Château Gruaud Larose - Saint-Julien (Grand Cru Classé) 2009 (750ml)

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Price: $214.99

Producer	Château Gruaud Larose
Country	France
Region	Bordeaux
Subregion	Saint-Julien
Varietal	Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Vintage	2009
Sku	111647
Size	750ml

Château Gruaud Larose Description

Gruaud Larose has always tried to give value to the role of man in the creation of its elixir;
both to his work and to the bond established with the vineyard.
The vine stocks and the grapes are nothing without man, without these makers of crus, from the most modest to the most powerful.
Since its creation, in 1725, four families have succeeded one another at the head of Gruaud Larose: the Gruaud and Larose families, the Balguerie and Sarget families, the Cordier family and the Merlaut family.
This family attachment has been passed on to the employees who often work at the chateau from father to son and from mother to daughter.

The notion of terroir binds geology and climate together. The largest concentration of Grand Cru Wines is in the Medoc, an area which benefits from a microclimate that is particularly favourable for the expression of the vine.
The soil, by nature, limits water retentivity and the summer period, very hot and dry from July to September, is determinant for good ripening, a good maturity and the satisfactory transfer between the root system and the grape.
East and West winds dry the grapes to keep them from perishing.
Every year the heavens play a decisive role in wine making. Their influence on the success of the wine is different each year; no terroir, man or technique can alter the part they play.

A truly stunning and huge wine, Gruaud has often been a little rustic but the 2010 is refined, yet overflowing in all departments. The highest levels of tannins ever seen at Gruaud are quietened and second string to the dense yet beautifully focused, cool fruit. A powerful experience with waves of precisely defined blackberry fruit, super-fine tannins and freshness which will all help to see this become a long-lived wine and probably one of the best value wines of the vintage - a triumph.

A stony, slightly austere style, showing iron and steeped red currant fruit, with bitter cherry notes running through the finish. There's a slightly rustic edge, but also solid concentration.

RP95

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

As I wrote in my barrel tasting note, the 2009 appears to be the finest Gruaud Larose since their 1990. Some of my concerns about too much brett in previous vintages are long gone as the purity of the 2009 jumps out. Copious notes of sagebrush, cedar, cigar box, licorice, incense, blackberries and lead pencil shavings suggest a big Pauillac rather than a St.-Julien. Broad, rich and full-bodied with good balance and abundant, but sweet, well-integrated tannin, this big, masculine Gruaud Larose reveals remarkable finesse, richness, extract, density and a cascade of fruit that nearly hides the lofty tannins. This beauty should be at its best between 2020-2045.

WE93

Wine Enthusiast

Initially wood dominates, but this is a stage after bottling. Because then the ripe, smooth fruit comes in, pouring through with black fruits, very ripe and juicy. As this wine develops, this rich fruit will be its main character.

WS92

Wine Spectator

This has good density, with fleshy blackberry and blueberry cobbler flavors laced with anise, sweet spice and smoldering maduro tobacco notes. Long and well-structured, with fresh, embedded acidity. Best from 2013 through 2023.

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