The 2009 Gruaud Larose is blended of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Merlot. Medium to deep garnet colored, it charges forth with warm black raspberries, crème de cassis and redcurrant jelly notes with touches of potpourri, cigar box, new leather, hoisin and molten chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with black fruits and savory layers with a firm, grainy texture and seamless freshness lifting the long earth-laced finish.Lisa Perrotti-Brown, March 2019As I wrote in my barrel tasting note, the 2009 appears to be the finest Gruaud Larose since their 1990. Some of my concerns about too much brett in previous vintages are long gone as the purity of the 2009 jumps out. Copious notes of sagebrush, cedar, cigar box, licorice, incense, blackberries and lead pencil shavings suggest a big Pauillac rather than a St.-Julien. Broad, rich and full-bodied with good balance and abundant, but sweet, well-integrated tannin, this big, masculine Gruaud Larose reveals remarkable finesse, richness, extract, density and a cascade of fruit that nearly hides the lofty tannins. This beauty should be at its best between 2020-2045. RP 95pts

The 2009 Gruaud Larose has a fresh, backward, tightly coiled bouquet with ample blackberry and bilberry fruit, fine tension and focus, a nose that is intending to last the distance (and why not?) The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, fresh and vibrant, laced-like tannin with a wonderfully detailed and persistent finish. This is some quality winemaking here and it is a wonderful 2009 Saint-Julien.

I like the aromas of sliced mushroom, berries and wet earth, that follow through to a full body, with super silky tannins and a chewy finish. A fit, yet polished wine here. Try after 2020.

Dark ruby-red. Intense aromas of red cherry, cassis, aromatic herbs and cedar. Rich, dense and suave, with concentrated flavors of dark berries, cedar and quinine complicated by smoky and peppery nuances. Finishes very long and smooth, with a highly tactile quality to the cedar and cassis flavors. This Gruaud stands out for its purity, as it seems free of the earthy and gamey nuances that have been present in many past vintages. In fact, this impressive wine strikes me as the best young Gruaud-Larose in recent memory.

Intense smoky cassis and plum nose, with a good deal of new oak underlying the lavish fruit. Rich, supple, hedonistic and fleshy, with a slightly soft texture that’s balanced by some acidic bite. This shows admirable concentration and persistence, and doesn’t lack finesse despite the rather forward character of the palate. Delicious and very long. Alun Griffiths MW
Very full nose of black fruits, cherry, cassis and plum. Tannins very present but ripe. Dense and concentrated on the palate but still with elegance and finesse. Lovely quality of fruit. Just a touch of hollowness somewhere in the mid-palate stops it being top-class. Steven Spurrier
Very good concentration and depth of fruit. Expressive, slightly leathery, very good tannins already blending in, nice element of exotic spice, good richness and depth, just lacks the final lift of elegance, but a very good wine. Drinking Window: 2015 - 2040
Tasted by: Stephen Brook, Alun Griffiths MW, Steven Spurrier
Part of Medoc crus classes 2009

The sweet, earthy red fruits are accompanied by cedar, tobacco leaf and minty notes. Spicy, medium-bodied and still young, the interesting minty fresh nuance is also found in the red fruit filled finish. Tasted Sept 2019

[68CS/32M] Deepish purple - not that saturated. Fine, moderately intense nose, quite minerally; medium full, moderately concentrated wine with fine tannin and fresh acidty, all the hallmarks of 2009 that is, except density; fresh, vital, juicy and fine rather than particularly rich, with a nice length in the mouth, quite aromatic, a touch of herbaceousness, and good light length. Good wine, yes, but underperforming for a 2nd Growth, especially in this vintage. All that said, it will probably be very fair value! 2020-35