Wine Advisor
Sarget De Gruaud Larose 2018
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Composed of 49% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the deep purple-black colored 2018 Sarget de Gruaud Larose gives up vibrant notions of crushed blueberries, warm plums and chocolate-covered cherries with hints of mocha, spice cake and hoisin plus a waft of potpourri. Medium to full-bodied with a backbone of finely grained tannins and just enough freshness, the palate delivers bags of juicy fruit, finishing spicy.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2018 Sarget de Gruaud Larose is pliant, fruity and easygoing with lovely depth and plenty of near-term appeal. Sweet tobacco, cedar, lavender and mint add aromatic nuance to a core of blue/purplish berry fruit in a mid-weight, understated Saint-Julien that will drink well right out of the gate. The Sarget benefits from a generous dollop of Petit Verdot, which confers freshness. The blend is 49% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2018 Sarget de Gruaud-Larose has a slightly dusty nose, with light and quite earthy black fruit and touches of field mushroom in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with a splash of balsamic on the entry, light tannins, tea leaf and clove infusing the black fruit, while the finish is easygoing and perhaps missing a little grip. So-so.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2018 Sargent de Gruaud Larose has a light blackcurrant and bilberry scented nose, nicely defined, not intense but pure. The palate is medium-bodied with off-dry tannins, moderate acidity, surprisingly (for the vintage) a little austere towards the finish. I suspect that it will gain a little flesh over the next couple of years.
About the Producer
Gruaud Larose has always tried to give value to the role of man in the creation of its elixir; both to his work and to the bond established with the vineyard. The vine stocks and the grapes are nothing without man, without these makers of Crus, from the most modest to the most powerful. Since its creation, in 1725, four families have succeeded one another at the head of Gruaud Larose: the Gruaud & Larose families, the Balguerie and Sarget families, the Cordier family and the Merlaut family. This family attachment has been passed on to the employees who often work at the Château from father to son and from mother to daughter. The notion of terroir binds geology and climate together. The largest concentration of Grand Cru Wines is in the Medoc, an area which benefits from a microclimate that is particularly favorable for the expression of the vine. The soil, by nature, limits water retentivity, and the summer period, very hot and dry from July to September, is a determinant for good ripening, a good maturity, and the satisfactory transfer between the root system and the grape. East and West winds dry the grapes to keep them from perishing. Every year the heavens play a decisive role in winemaking. Their influence on the success of the wine is different each year; no terroir, man, or technique can alter the part they play.
