Château Gruaud Larose 2022

Wineadvocate

The progress at this estate continues with the terrific 2022 Gruaud Larose, a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc that unfurls in the glass with deep aromas of minty blackberries, violets and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's elegantly muscular, with a broad attack that segues into a concentrated mid-palate framed by supple, powdery tannins. Richer and more brooding than its 2020 and 2019 counterparts, it confirms Gruaud's return to the Saint-Julien élite. Around one-third of the production made it into the grand vin this year, the château's first with organic certification. - WK 04/2023

Vinous

The 2022 Gruaud Larose was picked from 7 to 24 September and includes a little more pressed wine this year: 13.5% exclusively from Cabernet Sauvignon due to the quality. This latest vintage matured for a planned 18 months in 95% new oak. Significantly, this is the first year under organic certification (notice two storks on the label signifying this. Maybe they are carrying a little Gruaud baby?) At 13.64% alcohol, this is less than many other properties for those seeking slower intoxication. It has an impressive bouquet with pure blackberry and raspberry fruit, black truffle and sous-bois scents. I am impressed by its delineation and focus; frankly, these are the nicest aromatics I've encountered for a while at this address. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins. I cannot remember a Gruaud at this nascent stage that exhibits this level of energy and tension deriving from the Cabernet Sauvignon extracted at the beginning of vinification. There's much more precision here. Mineral-driven toward the finish, this easily surpasses vintages made at the estate over the last decade and more. Perhaps like the legendary Gruauds of old (1982, 1961, 1928, even 1870)? Gruaud reborn. - NM 04/2023

Beck

Le bouquet de Gruaud se révèle avec finesse et élégance. Que de subtilité et de pertinence qui ne fait que confirmer la trajectoire avec pour vision l'excellence que l'on s'est fixé à Gruaud Larose. Le 2022 ne fait que confirmer les excellentes prestations des années précédentes, y compris 2021 ou 2017, cela rappelle quand-même le niveau de base ! Notes de fruits frais et d'épices douces complétées par du bois de réglisse, de garrigues et de graphite. En bouche Gruaud se révèle de manière subtile, sur la pointe des pieds. Il ne cherche par la démonstration, il se concentre sur la finesse que le bouquet annonçait déjà. Les tannins sont fins, puissants, aux grains fins et en phase avec la tension. Ils assurent les arrières, portent le vin et l'amènent vers la finale qui se charge de relater fraîcheur et fruit. Surtout dans la finale de la finale… un Gruaud Larose concret, linéaire, abouti, puissant et fin. La notion de grand vin est clairement acquise. - 04/2023