Chateau Gruaud Larose 2020

Château Gruaud Larose is a prestigious Saint-Julien Grand Cru Classé renowned for its depth, structure, and longevity. Aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, cedar, graphite, cigar box, and baking spices lead to a concentrated palate with firm yet polished tannins and an exceptionally long, elegant finish.

Food Pairing: Pair with grilled ribeye, roast lamb, venison, duck breast, braised short ribs, or aged Comté for a classic Bordeaux dining experience.

96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck

Coming from the talented Virginie Salette (the head winemaker since 2017) and tiny yields of 32 hectoliters per hectare, the 2020 Château Gruaud Larose is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc, which continues the trend at this estate toward more and more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Beautifully done, with a terrific sense of finesse, it offers a great nose of both red and black fruit as well as leafy tobacco, spring flowers, licorice, and spicy oak. Pure, medium- to full-bodied, and wonderfully balanced, with fine tannins, it shows the focused, inward, almost understated style of the vintage without any rusticity or austerity. It needs a solid 7–8 years of bottle age, if not a decade, and is going to be very long-lived. Bravo. Best after 2030.

96 Points - James Suckling

A lovely softness and texture to this wine with a medium- to full-bodied palate, plenty of fruit and fine velvety tannins. It’s lovely to taste now and will age beautifully. Really seductive. Hard not to drink now, but one for the cellar. Best to try after 2025.

96 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

A serious, more obviously structured effort than the suave 2019, the 2020 Château Gruaud Larose opens in the glass with aromas of black currants and blackberries mingled with subtle hints of burning embers, pencil shavings and violets framed by a deft touch of classy new oak. Medium- to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with rich, powdery tannins and vibrant fruit flavors, it concludes with an impressively penetrating finish. However, it appears likely to require patience. Best after 2030.

95 Points - Wine Spectator

Rock-solid, with a core of dark plum, boysenberry and blackberry compote flavors held together with cedar, savory, tobacco and singed apple wood notes that add texture and energy through the finish. Built for the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2030 through 2040.

90 Points - Decanter

The tannins make their presence felt from the first moments, giving both depth and spice but also a certain constriction. This is not a year for exuberant second wines in Saint-Julien—there are well-framed black fruits, some fresh Saint-Julien balance, but a little sombre overall. 60% of overall production. Cabernet Franc (3%) completes the blend.