Château Gruaud Larose - Saint-Julien 2006 b5952cb1c3ab96cb3c8c63cfb3dccaca

Wine Advocate

88 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/31/2016

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London. The 2006 Château Gruaud Larose can be a divisive wine. At ten years of age, it shows some inertia on the nose: sultry blackberry and briary fruit, nicely defined but lacking what I call "flow." The palate is medium-bodied with dusty tannin, rather rustic red berry fruit laced with sandalwood and tar, fading a little towards the soft, easy-going finish. Not bad...but I have encountered many superior wines from this Saint Julien estate. Tasted January 2016.

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe1/27/2010

Very dark and brooding. Fresh and fragrant. Quite light but very smooth and delicate and suave and dancing. Lovely already! Very St-Julien. A bit tart on the finish but overall a very good 2006. Drink 2012-2020

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

88-90 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe4/23/2009

A blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 5% cabernet franc, 3% petit verdot and 2% malbec. Spicy black fruits, game, leather and dark chocolate on the nose. Big, rich, chocolately and deep, but quite primary, with a slightly bitter, raw character at this point. A bit chunky but not heavy (the alcohol is a moderate 12,8%), as there's no shortage of juicy acidity. Finishes with notes of chocolate, game, tar and violet.

Wine Advocate

89 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/1/2009

The Gruaud Larose 2006 has a rather sullen nose with a lot of Cabernet dominating the nose lending it a lot of tobacco/cigar box character, though there is some greenness coming through. The palate has more fruit concentration than the 2007, good structure and acidity, ripe red-berried fruits with cranberry and briary, very crisp on the finish that has a hint of burnt toast on the aftertaste. Perhaps not a long-term prospect but very well balanced, though there is some under-ripeness on the finish. The bottom line is that this is not a great Gruaud Larose by a long chalk, but it does have a wily charm. Drink 2012-2018. Tasted September 2008.

Wine Spectator

90 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/31/2009

Shows plum and raspberry aromas, with hints of flowers. Full-bodied, with super well-integrated tannins and pretty fruit on the middle palate. All there in balance and finesse. Best after 2013.

Wine Advocate

84 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/1/2009

The significant rainfall during late September clearly had a noticeable impact on this 2006, which perhaps lacks “selection” as the French say. There is an element of dilution in this cuvee, and I would never recognize it as a Gruaud Larose except for the label. Dark ruby with a light pink rim, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, and round revealing roasted herb, sweet cherry, and currant flavors. For its prestige and pedigree, it is one of the most disappointing St.-Juliens I tasted.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

89-90 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe6/30/2008

Moderately saturated red-ruby. Currant and plum aromas along with strong cedary oak. Juicy, minerally and sweet, with very good energy to the subtly intense fruit and nutty oak flavors. Finishes with firm tannins and lovely persistence. The ultimate blend here contains a considerably higher percentage of cabernet franc (11%) than did the sample presented to me last spring, and this has given the wine a light touch and more perfume.

La Revue du Vin de France

16-17 / 20

the7/6/2007

Elaboré dans un style très classique, ce vin racé et profond et une essence de Saint-Julien. Son nez mêle des notes de fruits noirs, d'épices et de tabac. La bouche est serrée et distinguée, avecune belle allonge. Léger mordant en finale.

Decanter Magazine

16 / 20

the6/30/2007

Deep colour, quite meaty, almost sweet, concentrated fruit, floral elements but still a little rough and raw. 2013-20 16+

Falstaff

89-91 / 100

the5/24/2007

Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, jugendliche Reflexe, violetter Rand. In der Nase feine dunkle Beerenfrucht, zart nach Honig, etwas Schoko, Cassis. Einladendes Bukett. Am Gaumen saftig, dunkle Weichsel-Kirsch-Frucht, gut integrierte Tannine, zarter Schokonachhall, gute Länge, gute Frische, bleibt gut haften, hat Entwicklungspotenzial.

WeinWisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/7/2007

2019-2050

TAST

16.50 / 20

the4/30/2007

On n’est pas au même niveau de perfection et de précision dans la définition des arômes et du terroir qu’avec les Léoville ou Ducru, mais le vin possède incontestablement la puissance et l’énergie de l’année, mais plus brut de décoffrage, sur la réduction liée à la fin de la vie fermentaire. Attendre l’affinement en barrique.

Vinum

16.50 / 20

the4/30/2007

Herb, kantig, robustes Tannin und - nach Belüftunh - verblüffendes aromatisches Potenzial. Klassischer, stimmiger Gruaud. 2014 bis 2020

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/15/2007

Tasted at the UGC where it was rather ostentatious with dark chocolate and a slight tinny note on the mid-palate that I rated 90/100. Fortunately I was able to re-taste in London in quieter surroundings mid-April. A fragrant nose that is fleshy and ripe with blackberry, cassis and wild hedgerow. It could do with perhaps a little more precision and clarity. The medium-bodied palate is much more harmonious and focused than the one shown in Bordeaux, supple in texture with rounded black fruits. Tight and linear on the finish with a touch of burnt toast, this will be a very fine Gruaud Larose, but it will need 5 or 6-years to meld together. No Malbec this year by the way.

Wine Enthusiast

91-93 / 100

the4/15/2007

Dominated initially by its tannins, this wine shows great fresh black fruits which come through the solid structure. Finely balanced. —R.V.

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/11/2007

Blackish crimson. Zesty nose with the merest hint of oak. Well put together even if embryonic – super smooth and easy and there is absolutely nothing for anyone to object to even if no-one would go to bed dreaming of this wine. I am churlish to even voice a hint of complaint. Very well done, if slightly bureaucratic.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

15.75-16 / 20

the4/11/2007

Très belle couleur. Nez intense, fruité et finement toasté. L'entrée en bouche est très volumineuse et le vin se développe tout en rondeur, sur des tanins finement extraits. En finale ressort une note un peu vive, le corps chute un peu, mais les arômes sont très persistants. L'élevage en dira plus.

Wine Spectator

89-91 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/29/2007

Velvety and fruity. Lots of mineral and berry character. I would like to see a little more fruit in the center palate, but it's clean and racy. And it should grow in the barrel. Better than the 2005. Close to 92-94.