Why it matters
The producer
The main château was constructed in the seventeenth century, while Château Laroque itself dates to the twelfth. The estate produces a Grand Vin and a secondary wine under the Saint-Emilion name. Its large undivided vineyard gives the property a single estate address, while Les Tours de Laroque provides a separate secondary bottling.
David Suire became director of the estate in 2015. He is known for his work with Nicolas Thienpont and Stéphane Derenoncourt. Château Laroque combines an old château, a broad vineyard holding, and two red wines with distinct places in the range.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Saint-Christophe des Bardes lies northeast of Saint-Emilion village, placing Château Laroque within the Saint-Emilion appellation. Grand Cru Classé is the estate's formal classification within that appellation, identifying a classified château rather than a separate village.
The commune name and the Saint-Emilion name perform different jobs on the label. One locates the estate; the other identifies the appellation and classification attached to its wines.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
The estate farms organically without official organic certification. It also holds HVE certification, Haute Valeur Environnementale, for biodiversity. HVE is an environmental certification focused on biodiversity and wider farm practices.
The Grand Vin is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels before bottling, with 50% of the barrels new. Oak ageing exposes wine gradually to oxygen, while new oak can add spice and a firmer texture as the wine matures.
Wines to know
The range in view
Château Laroque is the Grand Vin, with approximately 11,000 cases produced in an average vintage. Total estate production exceeds 25,000 cases. Les Tours de Laroque is the secondary wine and can exceed 8,000 cases annually.
Les Tours comes from a selection of over 50 year old vines made through Massal Selection, a method of choosing vine material from selected older plants for propagation. Its blend is 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc.