90-94 / 100
Noncontractual photograph
Vintage | 1990 |
Rating | 90-94 |
Classification | Médoc - 2ème Cru Classé |
Region | Bordeaux |
Appellation | Saint Julien |
Colour | Red |
Volume | 0.75 l |
Price | From 100 € to 200 € |
Château | Gruaud Larose |
Country | France |
(>> see article "Grands Crus Classés from Bordeaux, Official Classification of 1855").
Château Gruaud-Larose's vineyard is composed of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. The wine stays for 16 to 18 months in oak barrels in new mediums at 35%. Some great vintages have remained exceptional in Gruaud-Larose, as in all of Bordeaux, such as 1961, 1982, 1986 or 1989. This important area with extremely rare homogeneity is implanted on 80 hectares of single piece of deep gravel rumps . It produces the largest and most robust Saint-Julien, a wine of great class and very long guard, raised until 1991 under the direction of Georges Pauli, who has exalted his characteristic style under several successive owners.
Pauillac
Pessac Leognan
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Saint Estèphe
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BILLECART-SALMON Grande Cuvée Brut 1990
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Côte Rotie
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CHÂTEAU GRAND BARRAIL LAMARZELLE FIGEAC 1990
Saint Emilion
In many cases, the results of my blind tastings confirmed how much I underrated several 1990s. One wine I unquestionably short-changed is the 1990 Gruaud Larose. Over the last few years I had rated the wine 90 points several times, but more often Gruaud fell comfortably in the 88-89 point category. Gruaud-Larose was superb at the most recent tasting. Moreover, this might be a 1990 that is still affordable. The wine exhibits a thick-looking, plumpurplegarnet-like color. A sensational nose of jammy black-cherries, earth, cedar, and herbs has become far more intense and striking. The wine displays sensational richness and power, but not quite the burly, monstrous size and hulking weight of the 1986 or 1982. Yet it reveals impressive stuffing and power. The low acidity emphasizes the thick, juicy, succulent fruit in this backward yet rich, chewy wine. This was the finest showing yet for the 1990 Gruaud Larose.