CHÂTEAU LAROQUE 2017

SAINT-ÉMILION GRAND CRU CLASSÉ

Superbly located on one of the highest points of Saint-Emilion, Laroque’s limestone terroirs have once again shone through brilliantly in this 2017.

They have produced wines that are bright, floral and spicy, with fresh salinity and a noble texture, which are the hallmark traits of this estate.

TERROIRS

Plateau made up of chestnut-coloured and red clays over asteria limestone with east-facing terraces and west-facing slopes of very chalky, fine blueish clays.

VINEYARD

61 hectares (151 acres) of old vines from massal selections - Merlot and Cabernet of over 50 years old.

HARVEST

Manual harvesting on a plot-by-plot basis according to terroir and ripeness.

The Merlot was picked on 25, 26, 27, 29 and 30 September and then on 3 and 4 October. The Cabernet Franc on 4 October.

BLEND

99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc

YIELD AND SELECTION

43 hl/ha, with painstaking selection of 45% of the grapes and juices to go into the First Wine

SECOND WINE

Les Tours de Laroque

ANALYSIS DATA

ALC: 14.4° - pH: 3.48

VINIFICATION

Vat-filling using gravity flow and whole uncrushed berries. Plot by plot vinification in small capacity concrete vats. Gentle extraction via a mix of punching down of cap and pump-overs. Protective macerations aiming for more flesh and salinity.

AGEING

  Reductive ageing on fine lees partially in barriques and partially in large French and Austrian oak casks (50% of new wood). 1st racking after 4 to 6 months ageing (before the summer); the 2nd one year later, before the bottling.

RATINGS

WINE ADVOCATE – LISA PERROTTI-BROWN  / 93-95+

One of Saint-Émilion’s largest estates, located in the beautiful commune/town of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, Château Laroque was founded as far back as the 12th century. So, it’s not exactly a new estate, although quality has been malingering somewhat into the 21st Century. In 2015, David Suire—winemaker at Beauséjour Duffau and Larcis Ducasse—was brought on board to breathe new life into the old place. Situated on the limestone plateau, not far from Pavie Macquin, the 61-hectare vineyard received only minimal damage to a few vines in 2017. If its performance this year is anything to go on, this is most certainly a property to watch!

45% of the crop, which comes mostly from limestone soils, went into this grand vin, which is composed of 99% Merlot with 1% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple, the 2017 Laroque simply sings of crushed blueberries, black cherries and black raspberries with touches of lilacs, Indian spices, unsmoked cigars, iron ore and espresso. Medium to full-bodied with wonderful concentration, firm, very finely pixelated tannins and superb freshness lifting the densely packed fruit, it has very long mineral-laced finish.” April 27, 2018

VINOUS – ANTONIO GALLONI / 91-94

The 2017 Laroque is the best vintage so far at Laroque under the stewardship of David Suire. A rush of dark red cherry, blackberry, smoke, licorice, lavender and incense give the 2017 a distinctly dark, brooding personality. In 2017, Laroque is 99% Merlot and just 1% Cabernet Franc. Ample, broad and creamy, Laroque has a lot to offer. It may very well be the single most improved wine in Saint-Émilion over the last few years. The Grand Vin is a selection of the best parcels across the three terroirs – argillo/calcaire, red clay and blue clay – that run through the property.” May 04, 2018

JAMES SUCKLING / 91-92

A tight and focused red with blueberry, stone and blackberry character. Medium body, lovely energy and fine tannins. Ends ever so precisely on the palate. 99% merlot and 1% cabernet franc.” April 3, 2018

WINE SPECTATOR – JAMES MOLESWORTH / 89-92

The juicy cassis and raspberry puree core is flanked by singed apple wood and licorice notes. Pulls together nicely through the finish.” April 3, 2018

WINE ENTHUSIAST – ROGER VOSS / 91-93

Rich and fruity, this wine has ripe tannins and already delicious black fruits. The structure is there, embedded in the juicy blackberry flavors. Drink from 2023. ” April 9, 2018

DECANTER – JANE ANSON / 91-93

The wine has a gorgeous floral and savoury edge with extremely attractive, dark berry fruits. There's an extreme salinity and minerality, the steely austerity of a young Laroque holding back the brush of sexy St-Émilion damson fruit, although there is a gourmet streak on the mid-palate. It's partly aged in large oak casks, with the rest in normal barrels. Drinking Window 2023 – 2036.” April 9, 2018

 

 

JEB DUNNUCK / 89-91

From David Suire, also the winemaker at Beausejour Duffau and Larcis Ducasse alongside Nicolas Thienpont, the Merlot- dominated 2017 Château Laroque has lots of sweet cherry and cassis fruit, medium-bodied depth and richness, good acidity, and terrific purity of fruit. It shows the cooler, more elegant, fresh style of the vintage, and should drink nicely in its youth and keep for a decade. ” April 23, 2018

THE WINE DOCTOR – CHRIS KISSACK / 91-93

“This is dark, smoky, more confident fruit on the nose. The aromatics are dominated by the scents of sweet plum, concentrated and ripe, but there are also minerally suggestions here and these come through on the palate, which is really quite elegant, very tense in style. There is a good substance to it, all sinewy, fresh and pure, with a firm tannic backbone and bright acidity. Good grip in the length. This expresses the terroir very nicely, with dark fruit tension and a minerally backbone. A long grip too. Laroque is getting serious. Well done. ” April 25, 2018

MATHIEU DOUMENGE - TERRE DE VINS / 95

Coup de Coeur. Progression constante de millésime en millésime au château Laroque. Nez fin de pierre à fusil, très parfumé. Une attaque énergique, vibrante, un joli fruit concentré et croquant, une belle longueur, des tanins races et polis, une finale saline. Un vin qui se déroule avec tension et élégance, une propriété résolument à suivre.” Mai 2018

JACQUES PERRIN - VINIFERA / 93

“ Vin parmi les plus chatoyants du millésime. Issu du très beau terroir de Laroque, située sur la bordure du plateau et en retrait de la fin de la côte sud de St-Emilion, ce vin au profil essentiellement merlot se présente comme un parangon de finesse, tout en dentelle. Il est plus orienté sur la texture que sur la structure et se distingue par son élégance et sa sapidité naturelle.” Mai 2018

WEINWISSER – TJARK WITZGALL / 18 BERNARD BURTSCHY / 92-93

“La robe est violette et le nez est discret, mais le vin est très élégant, dense, serré, droit, d’une belle persistance, assez tannique. Belle réussite pour ce cru quasiment en pur merlot (1 % de cabernet-franc) qui a produit 43 hl/ha.” Mai 2018

REVUE DU VIN DE FRANCE / 15,5-16,5/20

“Avec un assemblage centré sur les terroirs les plus calcaires de ce vaste domaine, Laroque 2017 (99% merlot) confirme le très beau style du 2016. Un profil pur et distingué, longiligne, qui devient crayeux et effilé en fin de bouche, mais avec un beau niveau de maturité, une pointe de douceur qui habille cette architecture tendue.” Mai 2018

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER – JEFF LEVE / 92

“Showing a dark hue, the wine opens with a strong mineral sensation, along with licorice, blackberries and dark chocolate. Medium/full bodied, the wine is sweet, elegant and fresh. The saltiness in the finish complements the dark red fruits and thyme throughout the endnote and there is a vibrancy and spicy quality to the fruits that is palpable in the finish.” April 26, 2018.