Château Laroque Saint-Emilion 2020 - Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

A Saint-Emilion Cru Classé, Laroque is a vast 61-hectare vineyard that produces a solid wine with more structure than finesse. The arrival of David Suire, who works with Nicolas Thienpont on the premieres of Saint-Emilion, has given new impetus to this estate. This is perceptible on vintages like 2016 and 2017, where there is more refinement. 2018 marks a significant qualitative progression: this estate is one of the revelations of our spring 2019 tastings. Reserve it now, as it's one of the best value wines in the sector; at less than 30 euros, it's hard to beat it!

Decanter

About the wine:

Ripe, juicy and so seductive. This wine is delicious, with a gorgeous texture of grainy tannins that give it structure and backbone, while crushed stones and salty black fruits give it flavor. Licorice and clove edges are present and give an impression of oak, but they blend in rather than stand out blatantly. A truly impressive wine with bite, grip and interest. Young and powerful, it's serious, not a wine for the faint of heart, but expertly positioned and presented. 2025 - 2040

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

A majestic estate dominating the eastern Saint-Emilion region, the Beaumartin family cru produces a slender, limestone wine, closer in spirit to the historic terroirs surrounding the city than to its immediate neighbors. The vast vineyard on the edge of the plateau, almost entirely devoted to Merlot, has been meticulously studied and managed, since 2015 by the brilliant David Suire, incidentally Nicolas Thienpont's right-hand man. Recent vintages have proved particularly successful, in a style that is both full-bodied and chiselled, very elegant and dynamic, with 2016 as the high point. Earlier vintages, vinified by Bruno Sainson, are full of surprises (magnificent 2000).

James Suckling

About the wine:

Sweet berries with notes of herbs, damp earth and moss, as well as fresh mushrooms. Medium- to full-bodied, with ultra-fine, creamy tannins and a lovely finish. Polished and refined. Drink after 2025, but already very beautiful.

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

The nose evokes a deep, dark lake that draws you inexorably to its shores. Sweet, dark, bewitching fruit is enhanced by herbal notes. Confident, silky, smooth, with an impressive density that comes through on the finish, bringing chewiness and length to the wine. 2027 - 2042

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

Once again, Laroque stands out for its fine, slender, taut, juicy and salivating profile, held together and propelled by a fine acid framework, a limestone profile that gives it a very fine uprightness and seems destined for long cellaring. Beautiful bitters, exemplary freshness for this vintage. Always a safe bet.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Very subtle in the way it presents itself, Laroque's bouquet has many facets, which it gradually reveals. The attack is precise and slender. It heralds an elegant wine that stands out for its airy, structured character. The tannins are exceptionally fine, yet nervous, revealing themselves slowly along the palate to underline their relevance on the finish. So much definition in this wine. It undeniably needs time, as it clearly shows in the way it reveals itself, but it has not failed to claim its greatness, and rightly so. A wine that combines temperament, power and elegance. 2027-2045

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

Flavors of espresso, black cherry, licorice, coffee bean, chocolate and plum liqueur. Rich, opulent, deep and fresh on the palate, with layers of lushly textured black plums, chocolate, blueberries and blackberries. Perfectly balanced, hedonistic, concentrated and vibrant, with a long finish. This wine is in contention to be the best vintage produced at Laroque to date. Drink between 2023 and 2042.