On the Road with the Grape Guy
Vignobles De Larose Tasting
21 Apr 2020- Details
- Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(March 2020) ... Turns out Vignobles de Larose is the parent company of four estates: Chateau Larose Trintaudue, Chateau Larose Perganson, Chateau Arnauld and Chateau Tour de Pez … all located on the Left Bank of Bordeaux, Haut Medoc, and part of the Cru Bourgeois.
As a company they produce 1.3 million bottles per year, export 30% and have 255 hectares under vine. All the estates fall under the Cru Bourgeois classification (which unlike Grand Cru Classe is renewed every 5 years – the latest was done in early 2020). 249 estates were classified under the following 3 levels: Cru Bourgeois – Cru Superieur – Cru Exceptionnel
Chateau Larose Trintaudon (est. 1819) …
current level: Cru Bourgeois Superieur
output: 1 million bottles per year
Two wines tasted:
2009 – Tobacco, smoky, mineral and cigar box
2011 – Shows nice development of dark fruit along with smoky-black cherry, cassis with great acidity and tannins. (***+)
Chateau Larose Perganson (est. 1719) …
current level: Cru Bourgeois Superieur
output: 120,000 bottles per year
average vine age: 32-33 years
Two wines tasted:
2008 – Leathery, smoky with cooked fruit notes
2010 – Opened slowly but worth the wait; dark and red fruit emerge with mocha, blackberry, floral, leather backed by good acidity and the right amount of supporting tannins. (****+)
Chateau Arnauld (est. 14th century)
Estate purchased by Larose in 2007 and is their most southerly property
current ranking: Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
output: 55,000 bottles per year
average vine age: 45 years
Two wines tasted:
2012 – Muted aromas with notes of cigar box, herbal and tobacco
2014 – First time Petit Verdot (10%) has appeared in this primarily Cabernet Sauvignon blend (63%) – all new French oak but this Bordeaux is aged in Burgundy barrels … blackberry, cassis, sour cherry, coffee bean and smoke; supple with good tannin structure and rich mouthfeel. (****+)
Chateau Tour de Pez
Property most recently acquired by Larose
current ranking: Cru Bourgeois
output: 95,000 bottles per year
no wines tried from this estate