2017 Gruaud Larose (Ex Chateau 2023)
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Gruaud Larose just needs a little more precision and detail on the nose, but it develops attractive cigar box and pressed flower scents with aeration. The oak is nicely integrated here. The palate is well-balanced with fine tannins, strict and linear. It's not a multi-dimensional Saint-Julien by any means, but it is sapid with a spicier finish than I recall. Perhaps it just lacks that peacock’s tail on the finish? Otherwise, this is perfectly fine. Tasted at the Gruaud Larose vertical at the château in February 2023.
Critic scores
James Suckling
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31.5% Merlot, 1.5% Cabernet Franc. Garnet hue. Open, forward and fruity with just a touch of vanilla oak. Medium-bodied; light but fine tannic frame. Plenty of freshness. No great complexity or ageing potential but well crafted for pleasant early drinking. (JL)
Tasted blind. Deep ruby fruit. Cool, slightly leafy nose of red fruit and camphor. Silky and forward on the palate, this will be approachable fairly young. Bright plummy fruit, bay leaf and cedar mingle together. Compact, fresh and easy for the medium term. (TP)
The 2017 Gruaud Larose, which was bottled June 2019, is a little smudged on the nose compared to some of its peers, and I would say, compared to the nascent 2018. Attractive brambly red fruit mixed with cigar humidor and attic aromas that just require more precision and intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and a fine bead of acidity. What it lacks is mid-palate weight, rendering this an easy-going Gruaud Larose that will not have the longevity of vintages either side. That said, it is a perfectly decent Claret.
About the producer
Ch. Gruaud Larose is a Second Growth estate in Saint-Julien, Bordeaux. It is often considered one of the best-value Left Bank estates, with the wines occasionally matching those of the First Growths.