The 2005 Gruaud Larose, a Bordeaux blend from the St. Julien region of Bordeaux, France, is a well-regarded wine that has garnered positive reviews from several professional critics. This red wine, produced by Gruaud Larose, is known for its balance and complexity, with an alcohol content of 13.0% and a traditional cork closure.
Wine Spectator's James Suckling praised the wine for its "aromas of blackberry, meat and earth," noting the "full body, with velvety tannins and a rich finish." He added, "Decadent, balanced and very approachable already," suggesting it is best enjoyed after 2014. This review scored the wine at 91 points.
Neal Martin, writing for Vinous, gave the wine a score of 92. He described it as having "intense black fruit with juniper and cedar notes" and a "medium-bodied" palate with "sappy black fruit." Martin commented on the wine's "firm grip, sapid and muscular" nature, indicating that it has a "demonstrative finish that just needs to learn a few manners." He concluded that it is "a notch above the vintages of this era," despite some initial gruffness.
Wine Enthusiast awarded the 2005 Gruaud Larose an impressive 94 points, highlighting its "great Cabernet Sauvignon" character with "black currant, cedar and herbs and fresh, juicy acidity." The review emphasized the wine's "structure of dense tannins that balances the wine," calling it "one of the best wines from Gruaud-Larose for several years."
Jane Anson, on her website, rated the wine at 96 points, describing it as "stately ruby red" with "raspberry and cassis fruits" that still need a few more years to fully integrate. She noted the presence of "smoked vanilla bean, sweet raspberry puree, turmeric spice, fresh acidity and crushed mint." Anson highlighted that the wine "needs half an hour in the glass to reveal" its full potential.
Finally, The Wine Independent's Lisa Perrotti-Brown gave the wine 95 points, remarking on its "medium to deep garnet-brick" color. She mentioned the "fragrant notes of rosehip tea, crushed rocks, dried lavender, and red loam," leading to a core of "prunes, redcurrant jelly, and black truffles." Perrotti-Brown noted the wine's "energetic black and red berry layers" and "firm, fine-grained tannins," with a "long and minerally" finish.
Overall, the 2005 Gruaud Larose is recognized for its rich, complex flavors and robust structure, with several reviewers highlighting its potential for further aging and development.
