Anyone tried Ch. Gruaud Larose 2004?

It was somehow not in BevMo's computer, so I picked it up for $26.00 Seems to be a better than decent price, and it gets reasonably decent reviews,. so....here's to 2010 or so.

[Jenise]

Haven't even laid eyes on my first 04 yet, but Gruaud is one of those producers who make wines I enjoy every year. Never had a bad one, just enjoyed some more than others. Since I started accumulating Bordeaux, I've never seen it under $30. For $26 I'd have bought a truckload.

OMG, Jenise. You were right! They finally got around to posting the price this week at BevMo. $45 a bottle. I should have bottle a case.

[Jenise]

Yup, $45 is about right. Heck, I paid $35 for my first bottles ever of that wine, the 86 way back in around '91-2. Considering that, $45 is cheap. Witness that in the same period of time, Mondavi Private Reserve has gone from $40ish to over $100.

Gruaud is one of those producers who make wines I enjoy every year. Never had a bad one, just enjoyed some more than others.

I agree price is very good. And I've heard very good things about 2004.

Jenise,
have you had many mid-90s Gruauds? I've found the '95-'98 run consistently disappointing. By 2000 they seemed to be back on track, though with a much more forward style than the old bruisers of the 70s & 80s. The 1990 is the one I can't decide if I like or not!

http://www.wineloverspage.com/user_subm ... 10996.html

cheers

[ had many mid-90s Gruauds? I've found the '95-'98 run consistently disappointing. By 2000 they seemed to be back on track,

Dale, here is a link to my notes on the 1978 through 2000 Gruaud:

http://www.wineloverspage.com/user_submitted/wine_notes/tn_493155.html

[Jenise]

Dale, no, admittedly I haven't tasted any late 90's Gruauds. I get what you say, though, in that I remember the conversation between you and Covert over the 99 which you found atypically light and which he liked for it's delicacy--not a word that applies to 79-83, 86, 89, 93 or 00, which are the vintages I have tasted. And I own some 96's but haven't opened one yet.

[David M. Bueker]

Gruaud has been frustratingly inconsistent the last 10-15 years. I really like the wine, but with others showing so much more consistency (e.g. Leoville, and even Langoa Barton) I tend to pass by GL these days.

Where price escalation has really hurt me is with Ducru Beaucaillou. Gosh I love that wine.

As for the 2004s, haven't seen any here yet either. I have Barton and Pontet Canet coming as futures (both in 375s!), so I am looking forward to arrival. It sounds like a more "classic" Bordeaux vintage, in line with such modern "classics" as 2001 and 2002. Yum!

[Jenise]

I love Ducru, too, David. Just saw some this morning, the 03's, already at $117/ea at auction, and the auction's not over. For comparison, I paid $31 ea for the 01's. I also have 98's, which I spent more on longer ago. Any idea when the 98 will be ready to drink?

[David M. Bueker]

Not had the '98 Ducru, so cannot say for sure, but the '98 Leoville Barton was a good 5 years away when tasted in early December.

So, Bill-even given a "newer" style, I am guessing the 2004 should be cellared until at least 2014?

So, Bill-even given a "newer" style, I am guessing the 2004 should be cellared until at least 2014?

I haven't tasted it so can't offer an opinion, sorry.

One could extrapolate by comparing it with vintages I have tasted like the 2000, but that would be speculation, not based on tasting experience.

I used to love Gruaud, the '62 was one of the best clarets I had early in my time in the business, but I have become sensitive to brett, and at least until recently those Cordier properties reeked of it.