Gruaud Larose 2019 (1.5L)

97 JA / 96 FS / 96 DE / 95+ WA / 95+ WI / 94 VM / 94 JS / 94 JD / 17.5 JR

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 - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

Dark ruby ​​garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Delicate hints of cloves, a hint of caramel and nougat, underpinned by ripe cherries, fine tobacco nuances. Juicy, good complexity, ripe blackberries and black cherries, firm, well-built tannins, mineral and long-lasting, has power and development potential.-Peter Moser, Falstaff

A gorgeous dark purple colour in the glass with a bright pink rim. It is a little reticent on the nose, just giving a hint of fragranced fruit with dark chocolate, caramel and sweet coffee touches - so inviting. Ultra sleek and suave on the palate but at the same time racy and vibrant. A combination of rich black fruits and quite savoury aspects on the palate, tar, tobacco and wood smoke with black currants and cherries but here the emphasis really is on those herbal, medicinal aspects that give this such a serious tone but also such interest and intrigue. Lifted and bright on the palate but soft tannins letting the aromatics do all the talking. Seductive. Will be incredibly moreish in a few years. Drinking Window 2027 - 2045 - Georgina Hindle, Decanter

The 2019 Gruaud Larose is performing extremely well in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of wild berries and plums mingled with notions of licorice, potpourri, pencil shavings and subtle soil tones. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and seamless, with powdery tannins and succulent acids, it's remarkably suave and refined for a wine of obvious breadth, concentration and power. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate

The 2019 Gruaud Larose is composed of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a fair bit of swirling to unlock notes of pencil lead, black olives, anise and dried roses with a core of black currant pastilles, Morello cherries, cedar chest, and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the flavors slowly grow in the mid-palate with layer upon layer of crucnhy black and red fruits and lots of earthy accents, finishing very long with lingering fragrance. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

The 2019 Gruaud Larose is a deep, imposing wine endowed with a huge center of fruit and plenty of tannic clout to back it all up. Red fruit, cedar, leather, tobacco, smoke and dried herbs reveal themselves with some coaxing. Imposing tannins and some slightly rough contours suggest cellaring is a must. There's good potential here. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

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. - James Suckling

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. - Jeb Dunnuck