2014 Gruaud Larose (Ex Chateau 2023)
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Tasting notes
Clean. Some fruit and a hint of depth. Sweet, meaty and chunky fruit in the mouth. Honest, unforced and precise. Focussed, linear. Unforced. This is very good. Joss Fowler, FINE+RARE, April 2015.
Critic scores
FINE+RARE
Tim Atkin MW
More reviews and scores
The 2014 Gruaud Larose marks the first step in the right direction, with much more freshness on the nose than previous vintages: blackberry, melted tar and cedar. There is simply a greater sense of purpose. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, crisp and sculpted, less rustic than before. I suspect this has much more longevity than the 2011 or 2012, with more grip and backbone evident on the finish. Very fine. Tasted at the Gruaud Larose vertical at the château in February 2023 and blind at the Southwold tasting in February 2024.
Tasted blind. Deep garnet. Open and scented with leafy black fruit. Refined tannins, excellent freshness. Not as concentrated as some but harmonious and long. (JH)
58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot. Garnet hue. Dark and reserved with a brush of youthful fruit. Blackcurrant on the palate. Lithe and sinewy with medium-bodied weight, the acidity marked. Tannins firm but not aggressive. Will need food. (JL)
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.