Château Gruaud Larose 2024

A Second Grand Cru Classé from Saint-Julien with a precise blend and assertive character

The property
Founded in 1725 by Abbot Joseph Stanislas Gruaud, the Château Gruaud Larose is an emblematic estate of Bordeaux, located in Saint-Julien-Beychevelle in the Médoc. Currently led by Jean Merlaut, this Second Grand Cru Classé in 1855 stands out for its historical heritage and exceptional terroir, producing wines of remarkable quality.

The vineyard
The Saint-Julien vineyard from which this wine comes extends over 82 hectares planted in a single block on Quaternary Garonne gravel terraces. This exceptional terroir, averaging 49 years old and combined with the proximity of the Gironde estuary which regulates temperatures, offers ideal conditions for the flourishing of Bordeaux grape varieties, particularly cabernet sauvignon which dominates the blend.

The vintage
The 2024 vintage began with an April with cooler temperatures than normal, slowing the vegetative development of the vine. The month of September was marked by significant rainfall that delayed the ripening of the grapes. The harvest finally began on September 27, after reaching optimal maturity, and continued until October 8, spanning a total of 12 days.

Vinification and aging
Manual harvest with rigorous sorting at four levels, including optical sorting. Vinification took place in wooden vats, with controlled temperature fermentations between 24°C and 28°C. The extraction was carefully controlled through regular tastings and appropriate pump-overs. Aging continued for 18 months in French oak barrels, 95% of which were new.

Blend
The blend of Château Gruaud Larose 2024 consists of 81% cabernet sauvignon, providing structure and aging potential, 17% merlot for roundness and fruit, and 2% cabernet franc for aromatic complexity.