2020 Chateau Laroque

Pitch black heart with a very deep dark red black hue. Engulfing the nose are ripe red to black currant and liquorice aromas with hints of violet, subtlety toasted vanillin cedar, earthy graphite, black olive and spice notes also chiming in. Framing the rich, tightly knit blackcurrant, black cherry and liquorice fruits are graphite like tannins which impart a muscular feel. Notions of spicy vanillin cedar, dusty earth, black olive and crushed rock lurk underneath. Finishes tense and grippy yet refined and long. Requires some patience.
Cellar 8-10 years.
Alc. 14.5%

Other Reviews....
A blend of 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Laroque is deep garnet-purple in color. A little subdued to begin, offering subtle notes of crushed rocks and damp soil, it opens out to a core of ripe black and red plums and fresh blackberries, plus a fragrant waft of lilacs. The full-bodied palate is bursting with taut, muscular black fruits and amazing tension, framed by ripe, rounded tannins, and finishing with great length and depth.
97 points
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Wine Independent (Mar 2023)

The 2020 Laroque is even better than the en primeur sample. Dark and enveloping, with tons of class, Laroque is a winner. Succulent dark plum, gravel, spice, menthol, licorice and pipe tobacco give the 2020 tons of nuance. Laroque is class personified. Winemaker David Suire is doing important work here. Drink 2027-2045.
96 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous (Dec 2022)

Aromas of sweet berries with herbs, wet earth and moss undertones as well as fresh mushrooms. Medium- to full-bodied with ultra-fine and creamy tannins and a lovely finish. It’s polished and refined. Drink after 2025, but already very pretty.
94 points
James Suckling (Dec 2022)

From an estate that has been on an incredible run of late, largely due to the talents of director David Suire, the 2020 Château Laroque shows the cooler, limestone-driven style of the terroir beautifully and has a clean, focused style in its darker (almost blue) berry fruits as well as chalky minerality, violets, spice, and floral nuances. Medium-bodied on the palate, this focused, straight, remarkably pure Saint-Emilion has terrific mid-palate depth and a great finish. It needs to be hidden in the cellar for a solid 4-5 years if possible and is going to have 30 years of longevity. If drinking any time soon, give it an hour in a decanter.
95+ points
Jeb Dunnuck (Mar 2023)

Espresso, black cherry, licorice, coffee bean, chocolate and plum liqueur fill the perfume. The wine is rich, opulent, deep and fresh on the palate with layers of lushly-textured, black plums, chocolate, blueberries and blackberries. Perfectly balanced, hedonistic, concentrated and vibrant, with a long, expansive finish, this is in contention for the best vintage produced at Laroque yet. Drink from 2023-2042.
95 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider (Mar 2023)