Chateau La Roque is located in the Coteaux du Languedoc Pic St Loup, an appellation in the southeast of France that was officially recognized only in 1985. The estate traces its history to 1259, when the brothers Jean et Guilhaume de La Roque purchased the property that is now Chateau La Roque and they planted vineyards. By the early 15th century the family was making wines commercially. Today the 100-acre estate is run by Jacques Figuette and the winemaker is Claude Gros. The estate makes red and white wines, though the majority, 80%, are reds. Vineyards of red grapes are planted to 55% Syrah, 25% Mourvedre, and 20% Grenache. Vineyards for white wine grapes are planted to Marsanne, de Rolle (a grape grown exclusively in southeast France), Grenache Blanc and Roussanne. The signature red is the Cupa Numismae, which is 65% Syrah and 35% Mourvedre. Robert M. Parker Jr. noted that the estate’s wines “have long been known for their fleshy, fruit-filled, often downright flamboyant ways.”