1 dozen bottles per lot
Details
GRUAUD-LAROSE
Though rated a second growth in the Classification of 1855, Château Gruaud Larose at times seems to garner less respect and remuneration than some of its fellow St. Juliens. This is partly due to the difficulty of tasting and accessing this traditional and uncompromising claret in its youth. Sturdy and full-bodied wines with excellent depth and concentration, good old Gruauds are just hitting their full stride in their thirties and forties, while others are fading in need of explanation for their fallen dignity. At a tasting of twenty seven vintages back to 1928 that I organized from my cellar three years ago, the remarkable consistency of the château through the decades became readily apparent. The critically acclaimed 82 and 86 came out of their shell with the tumble of double decanting and gentle swirling; but were brought back to earth by an otherworldly nineteen sixty-one, which along with the victory vintage, was simply sublime and celestial.
Château Gruaud-Larose--Vintage 1928
Saint-Julien, 2me cru classé
Both lots levels: into neck; Lot 537 five torn labels, Faure Bethmann, believed recorked by Nicolas Establissments. Lot 538 modern capsules; Nicolas stamped labels
"Tasted 2 times with consistent notes. The 1928 Gruaud-Larose is an amazingly intact wine as it approaches 70 years of age. It exhibits a huge, earthy, sweet, truffle, cedar, and spicy-scented nose, huge body, noticeably high tannin, and stunning concentration. A slight austerity creeps in at the finish. The dark garnet color with only light amber is remarkable given the wine's age." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #95 (Oct 1994)
1 dozen bottles per lot
Though rated a second growth in the Classification of 1855, Château Gruaud Larose at times seems to garner less respect and remuneration than some of its fellow St. Juliens. This is partly due to the difficulty of tasting and accessing this traditional and uncompromising claret in its youth. Sturdy and full-bodied wines with excellent depth and concentration, good old Gruauds are just hitting their full stride in their thirties and forties, while others are fading in need of explanation for their fallen dignity. At a tasting of twenty seven vintages back to 1928 that I organized from my cellar three years ago, the remarkable consistency of the château through the decades became readily apparent. The critically acclaimed 82 and 86 came out of their shell with the tumble of double decanting and gentle swirling; but were brought back to earth by an otherworldly nineteen sixty-one, which along with the victory vintage, was simply sublime and celestial.
Château Gruaud-Larose--Vintage 1928
Saint-Julien, 2me cru classé
Both lots levels: into neck; Lot 537 five torn labels, Faure Bethmann, believed recorked by Nicolas Establissments. Lot 538 modern capsules; Nicolas stamped labels
"Tasted 2 times with consistent notes. The 1928 Gruaud-Larose is an amazingly intact wine as it approaches 70 years of age. It exhibits a huge, earthy, sweet, truffle, cedar, and spicy-scented nose, huge body, noticeably high tannin, and stunning concentration. A slight austerity creeps in at the finish. The dark garnet color with only light amber is remarkable given the wine's age." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #95 (Oct 1994)
1 dozen bottles per lot