Ratings By Robert Parker 93 Tasting Notes The 1998 has turned out to be one of the vintage’s superb Medocs. It boasts an opaque black/purple color as well as a classic Leoville Las Cases display of lead pencil, gorgeously pure black raspberries and cherries, smoke, and graphite. A broad yet focused entry on the palate… Read More »

Ratings By Robert Parker 90 Tasting Notes A star of the vintage, this classy, cedary, black currant, and sweet cherry-scented, dense ruby-colored Las Cases exhibits a beautiful dosage of new oak, medium body, expansive, ripe, concentrated flavors, plenty of glycerin, and exceptional purity. It is low in acidity, and already delicious. Anticipated maturity: now-2016.(Wine Advocate… Read More »

Ratings By Robert Parker 98 Tasting Notes Having previously rated it nearly perfect, I was apprehensive of a letdown about tasting the 1996 Leoville Las Cases once it had been bottled, but that concern was quickly dismissed once I put my nose in the glass. A profound Leoville Las Cases, it is one of the… Read More »

Ratings By Robert Parker 98 Tasting Notes If it were not for the prodigious 1996, everyone would be concentrating on getting their hands on a few bottles of the fabulous 1995 Leoville-Las-Cases, which is one of the vintage’s great success stories. The wine boasts an opaque ruby/purple color, and exceptionally pure, beautifully knit aromas of… Read More »

Ratings By Robert Parker 90 Tasting Notes While the 2008 is not a blockbuster, it is a strong effort for the vintage. This dark plum/purple-hued wine reveals some background oak, licorice, earth, plum, black currant and cherry notes intertwined with a foresty/mossy component. Deep, polished and medium to full-bodied with sweet tannin, it builds incrementally… Read More »

Ratings By Robert Parker 86 Tasting Notes Herbaceous, meaty, sweaty saddle leather notes along with plum and black currant fruit are present in this mid-weight St.-Julien. There are also some raspy tannins in the finish. Drink it earlier rather than later because of the potential for it to dry out.(Wine Advocate # 188 Apr 2010)… Read More »

Ratings By Robert Parker 84 Tasting Notes The significant rainfall during late September clearly had a noticeable impact on this 2006, which perhaps lacks ????selection?? as the French say. There is an element of dilution in this cuvee, and I would never recognize it as a Gruaud Larose except for the label. Dark ruby with… Read More »

Ratings By Robert Parker 89? Tasting Notes Tasted on three separate occasions, this cuvee exhibits a dark ruby color (with much less saturation than many wines of the vintage) as well as a distinctive, herbal, meaty, horsey nose, medium to full body, good depth, power, and richness, and soft tannins. The wine??s rustic aromas and… Read More »

Ratings By Robert Parker 87? Tasting Notes This estate continues to under perform, particularly in view of what the previous owners accomplished. Nothing made today resembles the great vintages of the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, or even the top-flight 2000. Nearly every St.-Julien chateau is making better wine, and Gruaud Larose needs a wake-up call.… Read More »

Ratings By Robert Parker 88 Tasting Notes The 2003 Gruaud Larose??s dark plum/garnet color is followed by sweet aromas of damp earth, forest floor, herbs, espresso roast, cassis, licorice, and plums. Medium-bodied as well as surprisingly up-front and precocious, it possesses sweet tannin, very nice concentration, and loads of earthy/herbal characteristics intermixed with black fruits,… Read More »