Sarget de Gruaud Larose Saint-Julien 2019 - Second Vin

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Slightly softer than Croix de Beaucaillou, but a very pretty mouthfeel, with suppleness, aromatic clarity and the aromatic chic of the vintage and terroir, great progress for this second wine and above all remarkable value for money.

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.

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 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.

Vinous A. Galloni

About the wine:

Sarget de Gruaud-Larose 2019 presents a well-defined bouquet of tertiary red fruits, at first discreet, but gaining in intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruits, quite tarry with a good proportion of tobacco and black pepper on the finish. There's a lot in this wine and it should age well in bottle. Tasted blind at Southwold's annual tasting. 2026 - 2040

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

A lovely fruity nose, with spring flowers and very pleasant vegetal notes. Fresh and charming on the palate, with hints of blueberry and honeysuckle. The simplicity and straightforwardness of this wine make it highly drinkable. The epitome of classic.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

The bouquet of the 2019 reveals itself with delicacy. Nuances of blackberry and peppermint followed by a touch of graphite. On the palate, the attack suggests a slender character, but the tannic structure reveals itself step by step, ideally supported by the acid structure. The wine has body, muscle and plenty of freshness. It can certainly be enjoyed in its youth, but like its predecessors, you'll have to wait for it! 2025 - 2036

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is fruity and greedy. There are lovely notes of fleshy strawberry, greedy red berries and, more lightly, gray pepper, combined with fine touches of crushed blackberry and delicate hints of vanilla and cardamom. The palate is fresh, mineral and well-balanced, offering elegance, deliciousness, a finely unctuous body, fine uprightness and a beautiful salinity/iodine. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy wild strawberry, crushed redcurrant and, more lightly, small fresh flowers, combined with touches of crushed blackberry, vanilla, cardamom and a subtle hint of pepper. Precise, racy tannins. Good length. Nice sapidity. Good persistence.