Chateau Gruaud Larose   Chateau Gruaud Larose

1995 Chateau Gruaud-Larose

By Chateau Gruaud-Larose

1995 Chateau Gruaud-Larose from Chateau Gruaud-Larose, St-Julien, Bordeaux

In the firmament of Bordeaux's elite, the 1995 Chateau Gruaud-Larose from Chateau Gruaud-Larose is a constellation that illuminates the remarkable qualities of St-Julien's terroir. This vintage, conditioned by a year that challenged the vigneron’s resilience with its caprice, has evolved into a fascinating narrative in a bottle.

 

A Testament to Time: The Elegance of Maturation

To appreciate the 1995 Chateau Gruaud-Larose is to understand its journey through time. Crafted in a year that initially presented meteorological fickleness before bestowing an Indian summer, this wine has gracefully transitioned from its muscular youth into a period of refinement and nuanced complexity that only a quarter-century of patience can afford.

The harmonious interplay between ripe cassis and blackberry with the emergent tertiary notes of forest floor, tobacco, and hints of leather creates a tapestry for the connoisseur's palate. Subtle traces of well-integrated oak embellish the ensemble with whispers of sweet spice and vanilla, rounding out a profile that is profoundly sophisticated yet unassumingly accessible to its audience.

 

An Investment in Liquid Artistry

Investors and collectors inclined towards wines with proven longevity and poise would be well-advised to cast their gaze upon the 1995 vintage. Within it lies not just an opportunity for portfolio diversification but also an acquisition of historical artisanship from one of Bordeaux's most storied estates.

Undoubtedly, the consummate balance achieved between structure and mellowness in this vintage makes it a pivotal point of interest for those tracking the evolution of St-Julien's vintages. Moreover, its current disposition suggests that the 1995 Chateau Gruaud-Larose still harbours potential for further graceful ageing, promising rewards for the patient investor.

In sum, for those seeking to enhance their collection with a wine embodying both the fortitude and finesse emblematic of great Bordeaux, the 1995 Chateau Gruaud-Larose from Chateau Gruaud-Larose offers a splendour that is resolutely worthy of contemplation – both as an investment and as an addition to the discerning oenophile's cellar.

Current market price

£1,210.00

12x75cl

Highest score

89

POP score

134.44

Scores and tasting notes

89

Revealing more grip and tannin since bottling, the 1995 Gruaud-Larose exhibits a dark ruby color, and a nose of sweet black cherries, licorice, earth, and spice. Rich, with medium to full body, high tannin, and subtle oak in the background, the 1995 is nearly as structured and tannic as the 1996. The two vintages are more similar than dissimilar. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2020. Gruaud-Larose was purchased in 1997 by Jacques Merlaut, the well-known proprietor of many other chateaux, including Chasse-Spleen. Merlaut was not responsible for making the 1996 or 1995, but is responsible for their elevage and bottling.

Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 22 February 1998

Vintage performance