Sarget de Gruaud Larose Saint-Julien 2022 - Second Vin BIO

This second wine is a revelation, with plenty of aromatic charm and a superb texture. Highly recommended as a way to tide you over until the grand vin is ready.

The Château’s vast 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 Premiers—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, feminine generation of vineyard managers and cellar masters who are both more rigorous and inspired. By its very nature, it very rarely dries out during long aging, and fifty-year-old bottles such as the 1962 or the 1961 continue to impress just as much.

Delicious aromas—slightly floral, herbaceous, and of dark fruits. A clean, fresh, and lively nose. A supple, juicy texture that makes your mouth water, with tannins that are present yet enveloping. You can sense the underlying power: the fruit is slightly warm and toasty, and the structure is a bit austere, but I appreciate its intensity. Powerful, fruity, and pure all at once. Frank, open, and lively, with a lovely salinity that lends minerality, leading to a clean and lingering finish. A joyful wine. 50% free-run juice, 10% press juice. pH: 3.8. Total acidity: 3.35 g/L. 4% Petit Verdot rounds out the blend. 2026–2038

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 estates were 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 all in a single block.

 

Ideally located, 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 more recent vintages offer greater precision in their 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 enjoyable even in their youth. The most recent vintages show 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, a fact we welcome.

An aristocratic nose with blue fruit notes—blackcurrant and blueberry—resulting in an exceptionally classic, smooth, and juicy wine. Such smoothness on the palate, with restrained opulence, succulent fruit, and a floral and briny touch, leading to a mouthwatering finish with notes of coffee beans. 2028–2040

Sarget’s bouquet clearly emphasizes finesse and precision. It opens with a few notes of reduction, quickly giving way to subtle hints of red and black berries, complemented by a touch of spice and citrus. On the palate, the wine is restrained and precise. It makes no claim to be broad or powerful; instead, it focuses on its finesse while featuring somewhat full-bodied, perfectly integrated tannins. An authentic wine with a distinct identity, it underscores its ability to assert itself with both poise and ambition. 2026–2037

The nose is fruity and fresh, with concentration and depth; it is sap-like and peppery, with sweet spices, a delicate depth, elegant, precise, and refined, with a subtle sap-like quality. It reveals notes of juicy, fresh cherry and violet...