France

Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot

Cabernet Franc

Petit Verdot

Malbec

Ch. Gruaud Larose

Chateau Gruaud Larose 2eme Cru Classe Saint-Julien

Bordeaux

Saint-Julien

Deep garnet-purple in color. Notes of red currant jelly, fresh blackberries, and raspberry coulis sail from the glass, plus fragrant wafts of red roses and allspice. The light to medium-bodied palate is lively and plush with delicate red and black berry flavors and a perfumed finish.

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

Vibrant colour that speaks of a great En Primeur wine, with the bright acidities that seem typical in these appellations of 2023. More subdued than some sibling St Juliens, this has a serious feel, with the Cabernets very much on the savoury, stately side, sinewy and with touches of raspberry leaf and peony, fragrant and floral. Plenty of ageing capacity ahead, but don't feel that you will have to wait too long to begin drinking. Old school and delicous. The Cabernet levels are above 80% as has been true for the last few years, a result of the vines coming in to the right age after extensive replanting.

Inside Bordeaux

A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Gruaud Larose is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs some coaxing to bring out scents of wild blueberries, blackcurrant jelly, and black raspberries, with touches of garrigue, dried mint, underbrush, and dusty soil. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound with bright, youthful black fruits and evocative mineral sparks, framed by grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing earthy. 40% of the year's production went into the first wine.

Expert

The opaque purple-black colored 2020 Gruaud Larose comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant notes of crushed black cherries, juicy blackberries, and fresh black currants, followed by hints of sassafras, dark chocolate, and violets. Medium-bodied, the palate is very tightly coiled at this nascent stage, featuring firm, ripe, grainy tannins, and beautiful freshness to support the bright black berry and floral layers, finishing long and fragrant. 

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Gruaud Larose rocks up with vibrant notes of redcurrant jelly, warm cassis, and black raspberries followed by suggestions of cedar chest, pencil lead, tilled soil, and crushed rocks plus a hint of lavender. The medium-bodied palate is delicately knit, vibrant, and refreshing, revealing ripe grainy tannins and plenty of mineral sparks to support the fruit, finishing long and earthy.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Gruaud Larose needs a little coaxing before it bursts onto the scene with notes of stewed black plums, boysenberry preserves, and blackcurrant pastilles plus suggestions of underbrush, wild roses, and cumin seed with a waft of espresso. The medium to full-bodied palate is jam packed with spicy black fruits framed by velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and opulent.

Bjørnebær, solbær, tobakk, julekrydder, treverk og blyantkvess på nese. Ikke så kompleks i årgangen som denne adressen kan levere i de beste år, men okke som en hedonistisk forførende nese. I munnen en Bordeaux med overraskende tilgjengelig for alderen. Oppleves som åpen, men stor kropp og herlig friskhet. Tanninstrukturen er relativt finkornet og polert. Meget god lengde. Absolutt drikkbar nå, men kan kanskje tjene litt på noen år til på langs. Ikke en årgang for dekadene. 

WSET 2

Dark ruby in colour, this has really come into its own over the past 6 years, proving wrong those who underestimated it during En Primeur. Emphasis right now on creamy dark fruits that envovlop everything, with real volume through the mid palate and a slow build along with sinewy tannins that grip the front of the mouth. This has so much potential, and I suggest still giving it another three or four years. 90% new oak (a big jump up from the 2010), harvset September 29 to October 15. The improvements brought by the vineyard restructing programme, that had begun in 2008, were starting to be felt at this point.

Medium to deep garnet in color, the 2014 Gruaud Larose features delicate notes of crushed rocks and forest floor over a core of blackcurrant preserves and Christmas cake with a touch of cigar box. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly styled with a lively backbone and fine-grained tannins, finishing on a lingering minerally note.

Deep garnet in color, the 2013 Gruaud Larose sings of kirsch, redcurrant jelly, and stewed black tea leading to wafts of dusty soil and dried Provence herbs. The light to medium-bodied palate is lively and chewy, with delicate red fruit flavors and a firm, mineral-laced finish.

Ruby red. Lovely nose with cassis, crowberreis, cherries, light leather and some spice. Frresh acidity. Balanced and flirty in the mouth with sweet cherries, cassis, blueberries, spice and minerals. Firm, yet very polished tannins. Very long.

Top Bordeaux after 10 years? Drink or hold?

At what age to drink a wine is always difficult to answer. Some like the primary fruit of the young wine, while others prefer the aged wines better. I like them both. Also, when it is a top producer, I often find that they are great from young to mature. The quality of the fruit, the velvety tannins and balance is just there from the start.

At 10 years of age, I thought that it was about time to see how a top Bordeaux was doing. Too young? Drinkable? Great? This was pop and pour.

Deep garnet in color, the 2011 Gruaud Larose offers up wafts of dusty soil, iron ore, and dried herbs leading to a core of fig preserves, mince pie, and dried cranberries with a touch of tobacco. The light to medium-bodied palate has a chewy texture and lively acidity, with subtle, mature dried berries and earthy flavors, finishing a little firm.

The 2010 Gruaud Larose is medium to deep garnet-colored with a touch of brick. A little closed and broody to begin, it unfurls to reveal notes of unsmoked cigars, crushed rocks, and fallen leaves over a core of dried blackberries and fruitcake. The medium to full-bodied palate is jam packed with rich black fruits framed by firm, chewy tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long with a whole array of exotic spices.

A beautiful example of the estate and the vintage, you can dive right in to the depth of cassis and bilberry fruits, studded with tobacco leaf, charcoal, crushed rocks, cocoa powder and juicy raspberries. Delivers appellation typicity and then some, stretches out through the palate, excellent quality. It's not the power so much as the perfect placing, everything working together to deliver a delicious drinking claret - and it's one where I would recommend the 2009 over the 2010, at least for the next decade. Eric Boissenot consultant, 50% new oak.

The 2008 Gruaud Larose is composed of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and 9% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-brick in color, it needs a little coaxing to wake up notes of prunes, blackcurrant pastilles, and dried cranberries opening out to medicinal and leathery notes plus a waft of rusty nails. The medium-bodied palate has a soft texture and well-knit freshness matching the mature, earthy flavors, finishing a little rustic.

The 2007 Gruaud Larose is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-brick in color, it slowly unfurls to offer mature notes of dried figs, fruitcake, and tobacco leading to suggestions of dried sage, cast-iron pan, and tree bark. The medium-bodied palate delivers a good core of ready-to-drink, well-evolved flavors with a chewiness to the texture and a minerally lift on the finish.

Deep garnet-brick in color, the 2006 Gruaud Larose is made from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. Evolved notes of prunes, baked blackcurrants, and dusty soil jump from the glass, followed by hints of iron ore, cigar box, and incense. The light to medium-bodied palate is chewy with herbal and mineral sparks intertwined with the dried berry flavors, finishing a little rustic.

Stately ruby red, raspberry and cassis fruits, still young, needs another few years to fully open and integrate, but everything is there for a brilliant wine with pleasure. This is a château that always takes its time, and needs half an hour in the glass to reveal smoked vanilla bean, sweet raspberry puree, turmeric spice, fresh acidity and crushed mint. Not showing quite as well as it did at a château vertical last year, but this is still a wonderful wine, and is one to look out for. Harvest September 20 to October 11, 35% new oak.

Toasted caramel notes on the opening beats, with a gourmet roundness through the mid palate that is a little more marked than you might expect. Clear sense of freshness and lift, along with a silky texture to the tannins. This is a very successful 2004, particularly in comparison to some of the more abrupt tannins that you find from many in this vintage. Extremely high yields, over 50hl/h, 35% new oak, harvest Septembe 27 to October 19.

The 2003 Gruaud Larose is medium to deep garnet-brick in color. It opens with notes of stewed black cherries, raspberry preserves, and baked plums leading to hints of tobacco leaf, Chinese five spice, and iron ore plus a waft of dried sage. The light to medium-bodied palate is a little thin and chewy, with lively acidity and a savory,  rustic finish.

A stubborn vintage that remains bedded down, but shows beautifully as it opens. Caramel and smoked cedar aromatics, with a darker register overall than the 2001 - cassis, bilberry, black pepper, all densely structured. It's an excellent wine, but less signature Gruaud Larose/St Julien than some of the others in the lineup, more strict, reflecting a vintage where it was a little tougher to reach full ripeness. Give this a long carafe to let the tannins soften, and the beauty will appear, with a juicy mint leaf finish, and gentle smoky notes that curl up out of the glass. Harvest September 26 to October 6, 35% new oak.


Mørk rød, lett brunet kant. Mørkt fruktbilde mot solbær, trevirke,  skogbunn. Ganske lite tertiære aromaer så langt. Medium syre, litt på den syrlige siden mot frukten. Tanninene er lett tilstede med ikke voldsomt dominerend

Deep garnet-brick in color, the 2000 Gruaud Larose swans out of the glass with notes of Indian spices, tobacco leaf, and iron ore leading to wafts of dried flower, iodine, sweaty leather, and incense with a touch of smoked meats. The medium-bodied palate delivers a great core of muscular fruit with bright acidity to balance and plush, powdery tannins, finishing long and ferrous.

Medium to deep brick in color, the 1999 Gruaud Larose delivers fragrant, mature notes of new leather, unsmoked cigars, charcuterie, and dried herbs giving way to notes of Christmas cake and sandalwood with a hint of rusty nails. The light to medium-bodied palate is fully mature, with loads of tertiary expression and soft, powdery tannins, finishing with a lively lift.

Deep plum in colour, this is utterly gorgeous. A real sense of energy and drive through the palate, with a savoury brushed-velvet quality to the tannins that takes you straight into St Julien, this magic corner of Bordeaux. Tobacco, campfire notes, black cherry, raspberry puree and saffron strands. Not quite as persistent as you might first imagine, but this is a beautiful wine. They were using a touch of Malbec at this point, pulled up as of 2008. Harvest September 29 to October 13, 35% new oak.

The 1996 Gruaud Larose is medium to deep brick in color. It pops out of the glass with surprisingly open-knit notes of baked plums, stewed blackberries, and blackcurrant pastilles followed by suggestions of dried roses, star anise, smoked meats, and crushed rocks. The medium-bodied palate offers mouth-coating, muscular, mature black fruits with loads of smoky/savory nuances and chewy, rugged tannins, finishing long and earthy.

Medium brick colored, the 1990 Gruaud Larose opens with gorgeous floral notes of dried roses and lavender before giving way to kirsch, fallen leaves, leather, and iron ore notes plus a touch of dried bay leaves. The light to medium-bodied palate is delicate and intense, with plush tannins and fantastic tension, finishing with loads of mineral, exotic spice, and mature fruit layers.

The nose is clean and elegant. There are blackcurrants, blackberries, dry forest floor, tobacco, cedar and graphite. It is very complex and exciting. 

The palate is medium-bodied, fruity, structured, elegant and medium-acid. It is balanced, complex and incredibly appealing. The finish is long and very complex.

It is a textbook example of Saint-Julien. It is a brilliant wine that is in its optimal drinking window. It may still stay at this level for another 20+ years.

Medium rød, bruning. Solbær, Sigareske, kassen fra tørket frukt, syrlig tobakk, våt skogsbunn, sopp, trøffel, soya. Medium syre, balansere nydelig med en fin frukt, balansen er helt på topp. Nydelige konsentrasjon i munnen med fult integrerte tanniner som kan gi en svar tørr tone i slutten. Sitter lenge

Double magnum: Transparent ruby with an orange rim. Sweet cherries, licorice, spice, figs and dates. Fresh acidity. Delicate and balanced with sweet sour cherries, truffles, tobacco, dried plum, figs and dates. Integrated polished tannins. Very long.

Wow! When a wine just impresses you!

En veldig interessant vin, for den har tydelig yngre frukt enn 28, mer syre, mer spice, mer power, mer av alt egentlig. Men den er ikke like balansert, og det gjør at den er *litt* (på papiret) dårligere enn 28 - men uansett for en vin. Den treffer kjeften på så mange bra måter.

Sommelier

4 liters - Transparent ruby with an orange rim. Delicate nose with violets, dark berries, perfume, figs and dates. Fresh acidity. Tobacco, truffles, figs dates and dark mature berries. Velvety. Fully integrated tannins. Very long.

Dobbelmagnum. En strålende vin, alle de klassiske utviklede Bordeaux-aromaene, og fortsatt mye rød frukt - men noe over kanten. 

En magisk vin. Det som slår meg sammenliknet med andre Bordeauxer fra eldre årganger, av topp kvalitet, er hvor ren denne vinen er. En renhet jeg kun har smakt tidligere i 47 Cheval Blanc. Etter det er det balansen. En nydelig, integrert vin med røde, komplekse skogsbærfrukter og røde markjordbærfrukter, i kombinasjon med syre, lengde, fylde - og mest av alt renheten. En de beste vinene jeg har fått smake.

Category	Red wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Ch. Gruaud Larose
Vintages	1984
Country	France, Bordeaux, Saint-Julien
Bottle	75 cl

Alcohol	%
Acid	%
Sugar	g/l

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