Chateau Gruaud Larose   Chateau Gruaud Larose

1982 Chateau Gruaud-Larose

By Chateau Gruaud-Larose

1982 Chateau Gruaud-Larose from Chateau Gruaud-Larose, St-Julien, Bordeaux

In the lush terra of Bordeaux, where the alchemy of vineyard and vigneron come to fruition, one vintage continues to whisper tales of an exceptional year—it is the 1982 Chateau Gruaud-Larose from Chateau Gruaud-Larose. The fabled 1982 vintage stands as a beacon within the tapestry of Bordeaux's winemaking history, with conditions coalescing into an idyllic blend of nature's bounty and artful winemaking.

 

A Study in Provenance and Prestige

The 1982 vintage at St-Julien evoked much more than a time of serendipitous weather patterns; it aroused within the vines a soulful iteration of Cabernet Sauvignon-led blends. Nuanced by a coterie including Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, this bequest by Chateau Gruaud-Larose is both an homage to tradition and a mirror to the perfect storm of meteorological generosity that year.

In the glass, the wine unfurls with aristocratic grace—a tapestry woven with tannins that have softened to a gentle caress over decades. The bouquet is an elixir of life itself; a harmony where dark fruits intersperse with whispers of earth and leather. Elegance is underscored by vigour, carrying flavours that meld the animated juiciness of blackcurrants with the dignified airs of cedar wood and tobacco.

 

Epitome of an Epoch

Surveying further, one finds that time has been a meticulous craftsman with the 1982 from Chateau Gruaud-Larose. What was once robust power has evolved into sublime finesse, providing a drinking window that remains generously ajar for those astute investors or collectors seeking both pleasure and pedigree in their liquid assets.

Bearing the complexity that only storied vintages can claim, this St-Julien grande dame effortlessly maintains its stature as one of the shining jewels in an oenophile's portfolio. The 1982 Chateau Gruaud-Larose endures as testament—a vinous chronicle not merely surviving but thriving through the seasons, gifting drinkers and investors alike a transcendent experience only fine wine can bestow.

 

In Closing: A Venerable Vestige

Consider then, what lies within each bottle of 1982 Chateau Gruaud-Larose—an anthology of flavour and history swirling amidst garnet depths. A souvenir from an era blessed by climatic grace, offering not just a taste but a journey through time. Any conversation on investment-grade wines must surely include such pieces de resistance—wines that act not only as assets but as ancestral treasures. Positioning oneself as custodian of such wines is to partake in viniculture's most hallowed narrative.

Current market price

$9,790.00

12x75cl

Highest score

98

POP score

326.67

Scores and tasting notes

98

A massive wine that is clearly of first-growth quality in this vintage, the 1982 Gruaud Larose remains a youngster. A broodingly dense, thick, unctuously textured, inky/plum/garnet/purple color offers up scents of beef blood, steak tartare, cassis, herbs, tobacco, and underbrush. One of the most concentrated wines of the vintage (as well as one of the most concentrated Bordeaux’s I have ever tasted), it is a huge, full-bodied, weighty, rich wine whose tannins are getting silkier and silkier. It appears set for another 30-40 years of life. This behemoth is a singularly profound example of Gruaud Larose that continues to justify its legendary status. Anticipated maturity: now-2050. Release price: ($140.00/case)

Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 29 June 2009

Vintage performance