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WEINWISSER: ": 99 % Merlot, 1 % Cabernet Franc, 46 hl/ha, pH 3.42, 14.15 Vol.-%. Delikates Bouquet, zarte rotbeerige Konturen, heller Tabak und dunkles Graphit, dahinter Sandelholz, edle Cassiswürze und erkalteter Hagebuttentee. Am vielschichtigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, engmaschigem Tanningerüst, vibrierender Rasse, bleibt dabei dicht und präzise, sehr geradliniger Körper. Im konzentrierten, sehr fokussierten nicht enden wollenden Finale mit Schattenmorellensaft, edler Kalknote gepaart mit edler Bitterness. Ein seriöser Typ dieses Jahr. Gehört in seiner Klasse zu den Besten."
95
VINUM: "Seit einigen Jahren auf dem besten Weg, sich an der Spitze der Appellation zu etablieren; steinig-kühler Ausdruck, intensive Frucht, florale Noten, rote Früchte, Rhabarber; am Gaumen mit knackiger Frucht, geschliffenes Tannin, ungemein delikat, grosse Harmonie; der Wein hat Struktur, zeigt Druck, bleibt elegant; hervorragende Länge, endet salzig, das kalkige Terroir spricht Bände. Must-buy!"
95
DECANTER: "Really perfumed nose, highly scented with purple flowers and dark ripe fruit - blackcurrant, damson plum and black cherry. Deep aromatics with lots of tobacco and clove spice on the nose. It’s heady, strongly scented and alive. Cool and crisp on the palate, smooth, so silky, really effortless in the tannin presentation. Juicy and clean, so bright, but not sour or tart, just the right side, so it’s lifted but not overly austere. Once the acidity calms down in comes the salty, mineral base giving lots of liquorice, wet stone and graphite tones, putting you squarely on limestone. Fruit is ripe and there is the softest chew to the expression but it keeps a relatively sleek frame. A bit minty. I would have thought there was more Cabernet in the blend than there is. It’s not so layered, but it’s certainly finessed and graceful on the palate with lots of precision and movement from start to finish. One that makes you want another sip straight away. 3.42pH. A great wine from winemaker David Suire. A yield of 46hl/ha. Ageing 50% new oak."
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THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Deeply colored, the wine opens with a strong, marine influence before you get to the flowers, licorice, red berries, and spice. The palate displays a medium-bodied, energetic core of spicy, fresh, sweet, ripe, salty, red fruits. Elegant in nature, there is a vibrant, almost, racy character to the fruits. This is a refined, charmer that leaves you with sweetness, spice, and ample purity in the salt-edged, red fruits that remain with you, from start to finish. The wine was made with 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, 14.15% ABV. Drink from 2028-2045."
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LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2023 Laroque is deep garnet-purple in color. It is a touch closed to start off, with reluctant scents of cedar and tar eventually opening out to a core of ripe black and red plums, Bing cherries, and fragrant earth plus a waft of violets. The medium-bodied palate delivers great tension and beautifully ripe, rounded tannins to support the red and black berry flavors, finishing on a floral note. The blend is 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc."
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JAMES SUCKLING: "This is full and substantial, with firm tannins and a crunchy finish. Lots of blue fruit, blackberry, crushed-stone and mineral character. Very structured. 99% merlot and 1% cabernet franc."
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THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Exhibiting aromas of dark, minty berries, bay leaf and creamy new oak, the 2023 Laroque is medium to full-bodied, with a sweet core of fruit, powdery tannins and a penetrating, mineral finish."
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JEB DUNNUCK: "One for the classic Saint-Emilion limestone lovers out there, the 2023 Château Laroque is almost all Merlot (there's a splash of Cabernet Franc), and it has a pure, medium-bodied, incredibly elegant profile carrying vibrant raspberry and cassis-driven fruit, some violet and floral notes, remarkable freshness and vibrancy, fine tannins, and outstanding length. It's not massive, but it’s flawlessly balanced and just a beautiful wine in the vintage that readers will love to have in the cellars."
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FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zartes Edelholz, Vanille, zarte Lakritze, rote Herzkirschen, einladendes Bukett. Mittlerer Körper, rotbeerige Frucht, zarte Tannine, frische Struktur, mineralisch-salzig im Abgang, zitroniger Nachhall."
