Château Gruaud Larose Saint-Julien 2020 - 2nd Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

The Château's vast vineyard is located on one of the most sumptuous and homogeneous plateaux of deep gravel in the Médoc. Since 1997, it has belonged to the Merlaut family. Few Médoc crus, even among the Premiers, can boast a terroir as homogeneous, despite its surface area, as Gruaud-Larose. One might imagine that 80% of the vines produce the grand vin, but here the selection process is even more rigorous, which is particularly noticeable in the grand vin, which is ideally full-bodied and harmonious, and even more precise in the last three years thanks to a new, feminine generation of more rigorous and inspired vineyard managers and cellar masters. By its very nature, it rarely dries out with age, and 50-year-old bottles like the 1962 or 1961 are as impressive as ever.

Decanter

About the wine:

Precise and delicate, this wine has a seductive charm, slowly revealing aromas of blueberries and raspberries, before layers of salty minerality, licorice and refreshing blue fruits come into play, while tobacco and licorice add a savory touch. It's not immediately approachable - rather, it's calm and serene, slowly gaining breadth and presence. The tannins are fine but enveloping on the palate, giving structure. Not a light wine, but extremely elegant with excellent texture. Impressive complexity and drama, still very serious, but equally sublime. A luminous wine I'd love to own. 2025-2052

Guide Hachette des vins

About the domain :

Created in the early 18th century by the Gruaud family, the estate passed into the hands of the Larose family in 1771, who added their name and had the neoclassical château built. In 1812, the Balguerie and Sarget families bought the estate, then separated, giving rise to Gruaud Larose-Bethmann and Gruaud Larose-Sarget. Reunification came in 1934, thanks to Désiré Cordier. Sold in 1983 to institutional investors, Gruaud Larose was bought out in 1997 by the Taillan (Merlaut) family group, which now heads a vast 82-hectare vineyard, almost in a single block.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

More serious and visibly more structured than the suave 2019, Gruaud Larose 2020 opens in the glass with aromas of blackcurrant and blackberry mingled with subtle notes of burning embers, pencil shavings and violets, framed by a touch of classy new oak. Medium- to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with rich, powdery tannins and vibrant fruit flavors. Ends with an impressive, penetrating finish. However, it seems that patience will be required. 2030-2060

About the domain :

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

Ideally situated, the vineyard occupies a perfectly homogeneous plateau of deep gravel in the southern part of the Saint-Julien commune, where the vines flourish remarkably well. Known for producing powerful wines in the 1980s and 1990s, often with a slightly animal definition, the cru offers more precise aromas in recent vintages. The Merlaut family has optimized the technical facilities made possible by the Alcatel group, the short-lived owner. They have also chosen to give Gruaud Larose wines a more fruity, gourmet profile, to make them more accessible in their youth. Recent vintages show progress in this direction, with wines that have also gained in precision. The pricing policy advocated by Jean Merlaut means that Gruaud is still an affordable brand, which we are delighted about.

James Suckling

About the wine:

This wine is pleasantly smooth and textured, with medium to full body, lots of fruit and fine, velvety tannins. It's delicious to drink now and will age beautifully. Really sexy. It's hard not to drink it now, but it's a wine for the cellar. Best enjoyed after 2025.

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

A captivating, classic nose, with shimmering aromas of ripe fruit, flowers, after eight, something dark and melancholy, fresh and sweet. On the palate, simply delicious, with a cashmere texture, notes of wild strawberries, prunes, cloves and dark chocolate, tannins to devour, and great length.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Attention to detail, subtlety and delicacy seem to be taken for granted at Gruaud-Larose, yet it takes relentless effort every year to achieve such a level. And that's where Gruaud-Larose stands among St-Julien's elite, with its ability to produce great wines year after year. Like the bouquet, the palate displays high definition, with tight but integrated tannins that have the substance to carry the wine through the decades to come. A dense, young, precise and powerful wine. What relevance and continuity! Well done. 2027-2045

Jean-Marc Quarin

About the wine:

Dark, intense purple color. Very aromatic nose, fine, fruity, pure, floral and vanilla. A touch of ink when the glass is shaken. Soft on entry, very aromatic in the middle, accompanied by a refined touch, the wine develops deliciously, offering great unity in the stimulation of all parts of the mouth. Noble, it melts on the palate, with a hint of licorice. Incurable.

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is racy, elegant and offers delicacy, a certain power (in finesse), a fine richness (mastered/in finesse), subtlety and a fine tight/compact character. There are notes of pulpy/full-bodied blackberry, fleshy/flaring strawberry and, more lightly, cherry, combined with hints of flowers (lily/violet/almost white flowers), fleshy/crushed berries, toasted almond, spices and a discreet hint of cardamom and vanilla. Fruity on the palate, with freshness, minerality, good definition, deliciousness, a certain juiciness, a fine acidic structure, tension, straightness/precision, stretch, as well as (restrained) richness, elegance and mastery. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy cherry, redcurrant and, more lightly, bursting blackcurrant, combined with hints of violet, racy minerality, as well as fine hints of lilac, sweet spice, cardamom, discreet hints of toastiness, hazelnut, caramelization and a very discreet hint of vanilla (in the background). The tannins are precise, elegant and well-balanced. Good length and persistence. Fine chewiness on the finish/persistence.