Gruaud Larose, situated to the west of Chateau Beychevelle on deep Garonne gravel soil, has the ability to produce stunning wine.
The 1982 and 1986 vintages are close to 1st Growth in quality and the 1990 and 2000 are both brilliant wines. The 2016 is certainly the greatest wine produced by this estate since their 2009 and 2010.
The balance in the 2016 is impeccable, incredibly silky, it glides across the palate and has a wonderful freshness on the finish. In the best vintages Gruaud has a special quality that allows it to age gracefully and improve in bottle for many years.
Ch Gruaud Larose 2ème Cru St Julien 2016
£310.00 per 6 bottles IB
£620.00 per 12 bottles IB
£630.00 per 6 magnums IB
Considered amongst the appellation’s most reliable properties, it was slightly shy when tasting. After the initial abundance of ripe blackberry fruit, the wine was less expressive in the palate and will surely benefit from maturation in cask to show its true colours. Drink 2024-2033. Goedhuis & Co, 90-92 points
The 2016 Gruaud Larose is a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc this year. It has a generous bouquet with scents of blackberry, briary, a touch of sandalwood and tobacco, gaining more precision as it aerates in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, certainly one of the most finessed Gruaud Larose in recent years, with perfectly judged acidity. I love the focus here, a little understated at first but you cannot deny the intensity and precision on the finish. Moreover, this seems to be a slightly more detailed Gruaud, nuanced and long in the mouth. Excellent-and I suspect it might be a little more approachable than some of its peers. Drink Date 2023 – 2060. Neal Martin, 93-95 points
Full-bodied, layered and juicy young wine. Very tannic yet ripe and intense. Powerful finish. This will be excellent. Better than the 2015. James Suckling, 95-96 points