2008 Gruaud Larose
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Tasting notes
The 2008 Gruaud Larose has a nose similar to the previous bottle, with tobacco and bay leaf mixed with cedar scents, as I mentioned before, almost Saint-Estèphe in character. The palate is medium-bodied with firmer, more rigid tannins than before, though well balanced with a dash of white pepper. There’s just a bit more grip than previous bottles have demonstrated. This Gruaud Larose is drinking perfectly now. In many ways, it's a classic claret, but I am not convinced it will repay continued cellaring. Tasted at the Gruaud Larose vertical at the château in February 2023.
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Wine Spectator
More reviews and scores
57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc. Brick hue. Relatively reserved on the nose with just a hint of leafy, dark fruit. Palate round and juicy with a stony, mineral edge. Not massive structure but the tannins are more polished and refined. Altogether, a bit more precision and appeal. (JL)
The 2008 Gruaud Larose has a rather conservative bouquet with earthy red berry fruit, cedar and bay leaf aromas. Like previous bottles there is something almost Saint-Estèphe-like about the aromatics. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannins, plenty of brown spices here with a rather forward, open-knit finish that suggests this is not a long-term proposition. I wonder if this has got the horsepower to last another ten years? Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 10-Year On tasting.
About the producer
Ch. Gruaud Larose is a Second Growth estate in Saint-Julien, Bordeaux. It is often considered one of the best-value Left Bank estates, with the wines occasionally matching those of the First Growths.