2016 Château Laroque St. Émilion Grand Cru

Blueish tinge to the deep crimson. Rich and polished even if a little sinewy. Dry finish and not just a sweet fruit bomb, for which it deserves praise. Definitely fresh even if not that complex – yet? (JR)

The 2016 Laroque is blended of 95% Merlot, 4.5% Cabernet Franc and 0.5% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines more than 50 years old and aged in 50% new French and Austrian oak. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it slowly unfurls to reveal a beautiful core of redcurrants, Morello cherries, wild blueberries and fresh plums with touches of lilacs, oolong tea, chargrill, bay leaves and yeast extract plus a hint of wet slate. Medium to full-bodied, taut and finely textured with ripe, grainy tannins, it has bold freshness cutting through the densely packed red and black fruit layers, finishing on a lingering mineral note.

The 2016 Château Laroque, a blend of 95% Merlot, 4.5% Cabernet Franc, and a tiny splash of Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in a mix of new and neutral oak, represents 47% of the production. It’s incredibly fine and elegant, with an essence of limestone-like bouquet of cassis, black raspberries, white truffle, flowers, and salty minerality. Medium to full-bodied, with high yet integrated acidity and ultra-fine tannins, it's a beautiful, seamless, elegant wine that will benefit from a good 5-7 years of bottle age and keep for more than two decades.