Château Larose Perganson lies in Saint-Laurent-Médoc, on the border of Pauillac and Saint-Julien, next to the vineyards of Château Latour. Winemaker Franck Bijon produces a Cru Bourgeois that rivals many Classed Growths. This is apt, as the property was sold at Classed Growth prices a decade prior to the 1855 Classification. The property dates back to 1719 but, unfortunately, it fell into disrepair and by 1855 quality and prices had dropped.

After years of neglect, the property was purchased in 1986 by the same company that owns Château Larose Trintaudon. They have since nursed it back to health. A key part of this came in 1999 when they were certified by the sustainable development programme ‘Vignoble Responsable’. In 2010, they were the first European vineyard to be rated ‘exemplary’ in sustainable development, and in recognition of the continued improvements. Since the 2018 vintage, Château Larose Perganson has been classified as Cru Bourgeois Supérieur.

Saint-Laurent-Médoc lies on well-drained gravel soils. The Château has 35 hectares of vines, with an average age of 35 years. The plant density is 10,000 vines per hectare, ensuring a very low yield per vine that lends more intensity to the wines.

The wine is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. A cold soak prior to the start of fermentation ensures the extraction of good colour, while a long maceration (the length varies according to the vintage) results in supple tannins. The wine is aged in French oak barriques, about 30 – 50% of which are new, for 14 months prior to bottling. It has lovely intensity and balance and, though ready to drink now, will easily go on for another five years.