Château Gruaud Larose - Saint-Julien 2007 b5952cb1c3ab96cb3c8c63cfb3dccaca

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

88 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe8/30/2010

Ruby-red. Rather wild aromas of cassis, game, roast coffee, dried flowers, dried herbs and dark chocolate. Sweet and fairly round if a bit youthfully tight, with good power and thrust to its fla vors of currant, herbs, leather and game. The tannins began sweet but showed a slight dryness with aeration.

Wine Advocate

86 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2010

Herbaceous, meaty, sweaty saddle leather notes along with plum and black currant fruit are present in this mid-weight St.-Julien. There are also some raspy tannins in the finish. Drink it earlier rather than later because of the potential for it to dry out....

Wine Spectator

90 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/31/2010

Wonderful aromas of ripe berries, plum and spices follow through to a full body, with round, velvety tannins and a long finish. All there for the vintage. Well done. Best after 2013.

Jancis Robinson

16 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe10/27/2009

Light crimson. Something a little farmyardy on the nose. Pretty light (cf Branaire's solidity) and sweet and easy. Not especially ambitious. Drink 2010-16

Wine Advocate

87 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/1/2009

This has a light nose of blackberry leaf, green leaves, sous-bois and a touch of smoke. It does lack some vigour and fruit intensity. A soft entry on the medium-bodied palate, clean fruit, nicely balanced with good acidity although a little lean towards the fleshy finish. Perhaps it lacks a little backbone? Fresh on the cedar and blackberry finish with subtle use of oak. What you might call quite “classic” in style. Light and feminine. Drink 2012-2018. Tasted September 2008.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

87-89 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe6/30/2008

a blend of 71% cabernet sauvignon, 21% merlot, 6% petit verdot and 2% cabernet franc) Bright ruby-red. High-pitched aromas of camphor, herbs and flowers, with hints of leather and smoke but less of the animal character of past vintages. Moderately dense, plump berry and spice flavors are accompanied by some minerality and a rather cool minty, peppery element that gives the back end a slight tightness. Not particularly complex or sweet today but finishes with good persistence and supple tannins. This year's grand vin reflects a relatively strict 36% selection.

Falstaff

88-90 / 100

the6/30/2008

Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, jugendliche Reflexe, violetter Rand. In der Nase intensive Schokonote, mit etwas Dörrobst unterlegt, Nuancen von Orangenzesten, Gewürznelken. Am Gaumen elegant, saftige Zwetsckenfrucht, gut integrierte Tannine, feine Kirschenfrucht, bereits sehr zugänglich, bereitet einiges Trinkvergnügen.

Le Point

16 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/15/2008

Epicé, rose fanée, bouche bien parfumée, souple, ronde, moelleuse, tannique mais fondue. vin long, pas trop extrait, beaucoup de fruit, bien dans l'esprit du millésime.

Wine Advocate

87-90 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/5/2008

WeinWisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/2/2008

Wine Advocate

89-91 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/18/2008

A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot and no Malbec with 50% malolactic in new barrels. It has a lighter but well defined nose with a lifted cedar component complemented by blackberries and wild hedgerow. The palate is medium-bodied with a slight sappy feel to it, saturated tannins, not as complicated as other Saint Julien wines, but it is undeniably drinkable – a “delicious” Saint Julien with a slight saltiness on the finish. Fine. Tasted April 2008.

Jancis Robinson

16 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/16/2008

Dark crimson. Serious nose (Julia found the meatiness almost brett-y) and quite gentle black fruits on the palate. Pretty dry finish after rather a sweet start. A fruity core.

Wine Spectator

88-91 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/31/2008

Soft and round, with lovely texture. Medium- to full-bodied, with berry, currant and chocolate flavors and a long, caressing finish. Delicious already. —J.S.