Château Gruaud Larose 2024 en Primeur

Fresh blueberries and blackcurrants on the nose, smells delicate and nicely aromatic. Concentrated for sure, this has an intense flavour of cherries, strawberries and plums with really massy tannins but that are so cool and fresh. Light on its feet, definitely not pushed too hard, a little quiet and shy maybe, but lovely definition to the tannins. Some juiciness but a little soft from the mid palate onwards in terms of fruit although it keeps an aromatic intensity with cola, liquorice and slate. Well made, this isn't trying too hard and will be great to drink early. 40% grand vin. Ageing 95% new oak barrels for 18 months. 3.77pH. (Georgina Hindle)

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Fresh cherry fruit, a hint of blackberry, nuances, fine wood savouriness, mineral touch. Slender, heart cherry, delicate fruit sweetness, fresh, red berries, already well developed, light-footed, finely savoury finish, offers smooth drinking pleasure. (Perter Moser)

The 2024 Gruaud Larose shows excellent potential, bursting with notes of cassis, pencil shavings, iris and violets. Medium to full-bodied, suave and seamless, it's ample and pure, with a precise, refined pro-life and good persistence on the finish. A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, it is the fruit of a growing season defined by fully 30 organic phytosanitary treatments and a harvest that concluded on October 8. It checks in at 12.4% alcohol and pH 3.77 (for Gruaud, a rather low number). (William Kelley)

The 2024 Gruaud Larose is very fine. Dark and ample, with gorgeous presence, the 2024 has so much to offer. Dark blue/purplish fruit, new leather, gravel, spice, lavender and dried herbs build effortlessly. Readers will find a Saint-Julien endowed with notable textural depth. The finish is perhaps just a touch narrow, but élevage may very well help with that. 92-94+. (Antonio Galloni)

As usual, Gruaud is tight and wrapped in an envelope of new oak, even at this stage, but the vintage-defying power is there to be unleashed. Black fruit. A silkiness of texture an 
very fine tannins. Very long finish with freshness and already a very Médoc character. This will need some time (although not perhaps as long as usual) but it should turn into a lovely example of "Grand Vintage - Petit Château, Petit Vintage - Grand Château".

Based on 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, aging in 95% new oak, the 2024 Château Gruaud Larose brings another level of density, showing solid Cabernet aromatics of darker currants, graphite, smoky oak, and freshly sharpened pencil. A closed, tight, inward wine, it nevertheless has solid mid-palate depth, terrific purity of fruit, and ripe, building tannins. It's currently showing its oak, but this will come together and certainly be an outstanding wine.