1989 Chateau Gruaud Larose, Saint-Julien

The 1989 Château Gruaud Larose is a distinguished Deuxième Cru Classé from the Saint-Julien appellation, primarily crafted from a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant Bordeaux blend including Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.  The Médoc's deep gravelly soils, crucial to its profile, were greatly enhanced by the exceptionally warm and dry 1989 growing season—one of the hottest on record—which fostered superb ripeness and concentration in the grapes.Château Gruaud Larose, with its history tracing back to 1725, is known for a traditional winemaking approach focused on expressing its unique terroir, with aging typically occurring in French oak barrels.  This particular vintage, marked by an early and abundant harvest, yielded powerful, structured wines with tight tannins and high natural alcohol, requiring time to fully reveal their complexity.The result is a benchmark Saint-Julien that offers impressive longevity and a profound reflection of both a remarkable vintage and the estate's commitment to quality.