| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Bright crimson. Hint of minerals, very well mannered. Mouth-filling, lots of fruit. Much richer than most 1996s. Long and powerful. I originally scored this wine even higher but, since all the other tasters consistently scored it lower, I have reduced my mark from 18 to 17 and note with due humility that I may have overscored this one. Unfortunately there was no back-up bottle. Drink 2006-18
In the bottle, Gruaud Larose appears to have returned to the form it possessed when I first tasted it from cask - a stylish, surprisingly civilized, medium-bodied wine without the muscle and power expected from both this terroir and vintage. It still possesses excellent density, as well as roasted herb, licorice, and black currant flavors intermixed with incense-like smells. The wine is medium to full-bodied, pure, rich, and forward. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2018.
The 1996 appears to be a potential sleeper of the vintage, and may merit an outstandind score. It is a powerful, bulky style of Gruaud-Larose, with a dark ruby/purple color, and plenty of cassis, spicy new oak, and rosted herbs in the jammy nose. On the palate, the wine ha slost much of the forward precociousness it was revealing last spring, now boasting loads of tannin in its powerful, muscular flavors. It semed much softer when I first tasted it, but the wine has put on weight and gained considerable structure.
It now appears this husky wine has the potential for long-term cellaring.
