| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
This famous and historic Saint Julien second growth is popular throughout the world. This is a large vineyard of 82 hectares which surrounds the château and has changed little in size since the 1855 classification. The grape varieties are 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.
The 2025 will come in a special bottle with a "Serie-graphie" embossment rather than a label - and a gold wax capsule. It is 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. 13.5 degrees. Yield 26 hl/ha.
Unwinding in the glass with notes of dark berries, cassis, plums mingled with hints of violet and pencil shavings, the 2025 Gruaud Larose is medium- to full-bodied, supple and suave, with a deep core of fruit, lovely energy and ripe, powdery tannins. Checking in at 13.5% alcohol, this blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc will bear a special gold label to commemorate the estate's 300th anniversary.
The 2025 Gruaud Larose comes in a specially designed etched bottle to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the first vintage labelled as Gruaud Larose (although there were already vines in situ). Picked between September 3 and 20 at 26 hl/ha, average for the appellation, and aged in new oak, it has a less outgoing bouquet than its peers, tightly wound black fruit, sous-bois and tobacco. Fine delineation and firmly classical in style. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chalky tannins. A more tertiary Gruaud Larose, hints of dark powdered chocolate combine with black fruit, leading to a more structured vintage that lingers nicely in the mouth. Perhaps slightly less deep than some of its peers, this has a tendency to gain weight during élevage. Englishman's claret! 2032 - 2060
Deep ruby-purple colour. The nose here has a little reduction but underneath there is a show of sweet cassis, polished vanilla spice and flinty mineral depth. This follows on the palate, with added crunch from ripe, mouthfilling tannins. Quite firm, but with fruit to match, this is a well-managed Gruaud with good length on the finish.
You get the tannic grip of the vintage in spades, but as you sit with the wine, a creaminess appears through the mid palate that is highly appealing, with a cocoa bean and espresso lick alongside berry fruits, crayon and graphite. Smoky signoff on the finish right now, will integrate over ageing, a ton of potential here, great quality. 75% new oak. Virginie Sallette 8th vintage, a lovely expression of Gruaud. Harvest September 3 to 20. 3.71 pH. 2032-2050.
The 2025 Gruaud Larose is rich, ample and exotic right out of the gate. Dark-toned fruit, graphite, licorice, mocha and lavender are all dialed up. The 2025 has a lot to offer, but will need a number of years to be at its finest. There's a lot of wine here. Even with all its intensity, the tannins show no signs of stress. All the 2025 needs is a lot of time in the cellar to shed its considerable baby fat. 2040-2075.
