Alex Shaw, JJ Buckley, April 2012

61% cabernet sauvignon, 29% merlot, 7% cabernet franc, and 3% petit verdot. Aged in one-third new oak barrels. Dark fruit notes of blackberry and marion berry burst from the glass, supported by aromas of dark chocolate, tobacco, and a touch of cedar. With a broad and weighty mouthfeel, the wine coats the mid-palate while vibrant acidity provides nice, balanced lift to the tannic structure. The excellent texture carries through the lingering finish. One of the more full-bodied wines from St. Julien in 2011, this will need 8-10 years to really come into balance, and should be beautiful to drink through 2030.

93 points,

James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, April 2012

A very harmonious wine for the vintage with currants, spices and stones. Full body, with ultra fine tannins and a pretty finish. Delicate yet structured for the vintage.

89 -91 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, April 2012

I would have rated the 2011 Gruaud Larose slightly higher if it had not been for the abundant, dry, slightly astringent tannins in the finish. Nevertheless, there is a lot to like about this plum/purple-tinged St.-Julien. Notes of unsmoked, high quality cigar tobacco are intertwined with plum, black currant and dusty, earthy, loamy soil characteristics. The wine reveals good richness, medium body and a structured, somewhat formidable level of tannin that needs to melt away before this 2011 can be fully enjoyed. Give it 2-5 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades.

88 -90 points,

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, May 2012

Ruby-purple. Open, forward nose showcases spicy red berry and underbrush aromas. Soft, supple darker fruit flavors are complemented by notes of underbrush and minerals. Finishes with polished tannins and a stony overlay, but currently comes across as a little simple.

92 -94 points,

Wine Enthusiast, May 2012

While the wine does have firm tannins, these are layered with open, ripe fruits. There are blackberry flavors, and the wine shows good acidity and a firm finish.

90 -93 points,

Wine Spectator, April 2012

A stony, slightly austere style, showing iron and steeped red currant fruit, with bitter cherry notes running through the finish. There's a slightly rustic edge, but also solid concentration.-J.M.

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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