CHÂTEAU LAROQUE

Deep plum colour, cold ash and fennel on the opening, savoury, well judged and well extracted, this is on the slim side, with the focus on cassis bud and rose petals. You probably have to be a bit of a limestone fanatic (as I am) to truly love this vintage of Laroque, because it is less gourmet than in vintages like 2022 and 2023, setting texture and minerality above fruit, but exceptionally well handled by estate director David Suire, and it should soften further over ageing. Once again a value pick. Drinking range: 2029 - 2040 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2025)

Laroque's bouquet is subtle and multi-dimensional. It reveals nuances of ripe black fruit, earthy notes, and a hint of licorice stick. This profile of fruit and spice continues on the palate; where the wine reveals a suave side, with appreciable density, and remarkable power. The saline, mineral attack underlines the tension, whilst there is density too giving a deeper, creamy feel, and then some structure comes from tannins that are still a little angular, but will clearly round out. This is a thoughtful wine that advances cautiously, but knows where it wants to go. The aging will guide it in this direction, and once again, Laroque will be among the great successes of Saint-Émilion. This is not inevitable; it is simply logical. There is still a long way to go, and the finish must gain in expression, but the milestones are set… very well set! An elegant and bright wine that is velvety and whose finish highlights the important influence of the limestone here, for now dominating the fruit expression perhaps, but this fruit will come in time, this young wine has everything it needs for a promising future. Drinking range: 2029 - 2054 Rating: 95-97 Yves Beck, www.yvesbeck.wine (Apr 2025)

A ripe, plush merlot with lots of dark cherries, plums and berries on the nose. Quite bright on the palate, with lovely dark fruit and freshness. Fine tannins, with a medium body and a lengthy finish. 98% merlot and 2% cabernet franc. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2025)