Description
1970 Vintage Tasted: Nov 2021
Bright ruby, brick rim. In neck fill, almost soaked cork. Dried fruits, anise, liquorice, spices, tobacco, nuanced, detailed nose, scented, cedar and minerals. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dried fruits, anise, nuanced, lovely balance, layered, refined, very elegant bottle, long finish. 94pts
2/8/2026 – Tavastgatan wrote:91 Points
Very solid wine, despite quite some ullage. Dark in colour and full of life.
6/1/2025 – kevin h wrote:92 Points
I was checking on some of my mature bottles of Bordeaux the other day and noticed some slight signs of seepage despite a reasonable level. On opening the cork was slightly depressed and soaked through but I got it out with a Durand. Healthy fruit notes on opening so I left it in the bottle and decanted it about a hour before drinking. Signs of bricking but a healthy red. Leafy nose with a mix of redcurrant and blackcurrant quite vigorous- something I’ve often associated with this chateau. Classic St Julien softness but fine fruit, slightly ferrous notes and nice mature completeness. Not massive but in a good place. This is fully ready but no signs of decline. Excellent mature Bordeaux.
1/17/2025 – Sanfoan Likes this wine:
This bottle was in excellent condition, with the level into the neck and the cork three-quarters soaked – typical for a wine of this age. While the color showed some age with an orange tint and slight bricking at the rim, it was less evolved than expected.
Opened in the morning and allowed to slow-ox throughout the day, this Gruaud Larose was incredibly interesting to follow during the day, it definitely evolved quite a bit more than I was expecting for such an old wine. Initially, it was tight, funky, and incredibly acidic, almost off-putting, but in-line with what I would expect from an old Cordier wine. However, with patience, the funk blew off, revealing a beautifully complex wine.
By the afternoon, tertiary aromas of mushrooms, forest floor, and cassis emerged, along with hints of dried flowers, old cedar, and perhaps even old cigar box. On the palate, the wine echoed the nose, with dried cassis, cedar, and mushroom notes, complemented by an intriguing old, sweet fruit character and an earthy undertone. Despite its age, the acidity remained quite high, providing structure to the medium-bodied frame. The finish was remarkably long, with the tannins fully resolved.
This wine far exceeded my expectations. It was an amazing experience to witness its transformation throughout the day, and it’s a testament to the aging potential of Gruaud Larose. Glad to have several more bottles! No need to rush if you have this in your cellar.
12/31/2024 – Tom Bryan wrote:92 Points
What a treat to end a fantastic year!
A beautiful ruby red colour with slight rusting on the edges.
Lots of tertiary notes, leather and cigar box
The tannins are fully integrated. The acidity is balancing the savoury flavours, touch of dark fruit, touch of eucalyptus.
Beautiful drop, enjoy!
Served at 15 degrees