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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

The Château's vast vineyard is located on one of the most sumptuous and homogeneous plateaus of deep gravel in the entire Médoc region. It has belonged to the Merlaut family since 1997. Few Médoc wines, even among the Premiers Crus, can boast such a homogeneous terroir, despite its size, 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 evident in the grand vin, ideally full-bodied and harmonious, and even more precise over the last three years thanks to a new, female generation of vineyard managers and cellar masters who are more rigorous and inspired. By nature, it very rarely dries out with long aging, and fifty-year-old bottles such as the 1962 or 1961 are still as impressive as ever.

Decanter

About 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 is not immediately accessible—rather, it is calm and serene, slowly gaining momentum and presence. The tannins are fine but enveloping on the palate, providing structure. This is not a light wine, but it is extremely elegant with excellent texture. Impressive complexity and drama, always very serious, but equally sublime. A luminous wine that I would love to own. 2025-2052

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

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 built the neoclassical château. In 1812, the Balguerie and Sarget families bought the property, then split, giving rise to Gruaud Larose-Bethmann and Gruaud Larose-Sarget. The estates were reunited in 1934 thanks to Désiré Cordier. Sold in 1983 to institutional investors, Gruaud Larose was bought back in 1997 by the Taillan family group (Merlaut), which now owns a vast vineyard of 82 hectares, almost all in one piece.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

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

About the estate:

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

About the estate:

The vineyard is very well located on a plateau of deep gravel with perfect homogeneity in the southern part of the commune of Saint-Julien, where the vines thrive remarkably well. Known for producing powerful wines in the 1980s and 1990s, often with a slightly animalistic character, the cru now offers recent vintages with more precise aromas. The Merlaut family has optimized the technical facilities that the Alcatel group, the vineyard's short-lived owner, had installed. It has also chosen to give Gruaud Larose wines a more delicious and indulgent profile, making them accessible in their youth. The latest vintages show progress in this direction, with wines that have also gained in precision. The pricing policy advocated by Jean Merlaut makes Gruaud a brand that is always accessible, which we welcome.

James Suckling

About wine:

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

Le Figaro vins

About wine:

A captivating nose, very classic, with shimmering aromas of perfectly ripe fruit, flowers, After Eight, something dark and melancholic, fresh and sweet. On the palate, simply delicious, with a cashmere-like texture, notes of wild strawberries, prunes, cloves, and dark chocolate, tannins to devour, and a very nice length.

Yves Beck

About wine:

Attention to detail, subtlety, and delicacy seem to come naturally to Gruaud-Larose, yet every year, relentless effort is required to achieve such high standards. It is this ability to produce great wines year after year that places Gruaud-Larose among the elite of St-Julien. Like the bouquet, the palate is highly defined, with tight but integrated tannins that have the substance necessary to carry the wine through the decades to come. A dense, young, precise, and powerful wine. Such relevance and continuity! Bravo. 2027-2045

Jean-Marc Quarin

About wine:

Dark, intense, purple color. Very aromatic, refined, fruity, pure, floral, and vanilla-scented nose. A hint of ink when swirling the glass. Smooth on the palate, very aromatic in the middle, accompanied by a refined touch, the wine develops deliciously, offering great unity in stimulating all parts of the mouth. Noble, it melts on the palate, with an unusual hint of licorice. It is impossible to spit out.

Vert de Vin

About wine:

The nose is distinguished, elegant, and offers delicacy, a certain power (in finesse), a subtle richness (controlled/in finesse), subtlety, and a fine, tight/compact character. There are notes of pulpy/fleshy blackberry, fleshy/bright strawberry and, more subtly, cherry, combined with hints of flowers (lily/violet/almost white flowers), small fleshy/crushed berries, toasted almonds, spices and a discreet touch of cardamom and vanilla. The palate is fruity and offers freshness, minerality, good definition, richness, a certain juiciness, a fine acidic structure, tension, straightness/precision, a stretched side as well as richness (restrained), elegance, and mastery. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy cherry, redcurrant and, more subtly, bright blackcurrant, combined with hints of violet, racy minerality and subtle hints of lilac, sweet spices, cardamom, subtle hints of toast, hazelnut, caramelization, and a very subtle hint of vanilla (in the background). The tannins are precise, elegant, beautifully integrated, and offer a little mellowness. Good length and persistence. A subtle chewiness on the finish/persistence.