Château Laroque 2024

This year, the wine is made from 95 percent grapes from the limestone plateau; on the nose, depth, a mineral imprint, dark fruit, floral tea, marzipan; a compact palate, straightforward, concentrated, elegant, powdery tannins, perfectly judged acidity, great tension, plenty of freshness, balance, and an exceptionally long finish, with a chalky finale. Reliable again this year and a fine interpretation of the vintage and the terroir.

Perfumed raspberry and cherry fruit with creamy scents and lots of rose aromatics. Glossy and rich, this has great concentration from the start. Cool and crisp, a touch of grip – the fine but firm tannins give a structured mouthfeel with blueberry fruit and freshly picked mint on the finish. Round, juicy and with energy and lovely licks of salty minerality. Well made by winemaker David Suire, this will be a crowd-pleaser and likely to be good value. 3.75 pH. Ageing 80% new oak, 20% one-year-old oak for 16 months.

98% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc. 41 hl/ha. Cask sample. Subdued nose but the palate is more expressive. Layered fruit just about keeps the tension in check. Chalky and dry on the finish. Terroir expression. Will definitely require food. (JL)

Quite floral on the nose, with accents of raspberries and cherries filling the perfume. Medium-bodied, bright, crisp, and crunchy, focused on a core of vibrant strawberries, red cherries, and raspberries. Elegant, with a lot of freshness in this vintage; you can enjoy it early for all its fruity charms. The wine was made with 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, 13% ABV. Drink from 2028–2042. 90–92 pts

Deep plum colour, cold ash and fennel on the opening, savoury, well judged and well extracted, this is on the slim side, with the focus on cassis bud and rose petals. You probably have to be a bit of a limestone fanatic (as I am) to truly love this vintage of Laroque, because it is less gourmet than in vintages like 2022 and 2023, setting texture and minerality above fruit, but exceptionally well handled by estate director David Suire, and it should soften further ove ageing. Once again a value pick.

Deep, intense colour with purplish highlights. Moderately aromatic nose, with ripe, fresh fruit. Delicate on entry and then very fruity, with an airy texture; the wine caresses the palate. Finish is a touch lively and should mellow with ageing. Normal length. Blend: 98% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc. Alcohol content: 13.5%.