France

Chateau Laforge

Chateau Laforge Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Bordeaux

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Deep garnet-purple colored. Rolls out with notes of kirsch and black raspberries, leading to hints of lavender, dried sage, and wet slate. The medium-bodied palate is chewy with soft acidity and savory flavors, finishing a touch rugged.

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

Grilled toasted oak, plenty of floral aromatics and red berry fruits, with grilled coffee and smoke. Abrupt on the finish. Harvest 24 September to 9 October. 3.75pH, more gravel and sand, St Sulpice de Faleyrens. 3.78 pH, 32hl/hha.

Inside Bordeaux

Inky in colour, intense, gourmet rich black fruits, tar, shuts down pretty quickly through the palate, estate signature. The majority of the vines located between Monbousquet and St Sulpice, on gravel and sand, cropped at four bunches. Harvest here is September 18 through to 27, 3.75ph, 80% new oak.

Grilled oak, damson, liqourice, black chocolate, baked plum sweetness, this is marked by the vintage and struggles to maintain freshness. From sandy-gravel soils, 80% new French oak and ageing. Blend at end of ageing. Thomas Duclos consultant, Neil Whyte winemaker. Harvest September 14 to 28.

Successful within the vintage, with soft rose petals and smoked earth, touches of butterscotch and sandalwood, oak impact just a little too evident, but plenty of pleasure to be found. 3.59ph. 80% new oak.

Made of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Laforge is deep garnet-purple in color. It opens with cedar and spice box overtones, leading to a core of plum preserves, fruitcake, and black cherry compote with a touch of Chinese five spice. The medium-bodied palate is fresh and lively, with bright black fruit layers and a plush texture, finishing long and spicy.

The heat of the vintage comes through in some ripe raspberry and fig notes, and this has a punch of enjoyable sweet tobacco and nutmeg spice. Fermentation in oak vats, and the softening secondary fermentation in 80% new oak barrels. Abrupt finish, but plenty to enjoy here. Neil Whyte is the long-term winemker here, with Jonathan Maltus still overseeing thing as CEO and consultant, but under new ownership since 2018.

2024	No priceNot available	Excellent
2023	No priceNot available	Excellent
2022	No priceNot available	Excellent
2021	No priceNot available	Very Good
2020	No priceNot available	Excellent

Category	Red wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Chateau Laforge
Vintages	2024
Country	France, Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Bottle	75 cl

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