Château Laroze Saint-Emilion 2019 - Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Located at the foot of the hillside south of the village, the 27-hectare vineyard—a single contiguous plot—rests on ancient sandy soil with a deep clay subsoil. Cultivated without chemical fertilizers or herbicides, and now advised by Hubert de Boüard, the estate has retained its unforced, natural style, but the wines still lack a bit of body and complexity overall to rival the best.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

Descended from a family with a history in winemaking dating back to 1610, Georges Gurchy founded the estate in 1882. His descendants, the Meslin family, are still at the helm: Guy succeeded his father Georges in 1990 as head of the estate. Classified since 1955, the estate boasts a substantial vineyard covering 27 hectares on clay-sand soils, west of Saint-Émilion.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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

About the estate:

Consistently ranked since 1955, the estate—founded in 1882 by the family of Guy Meslin, the current owner—is recognized as one of Saint-Émilion’s most reliable investments. It makes the most of its foothill terroir, which is largely sandy. While some recent vintages display a straightforward, rich character but lack nuance, the very latest ones show improvement. Full-bodied, approachable, and subtle, they will express themselves early on in the amiable style for which the terroir is predisposed.

James Suckling

About the wine:

Aromas of blackcurrant, dark berries, dried herbs, and charcoal. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and a supple, creamy, and fresh palate. A juicy finish. Best enjoyed starting in 2024.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Another magnificent wine from this estate, the 2019 Château Laroze offers a smoky bouquet of ripe black fruits, crushed flowers, violets, and a hint of chocolatey oak. With its full-bodied richness, remarkable purity, and silky tannins, it will be in the same league as the 2018.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

The 2019 Laroze has a very refined bouquet. It unfolds slowly, revealing notes of black berries and garrigue. On the palate, the wine is taut and fresh, making it lively and elegant. There is a beautiful balance between the tannins and the acidity. A savory, precise wine with the potential to age for several decades in the cellar! 2026–2044.

Jean-Marc Quarin

About the wine:

Deep, intense color. A very aromatic, fruity, fresh, and ripe nose with hints of orange peel. Delicate on the palate at first, flavorful in the middle, with character, presence, and a smooth body; the wine develops into a juicy, deep, and spicy finish, with very well-integrated tannins. It’s very good. A truly fine Outsider.

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is fresh and fruity, with moderate intensity, subtle power, good structure, and a delicate, lingering finish. It features notes of crushed blackberry, juicy and fresh blue berries, and a hint of strawberry, combined with hints of blueberry, hints of crushed redcurrants, and subtle notes of chocolate, licorice, and toasted hazelnut/almond. The palate is mineral, balanced, and offers freshness, fruit, a refined structure, a certain savory quality, and a fine, well-defined structure. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/crushed redcurrants, juicy/crushed raspberries, and a hint of Boysenberry, combined with hints of blackcurrant and blueberry, as well as subtle notes of vanilla, nutmeg, chocolate, and toasted almond. The tannins are precise and velvety. Good length. Good flavor intensity on the finish/persistence.