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Wine Description
The Story
The Gruaud Larose terroir is truly remarkable and unique. It is a single vineyard of 80 hectares with gravels from the Gironde estuary, dating from the Mindel Ist and Mindel IInd (about 700 000 years ago), and that in some places are over 18 feet deep. The soil is very poor and sandy, and therefore does not hold water. Drainage is one of the major concerns of a conscientious vine-grower.
It is also an important factor at Gruaud Larose where nineteenth-century underground pottery drains have been found. The natural draining system due to the poor quality of soils, from the hot and dry summers, and mostly from their position on the highest plateau of Saint-Julien - 18 metres high from the sea level -, constantly exposed to the north and west winds, favour both soil and optimum maturity for grapes. In fact, Nature has given here a magical aspect to this unique estate vineyard.
Wine Information
1950: 23 september “good quality crop that gave nice, albeit light wines” – Medium deep tawny colour. Nice nose that displays delicate fruit, sweet raspberry, leather and some earthy notes. the palate is quite full, balanced and soft with nice fruit and good stuffing, quite long, not exceptional but very good for the vintage. Drink now to 2020
Fine
“Gruaud gets its inspiration from the soil, the tannins and the terroir. Larose brings poetry, aromas and bouquet.”
Gruaud gets its inspiration from the soil, the tannins and the terroir. Larose brings poetry, aromas and bouquet. So could Abbé Gruaud have described his wine, a wine full of Elegance and Force. Château Gruaud Larose is different from other wines. Abbé 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.
Vintage 1950
Looking more closely at the decade, attention should also be drawn to the 1950 Bordeaux vintage, which offered more quantity than quality - with a few exceptions. Due to the relatively rainy summer, expectations for the year were not very high, but the change in weather at the end of the year made it a good year, and even excellent in some areas. The wines did not have the full and balanced character of the previous year. They were rather noted for their very tannic quality. But the wines have matured with surprising grace. Many wines became more harmonious as the tannins faded.
Two vintage gems are the Cheval Blanc and the Pétrus. On the other hand, Graves La-Mission-Haut-Brion is an exceptional wine. Although the best wines are at the peak of their drinkability right now, they will remain there for years to come. Due to the large harvest and very modest reputation of the vintage, these wines can be found at very affordable prices.
