Château Laroque
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Château Laroque, a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé, spans 61 hectares on a clay-limestone terroir. Managed by David Suire, it is renowned for its barrel-aged red wines crafted from Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Identity
Château Laroque is located in Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes. It is currently owned by Sylviane and Bertrand Barascud, with estate management overseen by David Suire. Stanislas Droin represents the Beaumartin family, the former owners.
History and philosophy
The history of Château Laroque is ancient, with parts of the building dating back to the 12th century, while the current château was rebuilt in the 17th century by the Marquis de Lavie. The Beaumartin family acquired the estate in 1935 and began replanting the vineyard in the 1950s, notably in 1962. Bruno Sainson managed the estate from 1982, before Xavier Beaumartin took over management in 2004. In 2015, David Suire and his new team took the helm. The estate was awarded Grand Cru Classé status in 1996 and features in the 2022 classification. Château Laroque is committed to an HVE certification process.
Appellations
The wines of Château Laroque are produced under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé appellation.
Practical information
Château Laroque is located at CHATEAU LAROQUE, 33330 Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes. It is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, and on Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. Tours are available. Cellar-door sales are offered, as well as mail-order purchasing. The estate can be contacted by telephone on 05 57 24 77 28 or 04 67 55 34 47, and by email via n.romanchenko@chateau-laroque.fr or contact@chateau-laroque.com.
Find out more
Official estate websiteFrequently asked questions
- Where is Château Laroque located and who are its current owners?
- Château Laroque is situated in the commune of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, within the Saint-Émilion appellation. It is currently owned by Sylviane and Bertrand Barascud. The estate boasts a rich history, with origins dating back to the 12th century for part of the building. The Beaumartin family, previous owners, contributed to replanting the vineyard from the 1950s onwards, and the estate saw various management teams until David Suire and his team took over in 2015.
- What are the classification and certifications of Château Laroque?
- Château Laroque holds Grand Cru Classé status, a distinction first attained in 1996 and confirmed in the 2022 classification. In addition to this quality recognition, the estate is committed to environmentally friendly practices, as demonstrated by its HVE (High Environmental Value) certification, reflecting sustainable management across its vineyard and farming practices.
- Describe the terroir and grape varieties of Château Laroque.
- The Château Laroque vineyard covers 61 hectares and is predominantly characterised by a terroir of clay-limestone scree resting upon a limestone rocky plateau. The vines, with an average age of 45 years, benefit from favourable south/south-east sun exposure. The grape variety plantings are dominated by Merlot, accounting for 87%, complemented by 11% Cabernet Franc and a small 2% proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon. This blend lends the wines their aromatic profile and structure.
- What are the characteristics of Château Laroque wines and its second wine?
- Château Laroque produces a principal red wine under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé appellation. Vinification is traditional, in concrete vats, followed by 15 to 18 months of ageing in oak barriques or oak foudres, with 50% new oak. Since 2015, the wine's style has evolved towards greater finesse, elegance, and aromatic brightness. The estate also crafts a second wine, Les Tours de Laroque, described as softer, fruity, and immediately approachable.
The vineyard (terroir)
The Château Laroque vineyard covers 61 hectares. It is planted on a limestone rocky plateau and clay-limestone scree, with a south/south-east exposure. The average vine age is 45 years. The grape varieties are dominated by Merlot (87% or 92% depending on the source), complemented by Cabernet Franc (11% or 8%) and a small proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (2%). Planting density ranges from 5,200 to 7,000 vines per hectare. Harvesting is carried out by hand.
Flagship cuvées
Château Laroque produces a principal red wine, as well as a second wine named Les Tours de Laroque. The grand vin is distinguished by traditional vinification that respects its limestone character, followed by ageing in oak barriques or oak foudres. From 2015 onwards, the style of the wines evolved towards greater finesse, elegance, and aromatic radiance, showing tension and balance, in contrast to the denser, more structured style with firm tannins prior to that date. The second wine, Les Tours de Laroque, is described as supple, fruity, and approachable.
Vinification and ageing
Vinification at Château Laroque is traditional, using concrete vats. Harvesting is done by hand. Ageing takes place over a period of 15 to 18 months in oak barriques or oak foudres, with a split of 50% new oak and 50% one-wine casks and older.
- Appellations
- Saint-Émilion, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
- Commune
- Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes
- Wine region
- Libournais
- Classification
- Grand Cru Classé (2022)
- Owner
- Sylviane et Bertrand Barascud
- Technical direction
- David Suire
- Surface area
- 61 ha
- Second wine
- oui
- Certifications
- HVE
- Grape varieties
- Merlot 87%, Cabernet Franc 11%, Cabernet Sauvignon 2%
Practical information
- Address
- CHATEAU LAROQUE, 33330 ST CHRISTOPHE DES BARDES
- Phone
- 04 67 55 34 47
- Contact form
- Contact the estate
- Opening hours
- lundi au vendredi de 9h à 17h et le samedi de 10h à 18h
- Visits
- Lundi, Mardi, Mercredi, Jeudi, Vendredi