Ch.Gruaud Larose 1998 750ml

Wine Advocate #134, Apr 23, 2001 by Robert Parker Jr
Gruaud-Larose has fashioned an elegant, less rustic wine than previous vintages. The color is a healthy dark ruby/purple. The bouquet offers aromas of plums, black raspberries, and cassis. Stylish, with medium to full body, sweet tannin, and excellent purity as well as overall symmetry, it will drink well between 2004-2016.

Gruaud gets its inspiration from the soil, the tannins and the terroir. Larose brings poetry, aromas and bouquet. So could Abbe Gruaud have described his wine, a wine full of Elegance and Force. Chateau Gruaud Larose is different from other wines. Abbe Gruaud wanted it subtle, racy, comparable to the most beautiful artworks in the world. Year after year, we continue his work. Always timid and reserved when young, a Gruaud Larose slowly reveals its character. Sometimes showing a capricious nature, it decides one day to express its Force and then another day to reveal its Elegance. One says that it "is very Larose" when it is young, elegant and charmer. But this Larose hides a power that only faithful friends can feel. At the first approach, you feel charmed and wish to meet again to better know and discover its personality. Further talks and exchanges and then the wine tells you more about itself, it is like a revelation. Only at this point, you can perfectly perceive that the underlining and structuring force, due to a traditional and rigorous education, becomes elegance and refinement. Then, at its most beautiful age, the wine becomes poetry. Suddenly aromas and bouquet, the strong identity of both soil, tannins and terroir seem eternal like for the 1870 vintage.

Meats, Lamb