Chateau Gruaud La Rose AOC Saint Julien 75cl

Château Gruaud Larose Saint-Julien 75cl is a balanced and elegant Grand Cru Classé, made mainly from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, vinified according to the principles of organic and biodynamic farming.

General information
Appellation: Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France (AOC/AOP)
Classification: 2nd cru classé
Format: 750 ml
Color: Red
Alcohol content: 13.5% (varies by vintage)
Producer: SA Château Gruaud Larose
Owner: Jean Merlaut
Consulting oenologist: Eric Boissenot 

Grape varieties (Vineyard composition)
Cabernet Sauvignon: 64-79% depending on vintage
Merlot: 17-30%
Cabernet Franc: 4-7%
Petit Verdot: 2-3% 

Terroir and vineyard
Area: 82 ha, with parts sometimes left fallow depending on vintage 

Soil: Quaternary Garonne gravels, deposited over more than 600,000 years 

Average density: 10,000 to 6,667 vines per hectare
Rootstocks: 3309 and 101-14 Riparia
Average vine age: 48-49 years 

Vineyard management: reasoned and environmentally friendly methods, with organic certification since August 2022, biodynamic principles, cover crops, grazing by 300 sheep, installation of hedgerows, light cultivation between vines, plot selection and manual sorting 

Vinification and aging
Harvest reception: manual and optical sorting, plot and intra-plot selection
Winery: 100% wood, temperature-controlled, 55 to 130 hl tanks
Alcoholic fermentation: yeast addition, temperature 24-26°C, maceration on the lees for 20-30 days, followed by daily tasting 

Pressing: 3 vertical presses
Malolactic fermentation: co-inoculation alongside alcoholic fermentation
Aging: 18 months in new barriques, 95%, French oak 

Year and climatic conditions (2020 vintage example)
Climate: early spring, occasional rain and hail, two beneficial thunderstorms in August and September for a very good vintage 

Alcohol: 13.18%
Total acidity: 3.45 g/l
Harvest dates: mid-September, depending on variety (Merlot 14-17 Sept; Cabernet Sauvignon 18-29 Sept; Cabernet Franc 19-21 Sept; Petit Verdot 23-24 Sept) 

Style and tasting
Color: deep ruby
Aromas and flavors: black fruits, blackcurrant, cherry, ashy notes, cedar, undergrowth, animal and spicy notes depending on vintage 

Texture: silky tannins, structured and elegant, good length on the palate
Food pairings: grilled or roasted red meats, game in sauce, rack of lamb, duck breast, regional dishes (porcini mushroom gratin, Basque chicken) 

Serving temperature: 17-18°C to enhance the tasting experience 

This technical sheet summarizes the essential elements to understand the quality, vinification and tasting of Château Gruaud Larose Saint-Julien 75cl, while illustrating the historic expertise of this Médoc estate.