Chateau Laroque 2020

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "A blend of 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Laroque is deep garnet-purple in color. A little subdued to begin, offering subtle notes of crushed rocks and damp soil, it opens out to a core of ripe black and red plums and fresh blackberries, plus a fragrant waft of lilacs. The full-bodied palate is bursting with taut, muscular black fruits and amazing tension, framed by ripe, rounded tannins, and finishing with great length and depth."

JEB DUNNUCK: "From an estate that has been on an incredible run of late, largely due to the talents of director David Suire, the 2020 Château Laroque shows the cooler, limestone-driven style of the terroir beautifully and has a clean, focused style in its darker (almost blue) berry fruits as well as chalky minerality, violets, spice, and floral nuances. Medium-bodied on the palate, this focused, straight, remarkably pure Saint-Emilion has terrific mid-palate depth and a great finish. It needs to be hidden in the cellar for a solid 4-5 years if possible and is going to have 30 years of longevity. If drinking any time soon, give it an hour in a decanter."

WEINWISSER: "Delikates Bouquet, reife Schattenmorelle, helles Edelholz und getrockneter Rosmarin. Am eleganten Gaumen mit weicher Textur, feinsandigem Extrakt und balancierter Rasse, mittlerer Körper. Im gebündelten Finale rotbeerige Konturen, dunkles Graphit und feinkörnige Adstringenz. Empfehlung!"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Espresso, black cherry, licorice, coffee bean, chocolate and plum liqueur fill the perfume. The wine is 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, expansive finish, this is in contention for the best vintage produced at Laroque yet. Drink from 2023-2042."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Aromas of sweet berries with herbs, wet earth and moss undertones as well as fresh mushrooms. Medium- to full-bodied with ultra-fine and creamy tannins and a lovely finish. It’s polished and refined. Drink after 2025, but already very pretty."

DECANTER: "Ripe, juicy and so seductive. This is delicious, a gorgeous texture of just grainy tannins giving the structure and the frame while crushed stone, salty black fruits give the flavour. Edges of liquorice and clove are present giving the sense of oak but they combine to the whole rather than sticking out overtly. A really impressive wine with bite, grip and interest. Youthful and high-toned, this is serious, it's not a wine for the faint hearted, but expertly positioned and presented."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Zarte Edelholzwürze, Nuancen von Lakritze, schwarze Waldbeeren, florale Noten, einladendes Bukett. Saftig, reife rote Kirschen, elegant, präsente, integrierte Tannine, insgesamt ist das Holz noch spürbar, wird von weiterer Flaschenreife profitieren, besitzt Mineralität und Frische, sicheres Potenzial."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2020 Laroque has turned out nicely, bursting with aromas of cherries, minty blackberries, licorice and bay leaf. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, with good depth at the core, chalky but refined tannins and a saline finish, it's another strong performance for this rising star of Saint-Émilion."