Винный справочник
Producers
Alter Ego de Palmer Carillon d’Angelus Carruades de Lafite Château Angélus Château Ausone Château Belgrave Château Calon-Ségur Château Cantemerle Château Cantenac Brown Château Climens Château Clinet Château Cos Labory Château Cos d’Estournel Château Coutet Château de Camensac Château de Ferrand Château de Fieuzal Château d’Yquem Château Ducru Beaucaillou Château-Figeac Château Fleur Cardinale Château Fombrauge Château Giscours Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Château Gruaud-Larose Château Haut Bages Libéral Château Haut Batailley Château Haut-Brion Château Haut-Marbuzet Château Kirwan Château La Fleur Petrus Château Lagrange Château La Gurgue Château La Mission Haut Brion Château Lafite Rothschild Château Lanessan Château Langoa Barton Château Larrivet Haut Brion Château Latour Château La Tour Carnet Château Latour Martillac Château Léoville Las Cases Château Léoville Barton Château Léoville-Poyferré Château L'Evangile Château Les Grands Chênes Château Lynch-Bages Château Malescasse Château Margaux Château Marquis d’Alesme Château Maucaillou Château Monbousquet Château Montrose Château Mouton Rothschild Château Palmer Château Pape Clément Château Pavie Château Pédesclaux Château Pétrus Château Phélan Ségur Château Pichon-Longueville Baron Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Château Pontet-Canet Château Pouget Château Poujeaux Château Rauzan-Ségla Château Rieussec Château Sigalas-Rabaud Château Taillefer Château Talbot Cheval Blanc Echo Lynch Bages Le Petit Mouton Marquis de Calon Pagodes de Cos Petit Haut Lafitte Vieux Château Certan
Producers
Château Gruaud-Larose
With its signature blend of 61% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot 3% and 29% Merlot, wines from Château Gruaud-Larose are keepers. The Cabernet Franc creates a superlative character while the addition of the Merlot creates a wine that is soft and velvety. A superb St. Julien that has the royal seal of approval, this “wine of kings and king of wines” is one of most robust and long-lived in Medoc. Early records show the Château was already in production in the early 18th century yet despite its illustrious history, great vintages from Gruaud-Larose are erratic to say the least. This could largely be due to the fact that the vineyard has been split up and separate parcels sold off many times. However, full unification began in the early 20th century.
Erratic quality = reasonable pricing
Only a few investable wines have been produced by the Chateau, notably in 1961, the mid-1980s and post-2000. Because of its irregularity pricing is reasonable, and those who are lucky enough to acquire an excellent vintage have a golden opportunity. Average bottle price is kept at around €87, but notable vintages such as the 1982 have a market value of approximately four times that amount. This further supports the fact that Château Gruaud-Larose ages well and certain vintages, extremely well.
A Super Second
One of the 15 second growths in the 1855 classification, the vineyard works hard to shake off its unpredictable image. Technological advancements are helping this: it is one of the few producers’ in the world to possess a “hail-prevention cannon” which works by breaking down harmful hailstones using sonar rays. It has also converted to 100% biodynamic organic farming techniques, which should help for a uniform production in years to come. However, this is a vineyard capable of producing superb wines, certainly the best in St. Julien. With their silky Cabernet/Merlot blend, some vintages are regarded as remarkable Bordeaux wines close to First Growth in quality.
Notable facts and vintages
  • The best vintages of Château Gruaud-Larose are: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2010, 2009, 2005, 2000, 1990, 1986, 1982, 1961, 1959 and 1945.
  • 2018 Château Gruaud-Larose has garnered high En Primeur scores from the critics - 95-96 from James Suckling and 95-97 from Robert Parker Wine Advocate, Perotti-Brown describing this vintage a “very exotic Gruaud”.
  • Older vintages are harder to come by and there is little or no market data to say which pre-1945 wines would be worth investing in (or drinking!).