinking range: 2028 - 2040 Rating: 93-95 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jun 2021)

The 2020 Laroque was cropped at 34hl/ha, picked September 21–30. It has a very composed bouquet of blackberry, wild strawberry and crushed limestone scents, beautifully defined with very well integrated oak. You could just nose this all day. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, blueberry and a judicious pinch of black pepper. This is very harmonious and as fresh as a daisy. Possibly the best Laroque that winemaker David Suire has overseen to date. Drinking range: 2027 - 2047 Rating: 93-95 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2021)

Possibly one of the best buys out there, the 2020 Château Laroque comes from a cooler, clay and limestone terroir on the eastern side of the appellation, and this is exactly what you wanted in this vintage. Revealing a vivid purple hue as well as stunning notes of blueberries, cassis, liquid violets, and white truffle, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless, elegant texture, and gorgeous length on the finish. It plays in the more nuanced, elegant end of the spectrum yet still brings ample fruit, richness, and texture. It’s a stunning bottle of wine all about finesse and elegance. Tasted twice. Rating: 95-97 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (May 2021)

This is really focused and linear with tight, minerally tannins that are polished and energetic. It’s medium-to full-bodied with dark and blue fruit in the center palate. Long and focused. Rating: 94-95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2021)

Plenty of sappy, well defined juice running underneath the moody tannic frame, but you need to look away right now because this is closed and subdued. Blueberry purée and a limestone scrape helps build momentum through the mid-palate - give this time. David Suire manages the winemaking. Drinking range: 2026 - 2040 Rating: 92 Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2021)

Deep crimson but not impenetrable. Mellow, rather unflashy nose with well-integrated acidity and a certain mineral element. Really lively and fresh and rather sleeker than some of the more exhibitionistic St-Émilions. Obviously a long-term, and rather exciting, bet. Bone-dry finish and a fair amount of ripe tannin but not lean or drying, and with a persistent, silky finish. Rather sophisticated. Drinking range: 2029 - 2045 Rating: 16.5+ Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2021)