CHATEAU GRUAUD-LAROSE 2eme Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 2019 Bottle

Description

The 2019 vintage of Château Gruaud-Larose has received exceptional accolades from top critics. VINOUS awarded it 96 points, praising its cohesive and harmonious bouquet, where crushed stone and tobacco infuse the black fruit, leading to a medium-bodied palate with a succulent entry and a decadent finish. Decanter similarly scored it 96 points, noting its stunning dark purple colour and inviting aromas of dark chocolate, caramel, and coffee, with a vibrant palate showcasing rich black fruits and savoury elements like tar and tobacco. The Wine Advocate rated it 95+ points, highlighting its elegant and seamless structure, with notes of wild berries and licorice. James Suckling also commended it with 94 points, citing attractive aromas and polished tannins, making it a promising wine for future enjoyment.

*****

Château Gruaud-Larose, a renowned 2ème Grand Cru Classé in the Bordeaux region, specifically in Saint-Julien, represents excellence in winemaking. Founded in the 18th century, this estate has a rich history and is celebrated for its powerful and complex red wines. The vineyard spans about 82 hectares, predominantly planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc grapes. Gruaud-Larose wines are characterized by their deep color, rich fruit flavors, and mature tannins, making them age-worthy and suitable for long-term cellaring. The estate's traditional methods, combined with modern techniques, ensure quality and consistency. With a legacy of excellence, Château Gruaud-Larose remains a prominent figure in Bordeaux's fine wine scene, appreciated by enthusiasts and collectors alike.

VINOUS 96 points
The 2019 Gruaud-Larose has a cohesive, very harmonious bouquet with crushed stone and tobacco infusing the black fruit; cedar scents surfacing with further aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a succulent entry, sweeter than expected but not cloying, liquorice and touches of black pepper furnishing the long and quite decadent finish. One for the long haul. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. - Neal Martin

DECANTER 96 points
Tasted by: Georgina Hindle
(at Bordeaux, 05 Jan 2022)
Part of Bordeaux 2019 MW tasting: 20 top-scoring wines
Drinking Window: 2027 - 2045
A gorgeous dark purple colour in the glass with a bright pink rim. It is a little reticent on the nose, just giving a hint of fragranced fruit with dark chocolate, caramel and sweet coffee touches - so inviting. Ultra sleek and suave on the palate but at the same time racy and vibrant. A combination of rich black fruits and quite savoury aspects on the palate, tar, tobacco and wood smoke with black currants and cherries but here the emphasis really is on those herbal, medicinal aspects that give this such a serious tone but also such interest and intrigue. Lifted and bright on the palate but soft tannins letting the aromatics do all the talking. Seductive. Will be incredibly moreish in a few years.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 95+ points
Reviewed by: William Kelley
Drink Date: 2027 - 2055
The 2019 Gruaud Larose is performing extremely well in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of wild berries and plums mingled with notions of licorice, potpourri, pencil shavings and subtle soil tones. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and seamless, with powdery tannins and succulent acids, it's remarkably suave and refined for a wine of obvious breadth, concentration and power.

JAMES SUCKLING 94 points
Attractive aromas of ripe dark and blue fruit, vanilla, dark chocolate, hazelnuts and wet soil. Dense and compact with layers of polished tannins that hold long and even on the palate. Firm finish with notes of chocolate and crushed stones. Pretty finish. Try after 2026.