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

A beautiful example of the estate and the vintage, you can dive right in to the depth of cassis and bilberry fruits, studded with tobacco leaf, charcoal, crushed rocks, cocoa powder and juicy raspberries. Delivers appellation typicity and then some, stretches out through the palate, excellent quality. It's not the power so much as the perfect placing, everything working together to deliver a delicious drinking claret - and it's one where I would recommend the 2009 over the 2010, at least for the next decade. Eric Boissenot consultant, 50% new oak.

The 2009 Gruaud Larose has calmed down since I last tasted it (when I described the bouquet as raucous). Now it is quite refined with blackberry, cedar and leather aromas, not the most powerful you will come across but very well focused. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity, not a million miles away from Lagrange in style. Great precision on the brown spice infused finish. Excellent. Tasted at BI Wines & Spirits' Ten Year On tasting.