Château Laroque

Château Laroque traces its origins to the 12th century, when the site served as a defensive stronghold commanding the landscape above the Grande Combe de Saint-Laurent. The current château building was constructed in the 17th century by the Marquis de Rochefort-Lavie. Production came to a halt during the Great Depression in 1929, and the property was acquired by the Beaumartin family in 1935. The vineyards remained dormant until a full replanting campaign in 1962 revived the estate's winemaking ambitions. Grand Cru Classé status was achieved in 1996, cementing Laroque's return to Saint-Émilion's classified hierarchy. Since 2015, director David Suire has spearheaded a focused drive toward quality improvement that has brought renewed critical attention to the estate.

• 12th-century origins as a fortified hilltop position
• Current château built in the 17th century by the Marquis de Rochefort-Lavie
• Beaumartin family ownership since 1935; vineyards replanted 1962
• Grand Cru Classé classification achieved in 1996

Château Laroque occupies one of the highest elevations in the Saint-Émilion appellation, situated on the plateau and slopes above the Grande Combe de Saint-Laurent in the commune of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes. The total estate covers 61 hectares, with 40 hectares classified as Grand Cru Classé and 27 hectares dedicated to the Grand Vin. Soils vary across the property: the western sections feature blond clay over asteriated limestone, while the eastern parcels present red clay with Agen Molasse on limestone plateaux and hillsides. Terraces and lower slopes carry fine creamy white clay with Fronsac molasse. This diversity of clay-limestone compositions, combined with the moderating influence of the Dordogne River and the buffering effect of the limestone plateau, creates a temperate growing environment well suited to Merlot.

• Situated at one of Saint-Émilion's highest elevation points in Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes
• Blond clay (west) and red clay with Agen Molasse (east) over asteriated limestone
• Fronsac molasse found on lower terraces and hillsides
• Dordogne River proximity moderates the plateau's continental tendencies

The vineyard is planted predominantly to Merlot at 87%, complemented by 11% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. This composition reflects the clay-limestone terroir's natural affinity for Merlot while retaining a meaningful Cabernet Franc component to provide structure and aromatic complexity. Laroque farms entirely organically, though the estate has chosen not to pursue official organic certification. The property does hold HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) certification, recognising its commitment to sustainable agricultural practices. The quality trajectory under David Suire since 2015 has been marked by greater precision in vineyard management and a winemaking approach that emphasises the estate's distinctive chalky mineral signature.

Château Laroque produces red wines that sit at the more elegant, mineral-driven end of the Saint-Émilion spectrum. The high-elevation clay-limestone terroir imparts a distinctive chalky minerality that runs through the wines alongside floral lift, black cherry, plum, and spice. Body falls in the medium to full range, with the wines showing nuance and restraint rather than concentration for its own sake. The Cabernet Franc component contributes aromatic finesse and structure that helps the wines age gracefully. Laroque represents a style of Saint-Émilion that prioritises terroir expression and precision, a direction reinforced by the estate's organic approach in the vineyard.