The human touch
Château Laroque is more often than not the home of its estate managers, and it owes much to these men, who vintage after vintage have carefully tended and nurtured the vines and shaped the character of its wine.
Generous soils and vines, the occasional natural catastrophe, such as phylloxera, restructuring parts of the estate and judicious purchases of plots, have all contributed to the estate’s heritage. Each vintage is thus a tribute to this heritage.
Special mention should be made of Paul Boisard, an estate manager who at the end of the 19th century greatly helped enhance the quality of Laroque’s wines and brought them to the attention of the Bordeaux negociants. Among numerous awards, Château Laroque won a gold medal at the 1900 Paris Universal Exhibition. When Paul Boisard died, the estate’s employees erected a statue of him in his honour.
“Respecting the tiny details passed onto us by the men and women that have preceded us at the estate, we endeavour to take the greatest care of our land, our vines and our wines.”
David Suire
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More recently, agricultural engineer Bruno Sainson oversaw around thirty vintages, helping lift Château Laroque to the rank of Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé.
In appointing David Suire, Xavier Beaumartin has ensured that the good work will continue and that the new challenges that await Laroque will be met.
He has built an experienced team to write new chapters in the Laroque story and preserve the special character of this growth, which has made it so strong over the centuries.
David Suire
has worked in Saint-Emilion for more than fifteen years on the limestone terroirs of two of Laroque’s Premier Grand Cru Classé neighbours. A qualified œnologist, this vine-grower’s son runs Laroque with the aim of making this great terroir shine even brighter. The first vintages (2015, 2016 and 2017) are testimony to his ambition.
Alongside him, he has a skilled and committed team in Patricia Pradier (administration), Ludivine Chiron (technical manager), Marie-Aglaë Fougère (cellarmaster), and Dominique Teyssou (vineyard manager), as well as a large number of skilled vine workers.
In all, 19 men and women are fully committed on a daily basis to the vines and wines of Laroque. Rigour, attention to detail, skill at the workplace, meticulousness, patience and humility are the highest valued qualities. The aim of each member of the crew is one and the same: ensure that Laroque produces great wine.
