Chateau Laroque 2021

A Grand Cru Classé from Saint-Émilion, Château Laroque is celebrated for its limestone plateau terroir and remarkable elegance. It reveals aromas of black cherry, blackberry, cassis, violet, graphite, cedar, dark chocolate, and subtle baking spice. Richly concentrated yet beautifully refined, it delivers velvety tannins, vibrant freshness, exceptional minerality, and a long, graceful finish.

Food Pairing: Pair with beef Wellington, roast lamb, duck breast, venison, mushroom risotto, black truffle dishes, aged Comté, or braised short ribs.

93 Points - Decanter

Fragrant and a touch smoky on the nose with perfumed floral notes and ripe blackcurrants. Smooth and supple, a nice juicy intensity with high but not too seering acidity makes way for slightly austere touches against a salty mineral core. It's lightly framed and delicate, very easy to drink and enjoy. Friendly, charming, juicy, fun, fresh and well worked. A touch savoury and minty on the finish.

93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck

The 2021 Château Laroque is another seamless, elegant wine from this larger château that readers will love. Based on just about 100% Merlot (I think there's a small amount of Cabernet Franc) brought up in 50% new oak, its vivid purple hue is followed by a lively, fresh nose of cassis and berry fruit interwoven with spring flowers, violets, and obvious minerality. Coming from a cooler, limestone terroir, it's never the biggest or richest wine in a vintage, yet its purity of fruit is exceptional, and it has polished tannins and just a remarkable sense of finesse and elegance. Give bottles 3-4 years if you can and enjoy over the following 15+.

93 Points - James Suckling

Spiced red cherries, plums, graphite, cocoa powder and a touch of mineral. Medium-bodied palate with fine, silky tannins and a juicy, nuanced finish. Elegant and polished.

92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

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.