Winemaker Notes
Superbly located on one of the highest points of Saint-Emilion, Laroque's limestone terroirs have once again shone through brilliantly in this 2018. They have produced wines that are bright, floral, and spicy with fresh salinity and a noble texture, which are the hallmark traits of this this estate.
Blend: 97% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
This estate is in a cool, limestone terroir on the eastern side of Saint- Emilion, and it's been firing on all cylinders over the past decade, in no small part due to the talented director, David Suire. The 2018 Château Laroque checks in as almost all Merlot (there is 3% Cabernet Franc) that comes from an incredibly strict selection of just 41% of the total production. Brought up in a mix of new and used barrels, it's more about finesse than power, offering a gorgeous perfume of ripe black cherries, mulberries, cassis, violets, spring flowers, and chalky minerality. Medium to full-bodied, pure, and incredibly elegant on the palate, it builds nicely with time in the glass, has ultra-fine tannins, flawlessly integrated tannins, acidity and fruit, and a great finish. It's as classy as they come. Approachable today with a decant, it will drink nicely for 20 years or more. Readers looking for an impeccably made, classic, high-quality Saint-Emilion that doesn't break the bank should back up the truck for this beauty.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Laroque is composed of 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, aged in 50% new barriques. The alcohol is 14.5%. Deep garnet-purple colored, it bursts from the glass with flamboyant notes of stewed black plums, Black Forest cake and boysenberries, plus hints of candied violets, star anise and unsmoked cigars with a playful waft of sassafras. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with juicy black fruits, supported by plush tannin's and tons of freshness, finishing long and fragrant.
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James Suckling
Aromas of ripe blackcurrants, spiced cherries, cloves, praline, tea leaves and crushed gravel. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, tightly knit tannins and fresh acidity. Fleshy, chewy layers lead to a long, mineral finish. Late bottling helped here. Try from 2023.
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Decanter
A classically balanced wine, and a concentrated and darkly fruited take on the vintage. This has elegance by the bucketload and is going to reward another five to eight years in bottle. Excellent stuff. Drinking Window 2024 - 2040
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Wine Spectator
This has some frank ripeness with a mix of dark plum, loganberry and cherry paste flavors. They're integrated nicely though, with a sandalwood and dried anise spine for form through the refined finish. Best from 2022 through 2032.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Marked by its historic fortified village—perhaps the prettiest in all of Bordeaux, the St-Émilion appellation, along with its neighboring village of Pomerol, are leaders in quality on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. These Merlot-dominant red wines (complemented by various amounts of Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon) remain some of the most admired and collected wines of the world.
St-Émilion has the longest history in wine production in Bordeaux—longer than the Left Bank—dating back to an 8th century monk named Saint Émilion who became a hermit in one of the many limestone caves scattered throughout the area.
Today St-Émilion is made up of hundreds of independent farmers dedicated to the same thing: growing Merlot and Cabernet Franc (and tiny amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon). While always roughly the same blend, the wines of St-Émilion vary considerably depending on the soil upon which they are grown—and the soils do vary considerably throughout the region.
The chateaux with the highest classification (Premier Grand Cru Classés) are on gravel-rich soils or steep, clay-limestone hillsides. There are only four given the highest rank, called Premier Grand Cru Classés A (Chateau Cheval Blanc, Ausone, Angélus, Pavie) and 14 are Premier Grand Cru Classés B. Much of the rest of the vineyards in the appellation are on flatter land where the soils are a mix of gravel, sand and alluvial matter.
Great wines from St-Émilion will be deep in color, and might have characteristics of blackberry liqueur, black raspberry, licorice, chocolate, grilled meat, earth or truffles. They will be bold, layered and lush.