Limestone St-Emilion classicism

and other highlights

In a region where the word 'chateau' usually means '18th century stately home', at Laroque they really do have a proper medieval castle, complete with remains of a moat. Laroque occupies a high point on the St-Emilion plateau, and the vineyards bestride three different flavours of limestone soil. Intensive investments over the last decade have done great things here, and David Suire has fashioned a superb 2024. Released this morning, 2024 Laroque is all about St-Emilion limestone classicism, with juicy, vibrant fruit and a serious mineral crunch underneath. And at only £100 for 6 bottles in bond, it is seriously good value. 

There has been no more striking Bordeaux success story over the last decade than Carmes Haut-Brion; Guillaume Pouthier has raised this property to a very high level. It lies on superb terroir within the Bordeaux city limits, close to Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion. Carmes is defined by the highest proportion of Cabernet Franc anywhere in the left bank, and a whole bunch fermentation technique more typical in Burgundy than Bordeaux. 

Also from Pessac, this week saw the release of Olivier Bernard's Domaine de Chevalier. The red is an archetypal Pessac, all gravelly red fruit set against a peppery, earthy freshness. It is released at £192/6, a 30% discount on last year's price. And Chevalier Blanc is a stunning white in a vintage in which Bordeaux whites excelled. It seems restrained and linear to begin with, then accelerates in a rush of orange, pine and ginger to an explosive, charged finish. And among other releases this week, we also had opulent, flashy Mouton-Rothschild, smoky, brooding Pichon Baron, and dark, precise Cos d'Estournel.  /NT

Read our full vintage report here. 
Keep abreast of latest Bordeaux releases and read wine profiles here. 

Offered subject to remaining unsold. Wines expected to arrive in 2027. To place an order, click on the wines below or call 020 7638 5998