2022 Chateau Gruaud Larose - 2eme Cru Classe St. Julien

Decanter.com – 97 pts – GH: *Another excellently consistent wine from Gruaud in 2022 that gives terroir typicality with crystalline purity and such overall charm. Smooth and supple, silky but firm, generous but serious. Gorgeous acidity keeps the palate lifted and fresh while the concentrated fruit and quite present tannins give the structure and frame. I love the detail and purity, powerful and strong but refined. Direct with energy and juicy, vibrant acidity. Mineral, graphite and liquorice aspects grip the palate and linger on the finish with soft spices. Has a very moreish quality with approachability but the racy core and intense backbone suggests long ageing potential. 3.8pH. 3.45g/l total acidity. 40% production. 13% press wine (only Cabernet Sauvignon).* - 04/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 96 pts – PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Intensive dunkle Waldbeerfrucht, ein Hauch von schwarzen Kirschen, ein Hauch von Kräutern, Edelholz und kandierten Orangenzesten. Komplex, saftig, reife Zwetschken, frischer Säurebogen, mineralisch-salzig im Abgang, zeigt gute Länge, ein vielseitiger, energischer Speisenbegleiter mit sicherem Reifepotenzial.* - 01/2023

Vinum Magazin – 19/20 pts: *Wie immer vornehm zurückhaltend, von grosser Noblesse, auch hier beeindruckt uns die einmalige Tanninqualität, der besondere Schliff und die Mineralität, die diesen Jahrgang auszeichnen: noch ein Gruaud der Sonderklasse.* - 04/2023

WeinWisser – 18,5+/20pts – GL, TW: *83 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 14 % Merlot, 3 % Cabernet Franc, 13.64 Vol.-%. Delikates Bouquet, frischer Schattenmorellensaft, betörende Veilchen, Lakritze und roter Johannisbeernektar. Am geradlinigen, präzisen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, balancierter Rasse, engmaschigem Tanninkorsett und durchtrainiertem Körper. Im konzentrierten druckvollen Finale schwarzbeerige Konturen, dunkler Graphit und feinkörnige Adstringenz. Klassischer St. Julien, der durch seine Tiefgründigkeit und seinen Reichtum zu überzeugen weiß. Habe ich noch nie so gut verkostet. Bravo!* – 04/2023

JancisRobinson.com – 17,5/20pts – JL: *83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc. Certified organic. Cask sample. Deep crimson hue. Cassis and mineral nose. Juicy and vibrant with a real notion of drinkability. Elegant texture and tannins. Very long finish. Plenty of charm but substance as well.* - 04/2023

Vinous.com – (95-97) pts – NM: *The 2022 Gruaud Larose was picked from 7 to 24 September and includes a little more pressed wine this year: 13.5% exclusively from Cabernet Sauvignon due to the quality. This latest vintage matured for a planned 18 months in 95% new oak. Significantly, this is the first year under organic certification (notice two storks on the label signifying this. Maybe they are carrying a little Gruaud baby?) At 13.64% alcohol, this is less than many other properties for those seeking slower intoxication. It has an impressive bouquet with pure blackberry and raspberry fruit, black truffle and /sous-bois/ scents. I am impressed by its delineation and focus; frankly, these are the nicest aromatics I've encountered for a while at this address. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins. I cannot remember a Gruaud at this nascent stage that exhibits this level of energy and tension deriving from the Cabernet Sauvignon extracted at the beginning of vinification. There's much more precision here. Mineral-driven toward the finish, this easily surpasses vintages made at the estate over the last decade and more. Perhaps like the legendary Gruauds of old (1982, 1961, 1928, even 1870)? Gruaud reborn.* - 04/2023

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (92-94) pts – JL: *Deep in color, with a simple swirl you find wet forest floor, cigar box, licorice, spice, flowers, and currants in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is concentrated, rich and dense, but refined, round. and juicy. Even with all that weight, the wine is vibrant, energetic, long and fresh, The finish builds in intensity, leaving you with layers of dark black, red and blue fruits, chocolate, licorice, espresso. and spice. 2022 marks the first vintage Gruaud Larose was organically certified. The wine is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc.13.65% ABV, 3.8 pH. Picking took place September 7 - September 24. Yield were 30 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2027-2060.* - 05/2023