Chateau Laroque 2021

WEINWISSER: "Der Laroque 2021 hat eine dunkle, satte, intensive Farbe. Im offensiven Geruch erscheint er rotfruchtig im Obertonbereich und erfüllt von dunkler Frucht im Kernaroma bei sehr, sehr guter Tiefe und Rasse. Satter Auftakt auch im Mund, sehr konzentriert und kernig, mit tollem, straffem Verlauf. Er verfügt dabei über viel Rasse mit feinem Säurespiel. Weniger wuchtig als erwartet, ist der Laroque 2021 ein sehr geradliniger St.- Émilion mit sehr nobler, transparenter Präsenz. 13.5 Vol.-%."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "Laroque 2021 is deep garnet-purple in color. It is a little reticent to start, soon unfurling to offer evocative notes of star anise, ripe black plums, and juicy blueberries, followed by hints of violets and charcoal. Medium-bodied, the palate has impressive tension and a great core of intense black fruits, framed by rounded tannins, finishing long and minerally. Nicely done!"

JAMES SUCKLING: "piced 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. Drink now but can hold, too."

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."

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+."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Dried flowers, forest floor, licorice, cocoa, wild cherries, black raspberries and strawberries define the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is supple, creamy, fresh, and most importantly, pure with the essence of its sweet, ripe, mildly salty, red fruits, and soft, silky tannins to make the lingering taste, and feel great. The wine was made with 99% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2040."

THE 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."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Frische Pflaumen, zart nach Karamell, ein Hauch von Kräutern und Tabak. Mittlerer Körper, rotbeerige Nuancen, finessenreicher Säurebogen, zarte Tannine, salziger Abgang, ein schlanker Begleiter bei Tisch."