Laroque 2018

St Emilion, Grand Cru Classé

Units	Size	Case size	GBP Price:	Quantities	Buy
6	75cl Bottle	Case 6	£113 per Case	Case	[Add to shopping basket]
18	75cl Bottle	Case 6	£135 per Case	Cases	[Add to shopping basket]

Tasting Notes
Among the oldest estates in St Emilion, dating back to the Middle Ages, this is pure restrained limestone, and stands as an excellent reflection of why this type of terroir worked so well in 2018. The ph for example, is 3.48, a relatively low number that underscores the freshness and feeling of bounce and juice that runs through the blueberry and raspberry fruits. Score: 94 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2026-2042 05 October 2021
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. Score: 93 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2024-2040 01 November 2020
Beautifully measured, elegant and restrained, this has juiciness and hidden power. It's definitely less exuberant than some, giving tight black fruits and fine tannins alongside a limestone grip and a slate crawl across the palate, slowing you down and forcing you to pay attention as the floral character comes slowly winding out of the glass. Ageing on lees with just two rackings in both barrels and large oak casks. 3.8pH. Harvested 28 September to 12 October. Drinking Window 2026 - 2040 Score: 93 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2026-2040 04 April 2019
The 2018 Laroque fulfills the promise it showed from barrel last year. It has an irresistible bouquet of layered black cherry and blueberry fruit, fresh and lively with beautifully integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity and a spicy, black-pepper-tinged finish that feels ever so slightly attenuated. Give this 3–4 years in bottle if you can. Score: 92 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024 - 2040 22 August 2021
The 2018 Laroque fulfills the promise it showed from barrel last year. It has an irresistible bouquet of layered black cherry and blueberry fruit, fresh and lively with beautifully integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity and a spicy, black-pepper-tinged finish that feels ever so slightly attenuated. Give this 3–4 years in bottle if you can. Score: 92 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024-2040 21 March 2021
The 2018 Laroque fulfills the promise it showed from barrel last year. It has an irresistible bouquet of layered black cherry and blueberry fruit, fresh and lively with beautifully integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity and a spicy, black-pepper-tinged finish that feels ever so slightly attenuated. Give this 3–4 years in bottle if you can. Score: 92 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024-40 01 March 2021
The 2018 Laroque has a rich and creamy bouquet with upfront blueberry and cassis fruit, modern in style but managing to retain delineation and avoid excess. The palate is smooth and rounded with quite noticeable vanillary oak, although there is plenty of fruit underneath. The tannins feel quite fine and there is a sense of harmony and persistent on the plush finish. Whilst not a profound Saint-Émilion, it does make for a seductively gorgeous wine. Score: 91 - 93 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022-2042 01 November 2019
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. Score: 96 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2021 - 2041 19 July 2021
A blend of 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc representing just 41% of the total production, the 2018 Château Laroque is still resting in barrels and oak tanks. Its deep purple color is followed by a classy bouquet of ripe black cherries, cassis, graphite, licorice, and crushed rocks. Deep, medium to full-bodied, with a beautiful mid-palate and ripe, silky tannins, it's an incredible success for the estate, which is firing on all cylinders today thanks to the talented David Suire! Score: 95 - 97 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com 24 April 2019
The 2018 Laroque is composed of 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, aged in 50% new barriques. The alcohol is 14.5% and the pH is 3.48. 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 tannins and tons of freshness, finishing long and fragrant. Score: 95 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2025 - 2045 15 July 2021
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. Score: 94 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Maturity: 2023+ 03 March 2021
The 2018 Laroque is every bit as impressive as it was from barrel. Silky, polished and refined, the 2018 marks a major step forward for the château. Lavender, spice, blueberry, cedar and mint all grace a Saint-Émilion built more on finesse than power. The long, persistent finish, with its saline accents, adds to the wine's pedigree. The 2018 is beautifully done. The blend is 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Technical Director David Suire gave the 2018 lots 26-29 days on the skins fermented in cement, with manual pump-overs and punch-downs. New oak is 55%. Score: 94 Antonio Galloni, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2026-2043 01 March 2021
The 2018 Laroque is a very pretty, pliant Saint-Émilion. Bright red raspberry, blood orange, mint and sweet floral notes give the 2018 striking energy to play off a core of radiant, supple fruit. Medium in body and gracious, Laroque has so much to offer in 2018. Although Laroque is not one of the most concentrated or structured Saint-Émilions, it is a wine of superb drinkability and pure pleasure. The blend is 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Technical Director David Suire gave the 2018 lots 26-29 days on the skins fermented in cement, with manual pumpovers and punchdowns. New oak is 55%. Suire, best known for his work alongside Nicolas Thienpont, is doing great things at Laroque. Tasted four times. Score: 91 - 94 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com 01 April 2019

Tasting Notes

Among the oldest estates in St Emilion, dating back to the Middle Ages, this is pure restrained limestone, and stands as an excellent reflection of why this type of terroir worked so well in 2018. The ph for example, is 3.48, a relatively low number that underscores the freshness and feeling of bounce and juice that runs through the blueberry and raspberry fruits.

Score: 94

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2026-2042 05 October 2021

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.

Score: 93

Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2024-2040 01 November 2020

Beautifully measured, elegant and restrained, this has juiciness and hidden power. It's definitely less exuberant than some, giving tight black fruits and fine tannins alongside a limestone grip and a slate crawl across the palate, slowing you down and forcing you to pay attention as the floral character comes slowly winding out of the glass. Ageing on lees with just two rackings in both barrels and large oak casks. 3.8pH. Harvested 28 September to 12 October. Drinking Window 2026 - 2040

Score: 93

Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2026-2040 04 April 2019

The 2018 Laroque fulfills the promise it showed from barrel last year. It has an irresistible bouquet of layered black cherry and blueberry fruit, fresh and lively with beautifully integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity and a spicy, black-pepper-tinged finish that feels ever so slightly attenuated. Give this 3–4 years in bottle if you can.

Score: 92

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024 - 2040 22 August 2021

Score: 92

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024-2040 21 March 2021

Score: 92

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024-40 01 March 2021

The 2018 Laroque has a rich and creamy bouquet with upfront blueberry and cassis fruit, modern in style but managing to retain delineation and avoid excess. The palate is smooth and rounded with quite noticeable vanillary oak, although there is plenty of fruit underneath. The tannins feel quite fine and there is a sense of harmony and persistent on the plush finish. Whilst not a profound Saint-Émilion, it does make for a seductively gorgeous wine.

Score: 91 - 93

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2022-2042 01 November 2019

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.

Score: 96

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2021 - 2041 19 July 2021

A blend of 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc representing just 41% of the total production, the 2018 Château Laroque is still resting in barrels and oak tanks. Its deep purple color is followed by a classy bouquet of ripe black cherries, cassis, graphite, licorice, and crushed rocks. Deep, medium to full-bodied, with a beautiful mid-palate and ripe, silky tannins, it's an incredible success for the estate, which is firing on all cylinders today thanks to the talented David Suire!

Score: 95 - 97

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com 24 April 2019

The 2018 Laroque is composed of 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, aged in 50% new barriques. The alcohol is 14.5% and the pH is 3.48. 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 tannins and tons of freshness, finishing long and fragrant.

Score: 95

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2025 - 2045 15 July 2021

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.

Score: 94

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Maturity: 2023+ 03 March 2021

The 2018 Laroque is every bit as impressive as it was from barrel. Silky, polished and refined, the 2018 marks a major step forward for the château. Lavender, spice, blueberry, cedar and mint all grace a Saint-Émilion built more on finesse than power. The long, persistent finish, with its saline accents, adds to the wine's pedigree. The 2018 is beautifully done. The blend is 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Technical Director David Suire gave the 2018 lots 26-29 days on the skins fermented in cement, with manual pump-overs and punch-downs. New oak is 55%.

Score: 94

Antonio Galloni, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2026-2043 01 March 2021

The 2018 Laroque is a very pretty, pliant Saint-Émilion. Bright red raspberry, blood orange, mint and sweet floral notes give the 2018 striking energy to play off a core of radiant, supple fruit. Medium in body and gracious, Laroque has so much to offer in 2018. Although Laroque is not one of the most concentrated or structured Saint-Émilions, it is a wine of superb drinkability and pure pleasure. The blend is 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Technical Director David Suire gave the 2018 lots 26-29 days on the skins fermented in cement, with manual pumpovers and punchdowns. New oak is 55%. Suire, best known for his work alongside Nicolas Thienpont, is doing great things at Laroque. Tasted four times.

Score: 91 - 94

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com 01 April 2019

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