85-89 / 100
Noncontractual photographs
Vintage | 1966 |
Rating | 85-89 |
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.
Corton
Champagne
Pauillac
Saint Julien
Moulis-en-Medoc
Sauternes
Listrac
Pomerol
A classic vintage for Gruaud-Larose, the 1966 remains surprisingly young, relatively unevolved, but austere, with a black currant, cedary, earthy fruitiness, and firm tannins. The finish is dry, but long and still youthful. In style and texture, the 1966 Gruaud-Larose resembles a big Pauillac. Will the 1966 Gruaud-Larose ever shed its tannic toughness?
Cedary, tarry nose, with hints of cassis. Firm yet beginning to round off. Elegant cassis emerges, and the wine begins to open, showing nuances of fruit, but it's not yet ready to drink.
Although drinking well in the late 1970s, noted several times as unready during the early part of the next decade. Also various bottles "fully evolved", "full of fruit and extract", "crisp", "still tannic" --a bit of a hotch potch of notes. A fragrant, rich, cedary double magnum at the chateau in April 1994, notably full-bodied and laden with fruit, extract and tannin. Two months later a most attractive bottle, stylish, mature, drinking well.