Chateau Gruaud Larose 2019

Very promising aromatics with spicy and mineral accents; clearly racy on the palate, great tension and length, firm tannins without aggressiveness; an impressive, stylish Gruaud; among the best of recent years.

Sporting its swanky new livery, Gruaud Larose is definitely on the move. Plump, plush and glossy on the palate with fragrant, fresh and pure dark berry fruit. Fine tannins, subtle and elegant wood. Hint of cedar and wood smoke add further interest together with some intriguing spice notes. Should develop very well in bottle.

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.

Tasted blind. Sweet, rich, purple-fruited nose. Opulent, come-hither St-Julien! Dramatic – perhaps too alcoholic for purists? (JR)

The 2019 Gruaud Larose is a deep, imposing wine with a huge core of fruit and plenty of tannic clout to support it. Red fruit, cedar, leather, tobacco, smoke and dried herbs reveal themselves with some coaxing. Imposing tannins and slightly rough edges suggest cellaring is a must. There’s solid potential here.

Earthy, smoky, fresh, and minty with notes of tobacco leaf, cedar, and currants with blackberries on the nose. The wine is fresh, bright, and crunchy with a nice bite of cassis and cranberry on the dusty finish. Drink from 2026-2047.

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Delicate notes of clove, a hint of caramel and nougat, ripe cherry underneath, fine tobacco nuances. Juicy, good complexity, ripe blackberry and black cherry, firm, well-integrated tannins, mineral and long-lasting, has power and development, certain ageing potential.

I wasn't able to taste the 2019 Château Gruaud Larose from barrel, but it's certainly an impressive Saint-Julien in bottle. Deep purple, with beautiful cassis and darker raspberry fruits as well as spice, dried flowers, and cedary incense notes, it hits the palate with medium- to full-bodied richness carrying plenty of sweet tannins, a deep, concentrated mid-palate, and beautiful length. It's not the dense blockbuster style of the 2018 and is much more elegant and pretty, with plenty of up-front charm. It's beautifully done. It's going to benefit from just short-term bottle age and have 25+ years of prime drinking.

Savoury, chiselled and elegant Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated fruits, totally gorgeous and so moreish. Controlled power, huge precision, with an elasticity to the tannins. It is Left Bank in a glass, St Julien in a glass, and easily one of the greatest Gruaud Larose's at this stage for a good few decades. Harvest September 20 to October 5. First year in certified organic conversion. Totally beautiful. 80% new oak

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Gruaud Larose rocks up with vibrant notes of redcurrant jelly, warm cassis, and black raspberries followed by suggestions of cedar chest, pencil lead, tilled soil, and crushed rocks plus a hint of lavender. The medium-bodied palate is delicately knit, vibrant, and refreshing, revealing ripe grainy tannins and plenty of mineral sparks to support the fruit, finishing long and earthy.

A touch softer than Croix de Beaucaillou, but with a very fine mouthfeel, supple, aromatically precise, and showcasing the vintage’s and terroir’s refined character; major progress for this second wine and, above all, a remarkable quality-to-price ratio

A soft, inviting nose of dark chocolate and plum, both fresh and rich, with an intriguing menthol note. On the palate, friendly, welcoming fruit and a lively, refreshing lift. The finish, indulgent and chocolatey, is not unlike a velvet daybed.

2019 gets straight to the point: more Gruaud than ever, it forges a superb link between minerality, fruit, and spice. Such diversity and relevance. On the palate, the wine follows Gruaud’s playbook: it starts off rather discreet, then once everything is in place, it hits its stride! The tannins slowly emerge on the finish, shining with the subtlety of their power as they gradually unfold. A serene, commanding wine, ready to take on several decades. Beautiful intensity and lingering fruit. A truly great Gruaud.

My highest score given to this cru en Primeur is confirmed. The wine shows a very deep color, with a nose that is slightly discreet at first, yet fruity, pure, ripe, and lightly creamy. Delicate on the attack, then refined mid-palate, with flavor and a silky, melting body, the wine progresses savory and, above all, deep in flavor and noble in texture. Beautiful, complex finish with fine-grained tannins.