1989 Gruaud Larose Ex-Chateau
Classic, Old School Saint-Julien
Direct from the Estate
"Unquestionably drinking at point, it certainly has another 15 years of evolution"
- Jeb Dunnuck Feb. 2023
"A comparatively underestimated 1989 Médoc"
- William Kelley, Wine Advocate Feb. 2022
94 WS / 92 WA / 92 JD
$1,260 per OWC6 x 750ml ($210/bottle)
(Pre-Arrival) Buy Now
Lowest Ex-Chateau Price Online!
We are thrilled to be able to offer the superb 1989 vintage from one of our favorite St. Julien estates, Château Gruaud Larose, with Ex-Chateau provenance. This esteemed St. Julien 2nd Growth consistently produces one of the best wines in the appellation and occasionally they make a wine that challenges the very best on the Left Bank. It is always exciting to find perfectly matured, ready to drink claret of this stature, especially that has been stored in such impeccable conditions!
Of all the wines of the Left Bank, Gruaud Larose must surely be towards the top of anyone's list. Between us and our colleagues in the UK, we have been very fortunate to taste most of the great vintages dating back to the late 1800s(!), and the aging capability of the wine is simply mind boggling. Even in the off vintages, the wine can shine - the 1964 is a great example. The 1982 is simply one of the best wines we have encountered. The property clearly has some very special terroir and the 1989 is a great vintage that will be drinking very nicely now, and will continue to drink well for at 15+ years.
Our stock was recently released from Chateau cellar where it has been stored in perfect conditions for the past 35 years, so the provenance is as good as it gets. Considering the maturity and provenance of this Second Growth, the 1989 represents extraordinary value for money!
1989 Gruaud Larose Ex-Chateau
$1,260 per OWC6 x 750ml ($210/bottle)
 (Pre-Arrival) Buy Now
Lowest Ex-Chateau Price Online!
The 1989 Gruaud Larose is evolving very slowly, and its impressively youthful structure and vibrant flavors auger very well for its future. Offering up aromas of sweet berry fruit, cigar wrapper, loamy soil and cedar, it's medium to full-bodied, with a rich core of fruit, lively acids and fine but still present tannins. As this develops in the cellar, it's showing more plenitude and mid-palate volume than it did a decade ago, and for patient readers this is emerging as a comparatively underestimated 1989 Médoc. February 2022. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate
A classic, old school Saint-Julien, the 1989 Château Gruaud Larose offers a smorgasbord-like array of red and black fruits, saddle leather, cigar box, and smoke tobacco. Medium-bodied and nicely concentrated, with good mid-palate density, it's not the most elegant wine and still has some present tannins, but it sure brings plenty of character. It opens up nicely with time in the glass as well, and while it's unquestionably drinking at point, it certainly has another 15 years of evolution. Feb 2023. - Jeb Dunnuck
Also available:
1982 Gruaud Larose
$8,388/case of 12 x 750ml (Pre-Arrival) Buy Now
$1,549.00/magnum (In Stock) Buy Now
100 RP / 97 FS / 96+ VM / 96 WA / 96 WCI / 18 JR
"The monumental 1982 Gruaud Larose, which I think I've said before is clearly the greatest Gruaud Larose I have ever tasted, and I have had most of them - back through the 1920s. The 1961 stands out, but this wine is maybe one of the youngest, biggest, most massive 1982s, and at age 34 is still going incredibly strong. The color is still opaque garnet/plum/purple. The wine shows licorice, copious quantities of blackcurrants and a hint of licorice, earth and tar. The wine is full-bodied, almost painfully extracted, but the sweet tannin and voluptuous texture that is so much a hallmark of this great vintage are all present in this amazing wine that seems ageless. It will hit 50 years in great shape." - Robert Parker, 100 Points Hedonist's Gazette #955
One of the most powerful, massive wines of the vintage is the 1982 Gruaud Larose, a full-bodied, broad and concentrated effort redolent of ripe black fruits, loamy soil, smoked meats, leather, espresso roast and hints of cigar wrapper. Rich, layered and expansive, its deep core of ripe, fleshy fruit is framed by sweet, powdery tannins. As ever with the wines of the Cordier era, the fly in the ointment is that the wine's wild, somewhat animal profile is strongly marked by the presence of Brettanomyces, yet the 1982's intensely characterful, singular style means that I am personally able to overlook that defect. Still youthful, and actually evolving more slowly than the brilliant 1986, this is likely to number among the longer-lived wines of the vintage. Tasted DEC/2022.--William Kelley, The Wine Advocate
Sincerely,
Xavier Simental
Fine Wine Sales Associate
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Grand Vin Wine Merchants · 2950 32nd Ave SW · Suite A · Tumwater, Washington 98512 · United States (360) 350-4896
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