Sarget de Gruaud Larose Saint-Julien 2019 - Second Vin

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Slightly softer than Croix de Beaucaillou, but with a lovely palate—smooth, crisp, and showcasing the vintage’s and terroir’s aromatic elegance. This second wine has made great strides and offers exceptional value for the price.

About the estate:

The Château’s extensive vineyard is situated on one of the most magnificent and uniform plateaus of deep gravel in the entire Médoc. It has been owned by the Merlaut family since 1997. Few Médoc wines, even among the First Growths, can boast a terroir as uniform as Gruaud-Larose’s, despite its size. One might imagine that 80% of the vines produce the grand vin, but here the selection process is even more rigorous, a fact that is particularly evident in the grand vin, which is ideally full-bodied and harmonious, and has become even more precise over the past three years thanks to a new, more feminine generation of vineyard managers and cellar masters who are both more rigorous and inspired. By nature, it very rarely dries out during long aging, and fifty-year-old bottles like the 1962 or the 1961 are still just as impressive.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

Founded in the early 18th century by the Gruaud family, the estate passed into the hands of the Larose family in 1771, who added their name and commissioned the construction of the neoclassical château. In 1812, the Balguerie and Sarget families purchased the property; they later split, giving rise to Gruaud Larose-Bethmann and Gruaud Larose-Sarget. The estate was reunited in 1934, thanks to Désiré Cordier. Sold in 1983 to institutional investors, Gruaud Larose was acquired in 1997 by the family-owned Taillan Group (Merlaut), which today manages a vast vineyard of 82 hectares, almost entirely in a single block.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Ideally situated, the vineyard occupies a plateau of deep gravel soil, perfectly uniform in composition, in the southern part of the commune of Saint-Julien, where the vines thrive remarkably well. Known for producing powerful wines in the 1980s and 1990s, often with a slightly animal-like character, the estate’s recent vintages offer more precise aromas. The Merlaut family has optimized the technical facilities that the Alcatel group, the vineyard’s short-lived owner, had installed. They have also chosen to give Gruaud Larose wines a more indulgent and rich profile, making them accessible while young. Recent vintages demonstrate progress in this direction, with wines that have also gained in precision. The pricing policy championed by Jean Merlaut ensures that Gruaud remains an accessible brand, which we welcome.

Vinous

About the wine:

The 2019 Sarget de Gruaud-Larose offers a well-defined bouquet of tertiary red fruit, initially subtle but gaining intensity with aeration. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with juicy black fruit, quite tarry, and a good balance of tobacco and black pepper on the finish. There is a lot going on in this wine, and it should age well in the bottle. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 2026–2040

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

A lovely, fruity nose, with spring flowers and very pleasant herbal notes. On the palate, it is fresh and charming, revealing notes of blueberry and honeysuckle. The simplicity and integrity of this wine make it very easy to drink. The epitome of a classic.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

The 2019’s bouquet unfolds with delicacy. Hints of blackberries and peppermint give way to a touch of graphite. On the palate, the initial attack suggests a slender character, but that’s without accounting for the tannic structure, which reveals itself gradually, perfectly complemented by the acidity. The wine has body, muscle, and plenty of freshness. It can certainly be enjoyed in its youth, but like its predecessors, it’s worth waiting for! 2025–2036

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is fruity and offers a rich, indulgent aroma. It features lovely notes of juicy strawberry, luscious red berries, and a hint of gray pepper, combined with subtle hints of crushed blackberry as well as delicate touches of vanilla and cardamom. The palate is fresh, mineral, and balanced, offering elegance, a lovely richness, a finely creamy texture, a subtle structure, and a beautiful salinity/iodine profile. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy wild strawberry, crushed redcurrants, and, more subtly, fresh wildflowers, combined with hints of crushed blackberry, as well as notes of vanilla, cardamom, and a subtle hint of pepper. The tannins are precise and refined. Good length. Lovely savory character. Beautiful persistence.