Gruaud Larose - Saint-Julien 1989

Wine Spectator

92 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/28/2005

This has lovely lead pencil and berry character, with hints of tobacco. Medium body, with fine tannins and fresh finish. Still in a holding pattern. Delicious now. '89/'90 Bordeaux non-blind horizontal. Drink now.

Wine Advocate

89 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/28/1997

In this blind tasting, the 1989 Gruaud-Larose was corked, but a bottle secured through a friend and tasted under non-blind circumstances was excellent, nearly outstanding. The herbal side of Gruaud-Larose was more noticeable in the 1989. The wine revealed a deep ruby/purple color (but not the opaqueness of the 1990), more obvious tannin, without the mid-palate and sweet inner-core of fruit exhibited by the 1990. It is a big, tannic, spicy wine, with plenty of potential, but not the sweetness and chewy texture of the 1990. The 1989 needs more time to shed its cloak of tannin; give it 5-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 20+ years.

Wine Advocate

88 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe8/31/1993

The dark ruby-colored 1989 Gruaud-Larose is tannic and closed. It exhibits good extraction of flavor, with closed, herbal, earthy, berry scents and flavors. Backward for the vintage, it may evolve for 20-30 years, but does it possess the depth of fruit necessary to stand up to the tannin? Anticipated maturity: 2000-2025. Last tasted, 5/93.

Wine Advocate

88 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/28/1993

In 1989 Gruaud-Larose produced another tannic, nearly impenetrable wine. Medium ruby/purple in color, ferociously tannic, but deep and backward, this vintage of Gruaud may evolve for 20-30 years, but does it have the requisite depth of fruit to balance out the tannins? This wine could well behave similarly to the stubbornly tannic, still charmless 1975. A wine to purchase for your grandchildren? Anticipated maturity: 2000-2025.

Wine Advocate

88 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/1992

Gruaud-Larose has produced another tannic, nearly impenetrable wine. While the chateau calls it a "1982, only superior," I did not think it to be as concentrated as either the 1982 or, for that matter, the 1986. Medium ruby/purple in color, ferociously tannic, but deep and backward, this vintage of Gruaud may evolve for 20-30 years, but does it have the requisite depth of fruit to balance out the tannins. This wine could well behave similarly to the stubbornly tannic, still charmless 1975. A wine to purchase for your grandchildren? I remain a bit nervous about this vintage of Gruaud. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2025. Tasted seven times. Inconsistent notes.