Château Laroque 2023

For several years now, well on its way to establishing itself at the top of the appellation; stony-cool expression, intense fruit, floral notes, red berries, rhubarb; on the palate, crisp fruit, polished tannins, exceptionally delicate, great harmony; the wine has structure, shows drive, yet remains elegant; excellent length, finishes salty, the chalky terroir speaks volumes. A must-buy!

Really perfumed nose, highly scented with purple flowers and dark ripe fruit – blackcurrant, damson plum and black cherry. Deep aromatics with lots of tobacco and clove spice on the nose. It’s heady, strongly scented and alive. Cool and crisp on the palate, smooth, so silky, really effortless in the tannin presentation. Juicy and clean, so bright, but not sour or tart, just the right side, so it’s lifted but not overly austere. Once the acidity calms down in comes the salty, mineral base giving lots of liquorice, wet stone and graphite tones, putting you squarely on limestone. Fruit is ripe and there is the softest chew to the expression but it keeps a relatively sleek frame. A bit minty. I would have thought there was more Cabernet in the blend than there is. It’s not so layered, but it’s certainly finessed and graceful on the palate with lots of precision and movement from start to finish. One that makes you want another sip straight away. 3.42pH. A great wine from winemaker David Suire. A yield of 46hl/ha. Ageing 50% new oak.

Cask sample. Good colour. Dark-fruit aroma with a fresh, chalky edge. Smooth, well-worked tannins and persistence on the finish. Limestone terroir clearly marked. Perhaps a tad light in fruit weight. (JL)

Flowers, crushed rocks, chocolate, smoke, orange rind, and spice create the complex set of aromatics. The palate is equally complex with its layers of lush, polished, sweet, pure, red fruits with their edge of sea-salt. Concentrated, vibrant, and elegant, there is depth and a slightly racy character providing length and complexity on the mid-palate, and in the finish. The wine was made with 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2028-2042.

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, brightening at the edge. Delicate fine oak, vanilla, a touch of liquorice, red cherries, inviting bouquet. Medium body, red-berry fruit, delicate tannins, fresh structure, mineral and salty finish, lemony aftertaste.

Medium-intensity ruby; a little reserved at first, in the best way, with hidden depths that are so promising during En Primeur. Real sense of sapidity, squid ink, violet reflections, extremely vibrant. I really like this: blueberry, sage, slate, lift on the finish, delicious. Beaumartin family, David Suire winemaker.

Score: 93–95. Generous and welcoming, the nose is bucolic with scents of wild flowers, delicate fruit and a hint of honey. All that’s missing is the buzzing of bees. The palate is caressing, broad and voluptuous. Small red fruits bring energy before a particularly mouthwatering, complex finish marked by stony notes.

Laroque 2023’s bouquet reveals itself with subtlety—delicate, nuanced and, above all, precise. Its depth unfolds minute by minute as it aerates, bringing to the fore notes of red berries that are already almost crunchy on the nose, followed by dark berries, citrus zest and, finally, a chalky touch! Everything is about finesse, which is, moreover, a recurring hallmark of Laroque. On the palate, the wine shows itself with delicacy, even in its brisk, energetic register. It brims with energy, yet remains measured, framed by perfectly integrated tannins that go hand in hand with the tension of its acidic backbone. Laroque develops in a linear fashion—straight and seamless. It combines structuring, mouthwatering vibrancy with exceptional power, whose finesse shines through as it evokes the idea of quiet strength. A sense of serenity emerges as the wine falls into place. It confirms the greatness foretold during the en primeur tastings. It will need time—amply deserved (and so do we!).

Logo on the cork: AL Deep, intense dark red color. Very aromatic nose, with fresh, ripe fruit. A hint of citrus. Precise on the attack, very aromatic on the mid-palate, with flavor and fine texture; the wine develops into a savory, long finish without the tannins standing out. Juicy nuances. Very good.

A blend of 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2023 Laroque is broodier and more introverted than expected, revealing aromas of smoke, licorice, gentian and dark wild berries. Medium- to full-bodied, firm and dense, it is structured around a compact core of fruit framed by powdery tannins, concluding with a long, ethereal and saline finish. Two to four years in bottle should allow it to unwind.