Chateau Laroque 2021

- 92-95 Punkte Robert Parkers WINE ADVOCATE, William Kelley: „The 2021 Laroque is very promising indeed, and winemaker David Suire and I agree that it is likely to surpass the estate's 2018 vintage in quality. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of sweet berries, plums and cherries, framed by a discreet patina of new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, seamless and complete, with excellent concentration, lively acids and ripe, melting tannins. A blend of 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, it represents 45% of the estate's production and derives from vines more than 50 years old.“

- 93 Punkte DECANTER, Georgina Hindle: „Great aromatics on the nose. Supple and generous on the palate, this has a spring it its step with crushed velvet tannis, bright fruit that has a gentle roundness to it and such lifted freshness giving this a lovely cool effect from start to finish. I love the strawberry and raspberry fruit here, so clean, so pure, so delicate and long. It's not weighty but so well delivered. Lively and charming. Elegant, finessed, harmonious. Drinking Window 2024 – 2040“

- 16,5 Punkte JANCIS ROBINSON: „5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample.
Deep crimson hue. Dark and racy on the nose. Good depth of succulent mid-palate fruit. Plenty of polished tannin providing drive and persistence. A little chalkiness but nothing abrasive. Ambitious and with potential.“

- 17 Punkte Rene Gabriels BORDEAUX TOTAL, Andre Kunz: „Samtenes, dichtes, fruchtiges, kräftiges Bouquet, Kirschen, Erdbeeren, Minze, Schokolade. Samtener, fein cremiger Gaumen mit dichter Struktur, kräftiger, frischer Aromatik, feinem Tannin, feiner, süsser Frucht, langer, frischer Abgang. Kann noch zulegen. 17/20 2028 – 2048“

- 91-93+ Punkte JEB DUNNUCK: „From an estate that continues to fire on all cylinders, the 2021 Château Laroque checks in as just about all Merlot (there's a splash of Cabernet Franc) that's pulled from just 45% of the total production and spends 18 months in 50% new barrels. Beautiful black raspberry, cassis, white flowers, and chalky mineral notes all define the nose, and it's medium-bodied, with a supple, elegant mouthfeel, impressive tannins, and a great finish. It shows the cooler, fresher style of the vintage, yet I suspect the pH is solid, and it offers plenty of fruit. I'd be a buyer.“

- 93-94 Punkte JAMES SUCKLING: „A medium-bodied, elegant and fresh red with fine and silky tannins. Fresh acidity. Balanced and perfumed already with vibrant raspberry, blackberry and bark notes. Very citrusy. Linear and bright.“