Chateau Gruaud Larose 2018

JEB DUNNUCK: "Based on 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Château Gruaud Larose sports a dense purple hue as well as a stunning nose of pure crème de cassis, cedar pencil shavings, blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, and a liquid rock-like sense of minerality. This dense, almost broodingly backward, concentrated Saint-Julien has flawless balance, a remarkable sense of purity, masses of tannins, and one hell of a great finish. Seemingly almost from a more austere year (say 2000 or 2010), it's not going to hit maturity for at least a decade and should cruise in cold cellars for 20-30 years. It's a brilliant wine!"

FALSTAFF: "Sehr dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Süße Gewürznuancen, schwarze Beerenfrucht, zart nach Lakritze und Edelholz, reife Herzkirschen sind unterlegt. Komplex, saftig, extraktsüße Textur, feine, reife Tannine, merklicher Cabernet-Franc-Anteil, gute Frische und mineralische Länge, bleibt lange haften, sicheres Zukunftspotenzial für viele Jahre. (2020–2050)"

JAMES SUCKLING: "Aromas of currants, blackberries, dried flowers, dark chocolate and tobacco leaves. Citrus zest, too. It’s full-bodied with firm, ultra fine tannins. Complex and layered with a juicy core of ripe fruit. Silky and delicious. Very creamy and fine-tannined. Better from 2025."

WEINWISSER: "Sattes Purpur mit opaker Mitte und rubinrotem Rand. Vielschichtiges Bouquet mit Wildkirschen, edler Cassiswürze und zartem Veilchenparfüm. Im zweiten Ansatz dunkles Schokomousse, Holundersaft und heller Tabak. Am druckvollen Gaumen mit weicher Textur, fein körnigem Extrakt, engmaschigem Tanningerüst und muskulösem Körper. Im gebündelten Finale verschlankt sich der St.-Julien zuerst und endet in einem langen Crescendo mit schwarzbeerigen Konturen, dunklem Edelholz und tiefschürfender Mineralik. Für die nächst höhere Wertung reicht es dieses Mal (noch) nicht!"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Round, plush, soft and full-bodied, the wine offers good richness, layers of ripe, currants, cherries and plums. There is depth and complexity with a touch of stone in the elegant, luxurious finish. Clearly Gruaud Larose is back on target. The wine was made from blending 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "A densely textured and rich wine, this has power and concentration. Smoky tannins show strongly as well as juicy black-currant fruits that are still young. The wine, with its structure, is just starting on a journey to aging. Drink from 2027."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This has a bit of polish to its mix of cassis, crushed plum and blackberry fruit flavors before a wave of bittersweet cocoa, tobacco, and iron score the finish. But while muscular and grippy in the end, there's ample freshness here throughout. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2036."

DECANTER: "Here the tannins are pretty hefty, matched by deep brambly black cherry notes. Good-quality with slate, cigar, chocolate, earth and black pepper spice through the mid-palate. Not as elegant at this stage as some St-Julien in the vintage but this has a long life ahead and is full of promise. Drinking Window 2026 - 2040"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Composed of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Gruaud Larose has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It comes barreling out of the glass with powerful scents of blackberry preserves, baked plums and crème de cassis plus hints of fruitcake, Indian spices and tobacco leaf. The medium to full-bodied palate offers bags of baked berries flavors and a chewy texture with just enough freshness, finishing spicy. Judging by the slightly rustic tannins and suggestions of dried berry characters, I'm guessing the heat and drought had an impact this year. This said, the wine is very well crafted and delicious right now, although a good 3-4 years in bottle should soften the tannins and bring out further nuances."