Château Laroque
Les Tours de Laroque Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France
2019
Vintage
Varietal
Bordeaux Blend
ABV
Where it is, June 2026
At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2025-2031).
In May 2026, the 2019 Les Tours de Laroque is fully in stride. The wine has been open since 2023 and is now approaching the heart of its peak window, which runs from 2025 through 2031. The primary fruit has settled and integrated beautifully with the oak and earth components, resulting in a seamless, harmonious wine that requires little coaxing from the glass. The tannins are soft enough to drink without decanting, though 30 to 45 minutes of air will add roundness and aromatic breadth. Drink with confidence now. The window closes around 2035, so there is no urgency, but the wine is at its most expressive today.
The ‘19 Les Tours de Laroque Saint-Émilion Grand Cru.
A suave, terroir-expressive Saint-Emilion Grand Cru second wine at the height of its drinking window in 2026.
Drinking window
Tasting note
Les Tours de Laroque is the second wine of Chateau Laroque, one of the most celebrated estates in Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, and the 2019 vintage showcases everything that makes the Right Bank so compelling in a warm, generous year. The nose arrives with ripe red cherry, blackberry, and a plush layer of dark plum, supported by a lift of crushed stone minerality and delicate floral violet. Spice box notes from careful oak aging add complexity without heaviness. On the palate the wine is medium to full-bodied with a supple, inviting texture. The tannins are polished and fine-grained, the hallmark of Right Bank Merlot-dominant blends harvested at the peak of ripeness. Acidity runs bright beneath the fruit, keeping the wine lively and ensuring a clean, focused finish. The mid-palate shows wonderful density, with layers of black cherry, warm earth, a hint of cocoa, and the faintest trace of dried herb that prevents the wine from ever feeling one-dimensional. The finish is long and quietly persistent, carrying the mineral thread through to the very end. A beautifully made second wine that drinks with the confidence of a far more serious bottle.
The 2019 vintage
The 2019 growing season in Saint-Emilion was widely celebrated as one of the finest in recent years. A warm, settled summer with strategically timed rainfall produced fruit of excellent maturity and concentration, while maintaining the natural acidity that defines elegant Bordeaux. The Merlot-dominant varieties of the Right Bank thrived in these conditions, yielding grapes with deep color, plush tannins, and expressive, perfumed aromatics. The vintage has been compared favorably to the great years of the prior decade and continues to show well across all quality levels.
About Château Laroque
Chateau Laroque is among the largest grand cru estates in Saint-Emilion and one that has steadily elevated its reputation through rigorous vineyard management and increasingly precise winemaking. The estate's limestone plateau and clay slopes provide ideal conditions for Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Les Tours de Laroque serves as the estate's second wine, capturing the same terroir character in a more approachable and early-drinking format that still reflects the Laroque house style of freshness, precision, and genuine fruit depth.
From the cellar: pair with
Roast chicken with truffle and mushroom sauce
The earthy mineral notes and plush red fruit complement the richness of the dish without overpowering the more delicate truffle element.
Pork tenderloin with red wine reduction
The wine's supple tannins and dark cherry fruit align naturally with pork, while the wine-based sauce reinforces the bottle's own flavor profile.
Charcuterie board with pate and cornichons
The wine's freshness and spice make it an ideal companion for rich, savory charcuterie, with the acidity cutting through the fat.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 16 to 18 degrees C (61 to 64 degrees F)
- Decanting
- 30 to 45 minutes of decanting will add roundness and lift the aromatic profile.
- Cellar Storage
- 12 to 14 degrees C (54 to 57 degrees F)
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More from Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France
Frequently Asked
What is Les Tours de Laroque?
It is the second wine of Chateau Laroque, a top Saint-Emilion Grand Cru estate, offering the same terroir character in a more approachable, earlier-drinking format.
Is the 2019 vintage drinking well now?
Yes, it is in the heart of its drinking window as of 2026, with peak drinking running from 2025 through 2031.
How long can I keep this wine?
Bottles are best enjoyed through 2031 for optimal pleasure, with the hard decline occurring around 2035.
Does this wine need decanting?
A 30 to 45 minute decant is recommended to fully open the nose and soften the palate.