France: Saint-Emillion Wines & Laroze Winery

Saint-Emillion wines are considered some of the finest in the world – the region’s clay-limestone plateau, slopes, and gravel terraces create a diverse terroir that yields uniquely structured red wines. Saint-Emillion carries its own appellation of origin among French wines (kind of like champagne or chablis or cognac) and there are about 80 small local wine estates that can produce true Saint-Emillion. Furthermore, the wines are broken into two categories – Grand Cru and Premier Grand Cru (the latter only comes from 16 wineries). To be designated as Saint-Emillion the wine has to be regionally bound, and have specific production characteristics. It also has to contain around 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and the rest being Cabernet Sauvignon. We visited the Laroze winery, one of the top estate that produces the Premier Grand Cru. Needless to say – amazing wines and stellar tasting!