CHÂTEAU GRUAUD LAROSE

1996 2ème Cru Classé Saint Julien

Grapes Merlot, Cab Franc, Cab Sauv
Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Sub-district Haut Médoc
Village Saint Julien
Classification 2ème Cru Classé
ABV 12.5%

Dark and dense. Very Cabernet nose - almost medicinal in its herby/fresh nose, but not very expressive. The palate gives rather more, though it has the dense gravelly mouth feel typical of Gruaud, concentrated compact and firmly tannic. A serious complete wine. L&S (Mar 2005)


Alternatively, we may well have some bottles in one of our shops - why not give us a call on 0207 244 0522 or send an email to: sales@leaandsandeman.co.uk.

Or, check the RELATED PRODUCTS below for different vintages or wines of a similar style.


Decanted immediately on opening, because this remains firmly structured even at 25 years old, and feels a good number of years younger than the 1995. Once the oxygen softens things up, the autmnal but still-juicy cassis and bilberry fruits begin to spiral out of the glass. There is tobacco and smoked earth here, alongside clear black truffles, olive tapenade, flavours that indicate a high quality vintage that favoured Cabernet Sauvignon. Still fairly upright and strict, give it time in a carafe to ensure the tannins become supple enough to let the beauty of this wine out, but don't feel you need to wait too long - there is real beauty here. Harvest September 20 to October 10, 35% new oak. Drinking range: 2021 - 2036 Rating: 96 Jane Anson, Decanter (Nov 2021)

First tasted blind in April 2002 when the nose soared from the glass with notes of ripe cranberry and liquorice. Quite refined and elegant, but with a chewy finish. Another bottle at the Gruaud vertical was very impressive. A deep garnet core with dark ruby rim. A dense liquoricey nose with notes of blueberry that needs aeration in the glass to show its character. The palate has a dense core of ripe Cabernet, a little tough this time with notes of burnt toast and cigar-box. Very typical of the vintage: broody and masculine. Traditional claret. Impressive. Needs another 5-8 years. (92-94) Last tasted blind and a frustratingly different bottle, much less opulent in style. A lifted smokey, tobacco nose. Leafy. Very classic with good definition. The palate has layers of sweet red fruits, strawberry and cherry. Feminine, lifted but lacking real weight. Very linear on the finish but good grip. Leave for 3-4 years. (86) although on reflection that was a bit mean! Tasted September 2006. Rating: 92-94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2016)

(64% cabernet sauvignon, 26% merlot, 7% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot; IPT 74; 13% alcohol): Dark ruby. Deep, brooding nose hints at dark plum, blackcurrant, coffee and lavender accented by cinnamon and nutmeg. Enters bright and fresh, then turns richer in the middle, with accessible plum, herb and coffee flavors persisting nicely on the peppery finish, which features chewy tannins. This is at once more herbal and more forward than the 1995. It's also better than I remember it, and although still quite young it offers plenty of appeal. The wine's harmonious acidity makes it seem lighter-bodied than it is. About 40% of the malolactic fermentation was carried out in barriques, compared to a normal one-third. Note that the label states 12.5% alcohol, but the data given to me by the estate shows 13% alcohol. Rating: 91 Ian d'Agata, www.vinousmedia.com (Apr 2013)

Château Gruaud Larose

St Julien Deuxième cru 1855 The story of Château Gruaud Larose starts with Joseph Stanislas Gruaud who developed the estate in the early 18th Century. Two of his descendents ended up with different halves of the Gruaud estate until, in 1778, Chevalier de Gruaud died and left his portion to his son-in-law Joseph Sébastien de la Rose who immediately appended his name to the estate. Gruaud-Larose was split further in 1867, with Château Gruaud-Larose-Sarget and Château Gruaud-Larose-Faure being seperate until 1935 when the Cordier family, who'd bought the Sarget half in 1919, bought Gruaud-Larose-Faure and put the old estate back together again. Ownership by the Cordiers, and the association with other similarly labelled wines in the portfolio - Talbot, Meyney - kept Château Gruaud Larose as a consistent favourite among Bordeaux lovers. Gruaud-Larose is now owned by the Taillan Group. There are 82ha of vineyard, just to the south west of Beychevelle - 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. A second wine was introduced in 1979 - Sarget de Gruaud-Larose. Gruaud-Larose is among the fuller-bodied styles of St Julien, producing consistently good wines and, whilst the crown of "best estate in St Julien" sits with Leoville Las Cases, the wines of Gruaud-Larose are always worth following.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
  • For full delivery details see our Delivery page.
  • We offer free nationwide* delivery for all orders over £150 with our own vans. We also offer an express delivery service for an additional charge.
  • Order & Collect from any of our 5 London shops. Order by Midnight for collection the next working day from 11am.
  • Private wine storage: we offer a full In Bond and Duty Paid private wine storage service - find out more here.

ORDER     COLLECT

ORDER ONLINE AND COLLECT FROM ONE OF OUR SHOPS