Gruaud Larose - Saint-Julien 2015

Vinous

92

byNeal Martinthe7/16/2025

The 2015 Gruaud Larose has an expressive nose, with mainly red fruit (raspberry and cranberry) mixed with cedar and light graphite scents. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. This is fleshy compared to its peers and lightly spiced with a harmonious, very Saint-Julien finish. Recommended and at 13% alcohol, this is lower than many other Grand Cru Classé. Tasted blind at the 2015 Bordeaux Ten-Year-On tasting at Farr Vintners.

Vinous

92

byNeal Martinthe4/2/2024

The 2015 Gruaud Larose is more luxurious on the nose than the previous vintage, with more red than black fruit, slightly medicinal and confit-like, wild strawberry and licorice, and later, touches of incense. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. This is more concentrated than the 2014, with a fine backbone, fresh and saline with a gentle grip towards the finish, and touches of cedar and graphite that linger on the aftertaste. This is just beginning to "motor". Tasted at the Gruaud Larose vertical at the château in February 2023.

Vinous

91

byNeal Martinthe7/10/2019

The 2015 Gruaud Larose has a perfumed and floral bouquet of raspberry coulis and crushed strawberry, well defined if not the most complex among its peers. It has certainly opened up in recent months. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin, touches of espresso lacing the red berry fruit. Just a slightly lactic finish detracts from overall delineation. I suspect that there will be improvement - it just needs time to settle. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

Wine Advocate

92

byNeal Martinthe3/2/2018

The 2015 Gruaud Larose has a clean and precise bouquet, a little more sophisticated than it showed out of barrel. It seems to have manifested greater mineralité and delineation that enhances the vivid blackberry and bilberry fruit infused with cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannin, blackberry infused with graphite and cedar that render this Gruaud Larose almost Pauillac in style. No, it does not provide that killer blow on the finish, preferring to remain quite linear and taut (unlike the 2016 that may prove to be superior). Yet this shows careful, judicious winemaking and it may continue to improve in bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2022 - 2050. 

Vinous

93

byAntonio Gallonithe2/27/2018

Dark, powerful and brooding, the 2015 Gruaud-Larose is a real bruiser. Iron, gravel, smoke, mocha and licorice wrap around a core of intense dark fruit, all with a backbone of big, rustic tannins that give the wine its shape. The 2015 needs a good few years to come together. There is certainly no shortage of personality or character.

Wine Advocate

93

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe2/22/2018

Medium garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Gruaud Larose simply sparkles with bright, vibrant red cherries, ripe raspberries and fresh black currants notes with underlying suggestions of cinnamon stick, rose petals, fallen leaves and dried Provence herbs. Medium to full-bodied and possessing tightly wound red and black fruits layers intermingled with spicy accents, it has a firm, grainy frame and great vivacity, finishing long and perfumed. I'm probably being too conservative with my score here and expect this could blossom in 4-6 years into an even more impressive beauty!

Wine Spectator

92

byJames Molesworththe2/15/2018

This has a serious graphite spine, along with beautiful beams of black currant, bitter plum and blackberry paste flavors. Dried anise, black tea and licorice snap notes lurk in the background. The finish is long and gilded with a violet accent. Best from 2021 through 2035. 13,343 cases made.  –JM

Jamessuckling.com

95

byJames Sucklingthe2/12/2018

Concentrated and elegant with a great harmony of dry tannins and ripeness (but no hint of overripeness), this has a long finish with a lot of drive and enormous freshness. You could drink this now with red meat, but it’s got decades ahead of it.

Decanter.com

94

byJane Ansonthe1/26/2018

Excellent depth and complexity of fruit on the attack, with just a touch of austerity as it travels through the palate. After a few minutes, the fleshy fruit aromatics break though. This is elegant and balanced, a classic, old-school St-Julien. 80% new oak.

Jancis Robinson

17,5

byJulia Harding MWthe11/8/2017

Rather heady, superior nose. Layers here. Very juicy and appealing. Good lifted, non-exaggerated stuff. Still very youthful.

The Wine Cellar Insider

90-92

byJeff Levethe4/30/2016

With a medium body and on the bright, red berry side of the style range with cedar and cigar box notes adding complexity, there is a freshness to the fruit, but it is on the lighter side for the vintage.

Wine Advocate

90-92

byNeal Martinthe4/29/2016

The 2015 Gruaud Larose is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, picked from 21 September. It has a rather conservative bouquet, reticent at first, gradually unfolding with truffle-tinged black fruit, the oak nicely integrated but perhaps needing a little more energy. The palate is ripe and rounded on the entry, fleshier than many of its Saint Julien counterparts, quite sumptuous in terms of mouthfeel with a suave texture. There is a sense of linearity here, a strictness that particularly comes through on the finish. The purity is commendable and the tannin, fine, but what it needs is that final flourish. It just misses that killer blow on the finish and saunters to its conclusion. I hope that it gains more in barrel.

Decanter.com

94

bySteven Spurrierthe4/27/2016

Very fine florality and purity on first impression – less of the meatiness of past vintages. The classic Gruaud-Larose smoothness is there along with added precision. Great attention to detail; a very fine claret. 2021-2045

timatkin.com

95

byTim Atkin MWthe4/20/2016

Jancis Robinson

17

byJancis Robinsonthe4/18/2016

Mid crimson. Mild, well-balanced nose. Ripe but not overripe. Neat and confident. A good expression of a charming accessible vintage. Neat and comfortable. Drink 2024-2038

Wine Enthusiast

92-94

byRoger Vossthe4/15/2016

Barrel Sample. Red-berry driven, this wine is fresh in character, with a stream of acidity counterbalanced by structured tannins. 93 points

Jamessuckling.com

93-94

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2016

A velvety and flavorful red with dusty tannins and lots of ripe fruit. It remains fresh and balanced. Harmonious. Excited to see it develop in barrel.

Wine Spectator

88-91

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2016

Nicely focused, with a beam of red and black currant fruit inlaid with subtle spice notes and carried by velvety tannins. A little shy on range, but this is solidly built.—J.M.