Château Laroque Saint-Emilion 2020 - Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

A Saint-Émilion classified growth, Laroque is a sprawling 61-hectare vineyard that produces a robust wine, built more on structure than finesse. The arrival of David Suire, who works alongside Nicolas Thienpont on the top Saint-Émilion estates, has breathed new life into this domaine. This is evident in vintages like 2016 and 2017, which show greater refinement. 2018 marks a significant leap in quality: this domaine is one of the standout discoveries of our spring 2019 tastings. Be sure to stock up, as this is one of the best values in the sector; at under 30 euros, it’s hard to find a better deal!

Decanter

About the wine:

Ripe, juicy, and utterly seductive. This wine is delicious, with a magnificent texture of grainy tannins that give it structure and backbone, while crushed stone and salty black fruits lend it its flavor. Hints of licorice and clove are present and lend an oak-like impression, but they blend into the whole rather than standing out glaringly. A truly impressive wine with bite, grip, and intrigue. Young and powerful, it is serious—not a wine for the faint of heart—but expertly crafted and presented. 2025–2040

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

A majestic estate overlooking eastern Saint-Émilion, the Beaumartin family’s vineyard produces a mineral-driven, elegant wine that is more closely aligned with the spirit of the historic terroirs surrounding the town than with those of its immediate neighbors. The vast vineyard on the edge of the plateau, almost entirely planted with Merlot, is meticulously studied and managed, since 2015 by the brilliant David Suire, who is also Nicolas Thienpont’s right-hand man. The most recent vintages have proven particularly successful, offering a style that is both full-bodied and refined, very elegant and dynamic, with 2016 standing out as the highlight. Earlier vintages, vinified by Bruno Sainson, hold some wonderful surprises (the magnificent 2000).

James Suckling

About the wine:

Soft berry flavors with hints of herbs, damp earth, and moss, as well as fresh mushrooms. Medium-bodied to full-bodied, with ultra-fine, creamy tannins and a lovely finish. The wine is polished and refined. Best enjoyed after 2025, but already quite lovely.

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

The nose evokes a lake—dark and deep—that draws you inexorably to its shores. Sweet, dark, and enchanting fruit is enhanced by herbaceous notes. Confident, silky, and smooth, with an impressive density that emerges on the finish, lending the wine body and length. 2027–2042

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

Once again, Laroque stands out for its refined, slender, taut, juicy, and mouth-watering profile, underpinned and driven by a beautiful acidity, with a mineral character that lends it a lovely structure and suggests it has great aging potential. This vintage offers lovely bitter notes and exemplary freshness. Always a safe bet.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

With a very subtle initial presentation, Laroque’s bouquet reveals numerous facets that unfold gradually. The attack is precise and slender, heralding an elegant wine distinguished by its airy yet structured character. The tannins are exceptionally refined; while lively, they unfold slowly across the palate, emphasizing their presence on the finish. What definition this wine possesses! It undeniably needs time—a fact clearly signaled by the way it reveals itself—yet it already, and rightly so, asserts its greatness. A wine that combines temperament, power, and elegance.  2027–2045

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

Aromas of espresso, black cherry, licorice, coffee beans, chocolate, and plum liqueur. The wine is rich, opulent, deep, and fresh on the palate, with layers of lush black plums, chocolate, blueberries, and blackberries. Perfectly balanced, hedonistic, concentrated, and vibrant, with a long finish. This wine is a contender for the best vintage produced at Laroque to date. Drink between 2023 and 2042.