The 2022 Chateau Laroque Bordeaux Blend from Saint Emilion, produced by Laroque, is making waves in the wine community with its exceptional quality and craftsmanship. This red wine, predominantly composed of 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, exemplifies the classic characteristics of a Saint-Emilion wine.
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com describes the wine as showing a "dark hue" and praises its "perfect balance between intensity, concentration, freshness, and elegance." He highlights the sweetness and purity of the red pit fruits and notes a long, creamy finish with a touch of saltiness that provides both lift and precision. Leve scores this wine between 94-96 points and suggests it will be best enjoyed from 2026 to 2045.
Jeb Dunnuck from jebdunnuck.com awards the wine an impressive 97 points and calls it "one of the new superstars in the appellation." He emphasizes the deep purple hue and classic Saint-Emilion bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, and tobacco, with an undercurrent of mineral notes. Dunnuck commends the wine's medium to full body, incredible purity, and ultra-fine tannins, predicting it will be a standout vintage.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, through reviewer William Kelley, gives the wine a score of 95 points. Kelley describes the 2022 Laroque as having "aromas of sweet berries, violets, iris and exotic spices," coupled with a layered palate and lively acids, concluding with a "taut, chalky finish."
James Suckling from jamessuckling.com notes the wine's classic Bordeaux profile with medium to full body, firm tannins, and a "crunchy character," scoring it 94 points. He mentions the presence of currants, blackberries, and sandalwood, adding that it has a fresh, linear nature.
Jane Anson from janeanson.com also awards the wine 97 points, praising its "gorgeous definition and vivid energetic fruit." She notes the balance of ripeness and salinity, describing it as having a relaxed confidence and impressive complexity.
Antonio Galloni from Vinous scores the wine 94 points and highlights its bright, focused, and energetic profile. He describes flavors of dark plum, graphite, licorice, spice, lavender, and mocha, with bright saline accents lending notable brightness throughout.
Decanter gives the wine another 97 points, calling it a "clear standout" with refined density and sublime drinking pleasure. They describe the wine as full-bodied, rich, and concentrated, with a perfumed and opulent nose and an intense, juicy, and playful fruitiness.
The Wine Independent, with a score of 96 points, notes the wine's deep garnet-purple color and showy scents of warm black plums, blueberry compote, and chocolate-covered cherries. They praise the wine's full-bodied palate, impressive tension, and long, fragrant finish.
Overall, the 2022 Chateau Laroque Bordeaux Blend is highly regarded by reviewers for its balance, purity, and complexity, making it a must-try for Bordeaux enthusiasts.
