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A Vertical Tasting of Château Gruaud-Larose: The King of Wines The Wine of Kings
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A Vertical Tasting of Château Gruaud-Larose: The King of Wines The Wine of Kings
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Tuesday December 9, 2008 |
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Speaker: Harriet Lembeck, Wine Educator, President of Wine & Spirits Program
Château Gruaud-Larose is one of the most continuously successful wines produced in Bordeaux. Its’ large production has a quality that is consistently very high, regardless of vintage. The wine is one of St-Julien`s most full-bodied and long-lived wines with lots of fruit when young. The wine ages very well and tends to be smoother and more elegant with all the characteristics of great Bordeaux. As a Second Growth, Cru Classé property, Château Gruaud-Larose has often been described as a super-second, placing it in with the group of Deuxième Cru Classé properties that challenge the elite Premier Cru Classé estates for supremacy in Bordeaux. We tasted 12 wines.
Two votes for favorite from Flight I, one vote for favorite from Flight II, and one vote for favorite from Flight III. 1979 was the favorite of Flight I and 1978 placed second. 1985 was the favorite of Flight II and 1966 was the favorite of Flight III. Prices are median New York area prices found on the web. It was an amazing tasting of Chateau Gruaud Larose wines which justified its description as “the King of Wines”.
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| Chateau Gruaud-Larose |
Votes |
Full Retail Price $ |
| Flight I |
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1975
Classic Bordeaux nose, clear rim, little tannin, high acidity, balanced. Great concentration. |
2 |
$125.00 |
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1978
Brick color, browner. Earthy fruit, smoky note, youthful, herbal, eucalyptus, little tannin, soft. Placed second in this flight. |
9 |
$120.00 |
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1979
Classic Bordeaux. Roses, flowers, mint on nose, Dense, concentrated fruit, rich, balanced. Wow. The favorite of the flight. |
15 |
$80.00 |
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1981
Hot summer. Smoky note, more wood, more acidity, Sweet fruit, not tart. A little tannin. Elegant. |
8 |
$85.00 |
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1983
Quiet floral nose, big concentrated fruit, seems older, dense, no tannin. |
5 |
$105.00 |
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1987
Lighter color, more tannin, mineral, new oak- vanilla, butter/ caramel, eucalyptus. Elegant. Pretty wine.
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4 |
$85.00 |
| Flight II |
Votes |
Full Retail Price $ |
1985
Good color. Dark and dense, fruity, balanced, lovely, ripe, powerful, lots of stuffing. Showing well. Drink till 2020. The favorite of this flight. |
16 |
$160.00 |
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1988
Youthful, fresh forward fruit. Balanced, forward fruit, alcohol, concentrated tannin. |
2 |
$95.00 |
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1989
Oxidized. Loose cork. Like sherry. |
0 |
$180.00 |
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1990
Dense, dark color, purple. No rim. Dried figs in nose, Concentrated dried fruit, youthful, young.
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3 |
$199.00 |
| Flight III |
Votes |
Full Retail Price $ |
1966
Big nose, some clear rim, youthful, good nose but different. Shows tannin and acidity, good fruit, alive.
The favorite of this flight. |
18 |
$130.00 |
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1961
Swampy, old, but tastes better than the nose imparts. Loose cork. Drinkable.
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1 |
$600.00 |
| Top |
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