Château Gruaud Larose - Saint-Julien 2011

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

88 / 100

par Ian D'Agata le 31/08/2014

Deep ruby.  A heavy dose of torrefaction (cocoa, coffee, smoke) dominates raspberry and blackcurrant aromas.  Dense and suave in the mouth, offering fleshy dark fruit flavors that gain weight and intensity with air.  The coffee, cocoa and sweet spice notes echo strongly on the long, smooth finish.  I'd forget about this in the cellar for five years and hope that the fruit holds up. (88(+?) points)

Wine Advocate

89 / 100

par Robert Parker le 02/05/2014

Rich, evolved, cedary, black currant and cherry fruit are present in this dark ruby-colored 2011. With medium body, pleasant ripeness and fruitiness, good purity and depth but no herbaceousness or hardness, it has a precocious, flattering, up-front appeal that suggests it will drink well for 10-15 years.

Jamessuckling.com

89 / 100

par James Suckling le 19/02/2014

Lots of earthy, spicy and dried-fruit character. Full body, silky tannins and a fresh finish.  Needs two years to come together. Try in 2017.      

Wine Spectator

90 / 100

par James Molesworth le 11/02/2014

The plum, cassis and raspberry fruit is allied to singed sandalwood and apple wood notes, with a lingering spice accent on the judiciously toasty finish. A rather elegant rendering of St.-Julien that should hold on well enough in the cellar. Best from 2015 through 2025.

La Revue du Vin de France

16-16,5 / 20

le 31/05/2012

Ce 2011 s'inscrit dans une belle série de millésimes. C'est un Gruaud Larose d'une finesse inhabituelle, mais avec du volume. Très belle vinosité et rondeur en milieu de bouche. Pour la première fois, le cru intègre du cabernet franc (à hauteur de 13%), ce qui apporte une joli touche de raffinement en finale.

Le Point

17 / 20

par Jacques Dupont le 17/05/2012

Rose séchée, cerise, bouche souple, bien fruitée, assez explosive, tendue, fraîche, beaucoup de fruit. O= 2018 G= 15 ans

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

88-90 / 100

par Ian D'Agata le 12/05/2012

(59% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot and 13% cabernet franc; 74 IPT; 3.81 g/l total acidity; a 33% selection; 40% new oak;13% alcohol): Ruby-purple. Open, forward nose showcases spicy red berry and underbrush aromas. Soft, supple darker fruit flavors are complemented by notes of underbrush and minerals. Finishes with polished tannins and a stony overlay, but currently comes across as a little simple.

TAST

/ 100

par Bettane & Desseauve le 30/04/2012

Encore un échantillon pas vraiment caractéristique de ce cru qui ne se présente jamais à son mieux à cette période : on sent une vinification précise et un potentiel indiscutable mais pas encore la présence véritable du terroir. Il n'a hélas pas été possible de passer au château déguster d'autres échantillons.
Echantillon non notable/20

Wein Wisser

18 / 20

par René Gabriel le 30/04/2012

Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Delikates, reifes Bouquet, das nach schwarzen Kirschen duftet, Zderntouch, dezent florale Cabernet-Würze. Eleganter, saftiger Gaumen mit sehr feinen, dicht gegliederten Tanninen, zeigt hier auch Lakritze und schwarze Oliven, im langen Finale Heidelbeeren und Black Currant. Letztes Jahr bin ich fast verzweifelt und konnte es einfach nicht begreifen, dass der 2010er nicht überzeugen konnte. Heuer ist dies wieder fraglos der Fall. Er wird billiger sein als alle drei Léovilles, ist aber auf gleichem Niveau. Fazit: Kaufen! 2020-2048

Decanter.com

17 / 20

le 30/04/2012

Rich, supple, slightly spicy fruit, attractive touch of oak, seductively forward but will age well. Drink 2015-2025.

Wine Advocate

89-91 / 100

par Robert Parker le 30/04/2012

I would have rated the 2011 Gruaud Larose slightly higher if it had not been for the abundant, dry, slightly astringent tannins in the finish. Nevertheless, there is a lot to like about this plum/purple-tinged St.-Julien. Notes of unsmoked, high quality cigar tobacco are intertwined with plum, black currant and dusty, earthy, loamy soil characteristics. The wine reveals good richness, medium body and a structured, somewhat formidable level of tannin that needs to melt away before this 2011 can be fully enjoyed. Give it 2-5 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades.

Wine Advocate

89-91 / 100

par Neal Martin le 27/04/2012

The 2011 Gruaud Larose is a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc (no Petit Verdot this year) picked from 14th September with the Merlot and finishing with the Cabernet on the 28th. It has 13.05% alcohol and an IPT of 74 and is being aged in 40% new oak. Tasted three times including at the property, it has a rounded bouquet with ripe blackcurrant aromas that is missing a little depth and has a metallic tincture. The palate is medium-bodied with a soft entry. It is a more feminine take on Gruaud, perhaps missing a little backbone and structure, but it displays fine purity and sweetness towards the finish. I am just looking for a little tension and precision. Tasted April 2012

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-93 / 100

par Jeff Leve le 27/04/2012

Medium/full-bodied, with crisp, fresh cassis, earth, spice and gravel, the wine ends with a tannic crème de cassis finish that requires age to develop. 91-92 Pts

Asian Palate

91-92 / 100

par Jeannie Cho Lee MW le 20/04/2012

As usual, Gruaud Larose offers freshness, finesse and elegance even in a tannic vintage like 2011. Very pretty floral notes with violets, cedar and spices in the finish. Great work and selection in the vineyard. Fairly long finish.

Jancis Robinson

15,5 / 20

par Julia Harding MW le 18/04/2012

Drink 2017-2026
Deep dark cherry and inky core. Oak and cassis vie for dominance on the nose and there's perhaps a note of brett here too giving hardness on the palate. Some char and chocolate. Nice freshness but the tannins are a bit thick and the whole is rather hard work. (JH)

Wine Spectator

90-93 / 100

par James Molesworth le 10/04/2012

A stony, slightly austere style, showing iron and steeped red currant fruit, with bitter cherry notes running through the finish. There's a slightly rustic edge, but also solid concentration.—J.M.

Wine Spectator

92-94 / 100

par James Molesworth le 04/04/2012

While the wine does have firm tannins, these are layered with open, ripe fruits. There are blackberry flavors, and the wine shows good acidity and a firm finish. —R.V

Jamessuckling.com

92-93 / 100

par James Suckling le 01/04/2012

A very harmonious wine for the vintage with currants, spices and stones. Full body, with ultra fine tannins and a pretty finish. Delicate yet structured for the vintage.