Alex Shaw, JJ Buckley, January 2012

60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 7% cabernet franc, 3% petit verdot. Aromas of blackberry, cola, licorice and espresso mix up with notes of wild mushroom and loamy earth on the nose. Dense and massive on the palate, the tannins are firm and will need time to loosen up and let the dark fruit truly express itself. This wine shows lots of potential. Give it 8-10 years and enjoy it over the next 2-3 decades.

95 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, February 2012

As I wrote in my barrel tasting note, the 2009 appears to be the finest Gruaud Larose since their 1990. Some of my concerns about too much brett in previous vintages are long gone as the purity of the 2009 jumps out. Copious notes of sagebrush, cedar, cigar box, licorice, incense, blackberries and lead pencil shavings suggest a big Pauillac rather than a St.-Julien. Broad, rich and full-bodied with good balance and abundant, but sweet, well-integrated tannin, this big, masculine Gruaud Larose reveals remarkable finesse, richness, extract, density and a cascade of fruit that nearly hides the lofty tannins. This beauty should be at its best between 2020-2045.

94 points,

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, July 2012

Dark ruby-red. Intense aromas of red cherry, cassis, aromatic herbs and cedar. Rich, dense and suave, with concentrated flavors of dark berries, cedar and quinine complicated by smoky and peppery nuances. Finishes very long and smooth, with a highly tactile quality to the cedar and cassis flavors. This Gruaud stands out for its purity, as it seems free of the earthy and gamey nuances that have been present in many past vintages. In fact, this impressive wine strikes me as the best young Gruaud-Larose in recent memory.

92 -95 points,

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, May 2010

Deep ruby. A very classic nose of cassis, cedar and smoky graphite is devoid of animal and earthy scents and conveys a sense of refinement rare for this wine. Then very smooth in the mouth, with excellent palate presence and sneaky concentration to its sweet, ripe black fruit and smoky peppery flavors. Lively, harmonious acidity leaves an impression of freshness on the long, dense finish, which features a touch of dried herbs and oaky torrefaction along with a trace of heat. As ripe and spicy as this is, it's an unusually graceful Gruaud Larose, one of this estate's most successful wines in memory. Call me fixated, but I can't help but think that making the grand vin from just 40% of the total crop has everything to do with the quality of this wine. It cannot be a coincidence that almost all of the best wines in '09 have this in common.

93 points,

Wine Enthusiast, February 2012

Initially wood dominates, but this is a stage after bottling. Because then the ripe, smooth fruit comes in, pouring through with black fruits, very ripe and juicy. As this wine develops, this rich fruit will be its main character. R.V.

92 points,

Wine Spectator, March 2012

This has good density, with fleshy blackberry and blueberry cobbler flavors laced with anise, sweet spice and smoldering maduro tobacco notes. Long and well-structured, with fresh, embedded acidity. Best from 2013 through 2023. 14,500 cases made.

About Winery

Chateau Gruaud Larose is inland from Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou, Beychevelle, and Branaire-Ducru in the commune of St. Julien. (Appellation Saint Julien Controlée) 189 acres producing 32,000 cases. Classification: Second growth. Grape variety: 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. Average age of the vines - 40 years. Vinification and aging: The wine is fermented in stainless steel vats, and aged in oak barrels for 20-22 months, renewed annually in thirds. In 1757, Mr. Gruaud grouped a number of small vineyards together to form one large one, under his name. Eventually a descendant of the first owner took over the property. His name was Larose, and he immediately linked his name to the estate, bought by Mr. Desire Cordier in 1915. Managed under the direction of Mr. Georges Pauly, the highly respected director of Domaines Cordier, Gruaud Larose is one of St. Julien's most popular wines. Its large production has a quality that is consistently very high. One of the most continuously successful wines produced in Bordeaux, regardless of vintage."

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