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Gruaud Larose 2005

St Julien, Second Growth

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Tasting Notes

Very dark crimson. Full and toasty on the nose, then very slightly tart on the finish. A little green on the end. A little simple.

Score: 16 - 17

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2013-2019 31 July 2009

Purplish crimson. Quite inky and oaky on the nose for a St-Julien. Fruit juice attack. Perfectly fine but lacks a bit of subtlety. Heavy oaking on the finish. Solid and competent rather than a high flyer. Rather dead finish.

Score: 16

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2016-2022 10 April 2006

Tasted single blind at Southwold. This is more reticent on the nose that other Saint Julien ‘05s. Pure blackberry, a touch of cassis, cedar and wild hedgerow. Well defined though. The palate has sappy black fruits, perhaps a little too polished with a supple, sensuous finish with notes of blackberry, plum and a touch of tangerine. Very good length although not as profound as some of its contemporaries. Still, a lovely wine to savour rather than analyze. Drink 2012-2025. Tasted January 2009.

Score: 92

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012-2025 01 July 2009

Good red-ruby. Redcurrant, leather and game on the expressive if slightly rustic nose. Sweet and concentrated but a bit youthfully aggressive, and not showing the refinement or definition of the 2006. Strong nutty oak component. Finishes with substantial tannins that are a bit richer and more fully buffered by the wine's middle-palate material than those of the 2006. It will be interesting to compare these two vintages in ten years or so.

Score: 90

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2008

Tasted on three separate occasions, this cuvee exhibits a dark ruby color (with much less saturation than many wines of the vintage) as well as a distinctive, herbal, meaty, horsey nose, medium to full body, good depth, power, and richness, and soft tannins. The wine’s rustic aromas and earthy style are intriguing and provocative. While an excellent effort, the 2005 Gruaud Larose is not one of the stars of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2022.

Score: 89

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2011-2022 30 April 2008

Aromas of blackberry, meat and earth follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and a rich finish. Decadent, balanced and very approachable already. I thought it would have been a little better than this. Best after 2014.

Score: 91

James Suckling, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2014+ 31 March 2008

Very pretty aromas of flowers, berries, currants and light raisins. Full-bodied, with soft and round tannins and lovely ripeness. Attractive and balanced.

Score: 89 - 91

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2006

The 2005 is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and unusually, 1% Malbec. Deep dark ruby with a very dense nose, this is full-bodied and serious with immense concentration of blackberry fruit, nicely spiced oak and quite a firm finish.

Score: -

Albany Vintners, - 01 January 1900