2018 Chateau Gruaud Larose - 2eme Cru Classe St. Julien

Decanter.com – 93 pts – JA: *Here the tannins are pretty hefty, matched by deep brambly black cherry notes. Good-quality with slate, cigar, chocolate, earth and black pepper spice through the mid-palate. Not as elegant at this stage as some St-Julien in the vintage but this has a long life ahead and is full of promise.* - 11/2020

Falstaff Magazin - 97 pts - PM: *Sehr dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Süße Gewürznuancen, schwarze Beerenfrucht, zart nach Lakritze und Edelholz, reife Herzkirschen unterlegt. Komplex, saftig, extraktsüße Textur, feine, reife Tannine, merklicher Cabernet Franc-Anteil, gute Frische und mineralische Länge, bleibt lange haften, sicheres Zukunftspotenzial für viele Jahre. (2020 - 2050)* - 02/2021

*Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Clos Fourtet is a little youthfully mute to begin. With coaxing, it opens out to notes of crushed blackberries, warm black plums and wild blueberries plus suggestions of forest floor, lavender, baking spices and potpourri. Full-bodied, the palate has an amazing texture of soft, plush tannins and oodles of freshness supporting the layer upon layer of berries and spices, finishing long and fragrant. Total time in barrel should run 16 months in 60% new and 40% one-year old barriques. The blend is 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Franc.* (95-97/100)

WeinWisser – 18,5/20pts - WL: *Sattes Purpur mit opaker Mitte und rubinrotem Rand. Vielschichtiges Bouquet mit Wildkirschen, edler Cassiswürze und zartem Veilchenparfüm. Im zweiten Ansatz dunkles Schokomousse, Holundersaft und heller Tabak. Am druckvollen Gaumen mit weicher Textur, fein körnigem Extrakt, engmaschigem Tanningerüst und muskulösem Körper. Im gebündelten Finale verschlankt sich der St.-Julien zuerst und endet in einem langen Crescendo mit schwarzbeerigen Konturen, dunklem Edelholz und tiefschürfender Mineralik. Für die nächst höhere Wertung reicht es dieses Mal (noch) nicht!* – 04/2021

JancisRobinson.com – 17++/20pts – JL: *67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc. Deep purple-crimson hue. Dark and intense on the nose. Dense and structured on the palate with layers of fruit and a powerful tannic frame. Vigorous and, at present, unyielding. Needs time but clear ageing potential.* - 03/2023

JamesSuckling.com – 95-96pts - JS: *This is really generous and rolls off the tongue with ripe and velvety tannins and a fresh undertone. Full-bodied, firm and silky. Extremely long and flavorful. Very omplex already.*
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JamesSuckling.com - 95pts - JS: *Aromas of currants, blackberries, dried flowers, dark chocolate and tobacco leaves. Citrus zest, too. It’s full-bodied with firm, ultra fine tannins. Complex and layered with a juicy core of ripe fruit. Silky and delicious. Very creamy and fine-tannined. Better from 2025.* - 01.2021

Vinous.com – 92 pts – AG: *I was delighted to taste the 2018 Gruaud Larose, as I missed it en primeur. Ripe and sweet on attack, Gruaud Larose is an especially dense, flamboyant Saint-Julien. Inky red fruit, mocha, wild flowers and spice abound. I find the new oak a bit overpowering, but the 2018 is an undeniably gorgeous and enticing wine.* - 03/2021

*From one of the more inland of the Saint-Julien estates, away from the Gironde estuary, this wine is generous in fruit, with soft tannins and lively acidity. It is finely structured and will age well over the medium-term.* (92-94/100)

Vinous.com - 91pts - NM: *The 2018 Gruaud Larose, which incidentally now comes with a red wax capsule, is initially tightly wound on the nose, offering blackberry, raspberry, touches of juniper berry and a light seaweed note that becomes accentuated with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, and a little lactic on the entry, with a smear of dark chocolate segueing into a balanced middle that will require time to absorb the oak. It needs a little more complexity to come through on the finish, so give it 3–4 years in bottle.* - 03/2021

Thewinecellarinsider.com – 94 pts – JL: *Round, plush, soft and full-bodied, the wine offers good richness, layers of ripe, currants, cherries and plums. There is depth and complexity with a touch of stone in the elegant, luxurious finish. Clearly Gruaud Larose is back on target. The wine was made from blending 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc.* - 03/2021