CHÂTEAU GRUAUD LAROSE 2012

Château Gruaud Larose 2012

“Blackish crimson. Sweet, almost cooked nose. Very sweet indeed – almost violet cachou-like. Then some palate-pinching effect on the finish. Not the most appetising 2012 but very flattering. But I think it could be a bit tiring after a while.” – 16/20, Jancis Robinson MW

VARIETIES: Cabernet Sauvignon 66,5%, Merlot 27%, Petit Verdot 6,5%
AVERAGE AGE OF STOCKS: 46 years
REGION: France / Bordeaux / Médoc / Saint-Julien
AGEING: 18 – 24 months in French oak barrels (40% new, the rest 1-2 years old)
GUARDING POTENTIAL: Enjoy now or will cellar well up to 15 years
SERVE: Serve at 16 – 18ºC
FITS TO: Go well with rich buttery, juicy, and tender Roasted Lamb with the flavor of Garlic, Parsley, and Rosemary, or Grilled Ribs / Creamy Truffle Mushroom Fettuccine
CRITICS SCORES: 94/WE, 93/JS, 90/WS
VIVINO: Average 4.2 ★★★★✰

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2ᵉ Grand Cru Classé – 1855, Saint-Julien Appellation | Range | Château Gruaud Larose 2012

Chevalier de Gruard and Chevalier de La Rose owned this 70 hectare estate in Saint-Julien in the mid 18th century. Their two names were first associated on a label in 1781. Due to inheritance problems, the estate was divided in two until 1935, when Désiré Cordier, who had already bought a part in the early 1900s, restored the domain to its original size.

Since the 1980s, Gruard Larose has been held by groups of institutional investors before coming into the hands of the Merlant family in 1997. The vines are in a single block on a rise consisting of deep red gravel. Georges Pauli and his team have been responsible for winegrowing since 1970. Due to their expert care, Gruard Larose’s soil is able to express its full potential. The wine is more than ever worthy of its Second Growth status in the 1855 classification.

The intense deep black hued Château Gruaud Larose 2012 is powerful with a commanding, strong range of fruit aromas. This Saint-Julien has a pleasant attack followed by a round, flavourful palate, very supple, with some subtle notes and soft tannins. Truly beautiful altogether, with promising maturation, the authenticity of the wine will even enchant the most demanding palates.