2009 Gruaud Larose (St-Julien)

A beautiful example of the estate and the vintage, you can dive right in to the depth of cassis and bilberry fruits, studded with tobacco leaf, charcoal, crushed rocks, cocoa powder and juicy raspberries. Delivers appellation typicity and then some, stretches out through the palate, excellent quality. It`s not the power so much as the perfect placing, everything working together to deliver a delicious drinking claret - and it`s one where I would recommend the 2009 over the 2010, at least for the next decade. Eric Boissenot consultant, 50% new oak. 97 points