Château Gruaud Larose, 2ème Cru Classé, St Julien, 2023

Name: Château Gruaud Larose, 2ème Cru Classé, St Julien
Brand: Château Gruaud Larose
Price: 358 GBP

Available Vintages

all 2000 2004 2014 2015 2022 2023 2024

justerini & brooks tasting note

After many years of mediocrity, Gruaud Larose marked a return to the top flight with their 2022. The 2023 goes to another level. We were genuinely impressed. This is one of the best performing wines in St Julien and probably the best wine made at this address since the otherworldly 1982 and 1986. Tight knit black fruit, very cool and composed with charming fragrance and lots of oomph. Polished, impressive and quite luxuriant in style, full of sumptuous fruit encased in sophisticated tannins. Lovely juice, packed with cherries and red fruits. If this is a sensible price, it will warrant a firm buy recommendation! A splendid Gruaud.

critic reviews

94-96/100Lisa Perrotti-Brown,The Wine Independent

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Gruaud Larose leaps with vibrant notes of cassis, fresh blackberries, and mulberries giving way to nuances of tapenade, iris, pencil shavings, and iron ore. The palate is light-bodied and airy, with beautiful poise and soft silky tannins, delivering a lively burst of mineral and red berry notes on the finish. This is nicely done! The blend is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Merlot, and 2.5% Cabernet Franc, with pH 3.80.

DRINKING WINDOW 2029 - 2050

date of review 05/2024

95/100Jane Anson,Inside Bordeaux

Vibrant colour that speaks of a great En Primeur wine, with the bright acidities that seem typical in these appellations of 2023. More subdued than some sibling St Juliens, this has a serious feel, with the Cabernets very much on the savoury, stately side, sinewy and with touches of raspberry leaf and peony, fragrant and floral. Plenty of ageing capacity ahead, but don't feel that you will have to wait too long to begin drinking. Old school and delicous. The Cabernet levels are above 80% as has been true for the last few years, a result of the vines coming in to the right age after extensive replanting.

DRINKING WINDOW 2030 - 2048

date of review 05/2024

93-95/100Neal Martin,Vinous

The 2023 Gruaud Larose was picked from September 11 to October 3 at 42hL/ha and matured in 95% new oak with 15% vin de presse. There was no saignée. There is a large difference between the Sarget and the Grand Vin this year: There’s much more complexity and purity here. Layers of blackberry, cedar and floral scents surface in the glass, all very composed with beautifully integrated oak (perhaps better than previous vintages). The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins—quite crisp and commendably saline, which really comes through toward the finish. This is a classic Gruaud Larose that confirms the ongoing improvement at this estate.

DRINKING WINDOW 2029 - 2065

date of review 04/2024