Based on 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Château Gruaud Larose sports a dense purple hue as well as a stunning nose of pure crème de cassis, cedar pencil shavings, blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, and a liquid rock-like sense of minerality. This dense, almost broodingly backward, concentrated Saint-Julien has flawless balance, a remarkable sense of purity, masses of tannins, and one hell of a great finish. Seemingly almost from a more austere year (say 2000 or 2010), it's not going to hit maturity for at least a decade and should cruise in cold cellars for 20-30 years. It's a brilliant wine!

This is really generous and rolls off the tongue with ripe and velvety tannins and a fresh undertone. Full-bodied, firm and silky. Extremely long and flavorful. Very complex already. - April 2019

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Gruaud Larose needs a little coaxing before it bursts onto the scene with notes of stewed black plums, boysenberry preserves, and blackcurrant pastilles plus suggestions of underbrush, wild roses, and cumin seed with a waft of espresso. The medium to full-bodied palate is jam packed with spicy black fruits framed by velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and opulent. Lisa Perrotti-Brown Jan 2024 - The Wine Independent

This has a bit of polish to its mix of cassis, crushed plum and blackberry fruit flavors before a wave of bittersweet cocoa, tobacco, and iron score the finish. But while muscular and grippy in the end, there's ample freshness here throughout. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2036. JM

Round, plush, soft and full-bodied, the wine offers good richness, layers of ripe, currants, cherries and plums. There is depth and complexity with a touch of stone in the elegant, luxurious finish. Clearly Gruaud Larose is back on target. The wine was made from blending 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. tasted March 2021

Here the tannins are pretty hefty, matched by deep brambly black cherry notes. Good-quality with slate, cigar, chocolate, earth and black pepper spice through the mid-palate. Not as elegant at this stage as some St-Julien in the vintage but this has a long life ahead and is full of promise. Drinking Window: 2026 - 2040
Tasted by: Jane Anson (at Bordeaux, 10 Nov 2020)
Part of Top St-Julien 2018 wines: Re-tasted in bottle

Expressive, pure fruit, minerality. Deep bass notes, lifted with floral notes. Rich, dense fruit, black fruits and licorice. Energetic and balanced, with great freshness and a long finish. A really fine Gruaud! - April 2019

Composed of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Gruaud Larose has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It comes barreling out of the glass with powerful scents of blackberry preserves, baked plums and crème de cassis plus hints of fruitcake, Indian spices and tobacco leaf. The medium to full-bodied palate offers bags of baked berries flavors and a chewy texture with just enough freshness, finishing spicy. Judging by the slightly rustic tannins and suggestions of dried berry characters, I'm guessing the heat and drought had an impact this year. This said, the wine is very well crafted and delicious right now, although a good 3-4 years in bottle should soften the tannins and bring out further nuances. LPB March 2021

I was delighted to taste the 2018 Gruaud Larose, as I missed it en primeur. Ripe and sweet on attack, Gruaud Larose is an especially dense, flamboyant Saint-Julien. Inky red fruit, mocha, wild flowers and spice abound. I find the new oak a bit overpowering, but the 2018 is an undeniably gorgeous and enticing wine. Jan 2023

The 2018 Gruaud-Larose has a perfumed bouquet with raspberry and touches of seaweed, opening up a little since I last tasted it. The palate is sweet and plump on the entry with lush red fruit, dark chocolate and candied orange peel. This is an approachable and generous Gruaud-Larose, but as I wrote before, it could be more complex. Jan 2023

Darkest, smudgy black-cherry colour. Lifted cassis and a hint of tea leaf. Paper-fine layers of tannins but not a lot of juice on the palate. Savoury, dark but slightly flat finish.Julia Harding, jancisrobinson.com, April 2019