Château Laroque 2022 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé

Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux)
97/100 punten
You just know that this estate is well placed to succeed in the vintage, and this really does walk the line of ripeness and salinity, such gorgeous definition and vivid energetic fruit. Stretches out through the palate also, has a relaxed confidence to it that is quite unusual in such a full--on vintage. Really impressive, Beaumartin family, David Suire director. 

Jeb Dunnuck
(95-97)/100 punten
Clearly one of the new superstars in the appellation, Château Laroque is located on the cooler, eastern edge of Saint-Emilion and consists of pure, classic upper plateau limestone soils. The estate covers a whopping 54 hectares, which gives director Davie Suire ample flexibility when putting together the Grand Vin. Looking at the 2022 Laroque, it's a blend of 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc from healthy yields of 41 hectoliters per hectare, representing just 45% of the total production, and it will spend 16-18 months in 50% new French oak. This deep purple-hued beauty offers a classic Saint-Emilion bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, tobacco, and a liquid rock-like sense of minerality. It’s medium to full-bodied, has incredible purity, and ultra-fine tannins. It’s unquestionably another beautiful vintage for this chateau that readers will love. 

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
(93-95)/100 punten
Another impressive performance from this estate, the 2022 Laroque offers up aromas of sweet berries, violets, iris and exotic spices, followed by a medium to the full-bodied, layered palate with a rich core of fruit that's framed by lively acids, concluding with a taut, chalky finish. Once again, it's the result of a strict selection that sees only 45% of the production released as the grand vin. 

The Drinks Business (Colin Hay)
(96-98)/100 punten
The Merlot coped fabulously well with the hydric stress contributing to the higher yields. Incredible work in the vineyard was also crucial to the success of of this wine. Crushed fruits of the forest, black cherry, a little ripe plum, so pure and precise, so massively intense too; a little spiciness with a touch of cinnamon and a twist of white pepper; cedar; but also that fabulous slight leafiness that underscore the freshness of the fruit and hints at the sapidity to be found on the palate; a most subtle hint of brioche; little purple spring flowers as it opens in the glass; an almost velvety soft nose; cool; complex and subtly evolving as it slowly unfurls. This is both brilliantly bright and fragrant. Another wine that tastes and feels like it comes from a large format, such is the integrity of the tannins (a double magnum perhaps). Incredibly energetic and explosively expressive of the fruit. Raspberry, loganberry and bramble, blueberry to darken the fruit profile, a subtle hint of toasted brioche, green and rose peppercorns. A fabulous wine once again from David Suire, Laroque is, as ever, so lithe, so crystalline, so energetic and so dynamic on the palate. There’s a slight but delicate touch of salinity on the finish. The best I have tasted from here, which is saying quite a lot! A brilliant wine as it so often is nowadays with a personality and identity all of its own, but that sings so eloquently of its calcaire. 

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
(94-96)/100 punten
Showing a dark hue, the wine is all about its perfect balance between intensity, concentration, freshness, and elegance. The red pit fruits are sweet, refined, pure, and supple. The finish is long, creamy, pure and while powerful, it is elegant as well, leaving you with a saltiness on the backend, providing lift and precision. The wine was made with 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, 14.55% ABV.

Vinous (Neal Martin)
(92-94)/100 punten
The 2022 Laroque was picked at 41hL/ha between 14 and 30 September, representing 45% of the total production. It has a clean and precise bouquet with brambly red fruit, hints of liquorice, and iodine. Quite voluptuous in style, though thankfully, it retains delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe red fruit. Fine structure, very supple in the mouth. The lightly spiced finish comes across just a little sweeter than I would have liked, prompting me to be a bit more cautious with my score than I otherwise might have been.

James Suckling
(93-94)/100 punten
A very classic Bordeaux with medium to full body, firm tannins, and crunchy character, with a linear nature. Currants and blackberries. Sandalwood, too. Fresh.

The Wine Independent (Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW)
(94-96)/100 punten
A blend of 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Laroque is deep garnet-purple in color. It prances out with showy scents of warm black plums, blueberry compote, and chocolate-covered cherries, giving way to wafts of underbrush, violets, and Sichuan pepper. The full-bodied palate delivers seriously impressive tension, with firm, ripe, rounded tannins and bags of bright black fruits, finishing long and fragrant.

Falstaff
94/100 punten
Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate rim brightening. Delicate liquorice, tangerine zest, black cherries, inviting bouquet. Juicy, harmonious, fine sweet fruit, ripe berries, fresh acidity arc, mineral-salty finish, very balanced, shows certain ageing potential.