Chateau Laroque 2023

Château Laroque is the largest estate in Saint-Émilion - coming in at an impressive 61 hectares (approximately, 150 acres).   Yet despite its formidable size, the viticultural team of this Grand Cru Classé property manages to produce excellent vintages on a yearly basis, garnering more critical acclaim with each passing year.  Starting with the 2018 vintage, after being distributed on an exclusive basis for many years, the owners of Château Laroque decided to offer the wine through Bordeaux’s en primeur network.  Akin to the markets in financial assets, Place de Bordeaux is the marketplace where wine trading happens, bridging the gap between producers and buyers.  To sweeten the offer to buyers, Château Laroque priced its wine below where its quality would have fetched.  This not only left a good taste on the palate of the buyers but also profit in their pocket.  Many of our Bordeaux futures customers have seen the value of their Laroque holdings double in less than two years.

Château Laroque has a rich history dating back to the 12th Century when it was a defensive stronghold overlooking the undulating hills of Saint-Émilion.  If one visits the estate today, one will be sure to find remnants of an imposing guard tower that used to be on the grounds.  As far back as the 16th Century, the potential of the incredible terroir at Château Laroque was readily apparent.  The magnificent Château that sits on the grounds today was constructed in the 17th Century by Marquis de Rochefort-Lavie. Château Laroque remained in the same family until the Great Depression in 1929 and the estate temporarily halted wine production because they didn’t have the funds to continue. 

In 1935, Château Laroque was acquired by the Beaumartin family.  They were descendants of the Marquis who built the original château.  In a serendipitous way, the estate returned to them.   Things started to take off for the property around 2015, after an impressive renovation and extensive replanting of the vineyards.  Perhaps one of the most intelligent decisions that were made here was bringing on the talented David Suire to take over managing Château Laroque. For years, David Suire has been the right-hand man of the well-respected Nicolas Thienpont.  The Thienponts have a long history in Bordeaux, owning properties such as Château Le Pin and Vieux Chateau Certan.  Nicolas wasn’t initially interested in entering the Wine Industry, but after University he started managing properties like Château Pavie Macquin and transforming them into Premiere Grand Cru Classé estates.  Nicholas hired David after he graduated from university and mentored him.  The two have been working together ever since.  After honing his winemaking skills next to the Thienponts, David Suire now has a magnificent property to put his insights and skills to work.  Early results already show the great hiring decision the Beaumartins made, as the accolades roll in, and commercial success ensues.

The vines of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon are 40 years old on average and farmed using 100% organic techniques.  They choose not to be certified organic, simply because they want the freedom to make a wider variety of choices.  Château Laroque is also HVE Certified, a rigorous process granted to vineyards that focus on increasing biodiversity, decreasing the negative environmental impact of their vineyards, and improving water management.  The wines at Château Laroque are known for their delicate, mineral-driven nuance. The 2018 vintage was their first entering the en primeur or futures marketplace, as they were previously distributed exclusively through one firm.  At Laguna Cellar, we were one of the first to discover this and leaped at the opportunity to acquire this wine for our customers who were loyal fans of this producer.  Given the excellence of their grand vin, it’s fairly easy to see why.

''Medium intensity ruby, this is a little reserved at first, in the best way, in that it has the hidden depths that are just so promising during En Primeur, real sense of sapidity, squid ink, violet reflections, extremely vibrant, really like this, blueberry, sage, slate, lift on the finish, delicious. Beaumartin family, David Suire winemaker.'' - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux, (04/24/2024), Ratings: 95, Drink: 2028-2042

"The 2023 Laroque might be the best wine David Suire has made since taking over here a few years ago. What I admire most about Laroque is its classicism—there is plenty of that on display here. Bright acids and persistent beams of supporting tannin frame dark-toned fruit, lavender, rose petal, graphite and sweet spice in a Saint-Émilion that impresses with its vibrancy and delineation. Superb. Tasted two times." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous, (04/30/2024), Ratings: 94-96

"Exhibiting aromas of dark, minty berries, bay leaf and creamy new oak, the 2023 Laroque is medium to full-bodied, with a sweet core of fruit, powdery tannins and a penetrating, mineral finish.'' - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate, (04/26/2024), Ratings: 92-94 

"One for the classic Saint-Emilion limestone lovers out there, the 2023 Château Laroque is almost all Merlot (there's a splash of Cabernet Franc), and it has a pure, medium-bodied, incredibly elegant profile carrying vibrant raspberry and cassis-driven fruit, some violet and floral notes, remarkable freshness and vibrancy, fine tannins, and outstanding length. It's not massive, but it’s flawlessly balanced and just a beautiful wine in the vintage that readers will love to have in the cellars." - Jeb Dunnuck, Bordeaux 2023 En Primeur, (05/08/2024), Ratings: 92-94