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Picture this: it's 1610, and while the rest of the world is still figuring out basic plumbing, the Gruchy family is already making waves in Saint-Émilion. Fast forward four centuries, and their descendants—the Meslin family—are still crafting liquid gold that would make even the most jaded wine critic weep tears of pure joy.

The 2016 Château Laroze isn't just wine; it's a time machine in a bottle, a love letter written in fermented grapes, and quite possibly the most criminally underrated Grand Cru in all of Bordeaux. This isn't your typical Saint-Émilion story—this is the tale of rebels, pioneers, and absolute legends who've been quietly revolutionizing winemaking.

Guy Meslin, the current mastermind behind this masterpiece, isn't just making wine—he's orchestrating a symphony of terroir. His 27-hectare chateau sits as one massive, unbroken parcel, where 68% Merlot mingles with 26% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon in perfect harmony.

But here's where things get absolutely wild: these geniuses were practicing biodynamic farming back in 1991—making them the first vineyard in Saint-Émilion to embrace this approach. When they switched to organic farming in 1998, it wasn't because biodynamics didn't work—it was because they found an even better way to make their terroir sing.

This isn't just another Saint-Émilion; this is the wine that neighbors Château Grand Mayne wishes they could make. It's the bottle that proves you don't need to be a household name to create something absolutely extraordinary. The 2016 Laroze is proof that sometimes the best treasures are hiding in plain sight, waiting for someone to discover them.

When someone asks what makes a truly great Bordeaux, don't point them to the usual suspects. Point them to this bottle—the one that represents over 400 years of family passion, organic innovation, and the kind of winemaking integrity that's becoming rarer than a unicorn in a vineyard.

Aging: 16 to 18 months in 70% new oak barrels.

A blend of 62% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2016 Château Laroze offers vibrant aromas of dark cherry, cranberry, licorice, and coffee bean, with hints of white pepper and spice. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant, and silky, featuring ripe fruit flavors balanced by a fresh, juicy mid-palate and velvety tannins. With a touch of spice and a long, structured finish, this wine has excellent aging potential. Drink from 2024 to 2040.

The ripe red and black berry notes cascade over the palate, but this is very elegant and vibrant with a very clean, delicately mineral finish that’s really long. Drink or hold. ∼94 James Suckling

The 2016 Laroze comes across more Left Bank than Right, showing good definition, but broody and surly at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet, intense opening of dark cherry and cranberry fruit laced with white pepper and Chinese five-spice. Good length here, and nice structure. This should age with style. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. ∼92 Neal Martin, Vinous Media

The 2016 Château Laroze is a blend of 62% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon that saw 70% new oak. You don't see that much Cabernet Franc in most Saint-Emilion, and this ruby/plum-colored effort offers a complex nose of spice, forest floor, cedarwood, and tobacco leaf. With plenty of red and black fruits, medium-bodied richness, nicely integrated acidity, and a balanced, layered style, it’s going to evolve nicely for 15+ years. ∼91 Jeb Dunnuck

With licorice, cherries and coffee bean, the wine gets started. Medium bodied, elegant, fresh and silky, this should be available for nice drinking early, but it is going to be even better with 2-3 years of age. ∼90 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

There is plenty to like here. Fleshy damson fruit with a rich texture and a sense of lift is well controlled from start to finish. You feel the wall of fruit but the juicy mid-palate maintains a sense of perspective. It has touches of white pepper spice, and good persistency too. ∼90 Jane Anson

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