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Gruaud Larose 1996

St Julien, Second Growth

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Tasting Notes

Violet, blackberry and flowers on the nose. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a medium finish. Ready.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Drink now.

Score: 90

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 January 2007

Bright crimson. Hint of minerals, very well mannered. Mouth-filling, lots of fruit. Much richer than most 1996s. Long and powerful. I originally scored this wine even higher but, since all the other tasters consistently scored it lower, I have reduced my mark from 18 to 17 and note with due humility that I may have overscored this one. Unfortunately there was no back-up bottle.

Score: 17

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2006-2018 18 October 2006

Deep ruby. Explosive aromas of blackcurrant, plum, roasted coffee and saddle leather; displays a strong torrefaction aspect that suggests late-picked fruit. Thick, sweet and superripe; quite full and layered in the mouth, with somewhat rustic flavors. Finishes with firm, chewy tannins.

Score: 90

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 1999

In the bottle, Gruaud Larose appears to have returned to the form it possessed when I first tasted it from cask - a stylish, surprisingly civilized, medium-bodied wine without the muscle and power expected from both this terroir and vintage. It still possesses excellent density, as well as roasted herb, licorice, and black currant flavors intermixed with incense-like smells. The wine is medium to full-bodied, pure, rich, and forward.

Score: 89

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2004-2018 01 April 1999

The 1996 is a surprisingly forward, attractive, less muscular style of Gruaud-Larose. One-third of the production was declassified for a second wine, with one-third of the malolactic fermentation done in barrel. The result is a forward, deep purple-colored wine with a sweet blueberry, kirsch, and jammy cherry-scented nose, medium body, more plushness and up-front fruit than most of the more serious wines of the vintage, and attractive fat and depth. This medium-bodied, moderately tannic wine is destined to evolve quickly, although it will last for 15 or more years. Critics of the old, muscular, super-powerful, full-bodied Gruaud-Laroses that often exhibited earthy, leathery, animal notes along with their layers of concentrated fruit, may be even more fond of this new style of wine.

Score: 88 - 90

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 1997-2012 01 April 1997