"In the bottle, Gruaud Larose appears to have returned to the form it possessed when I first tasted it from cask - a stylish, surprisingly civilized, medium-bodied wine without the muscle and power expected from both this terroir and vintage. It still possesses excellent density, as well as roasted herb, licorice, and black currant flavors intermixed with incense-like smells. The wine is medium to full-bodied, pure, rich, and forward. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2018."
Robert Parker 91 Punkte
"The 1996 appears to be a potential sleeper of the vintage, and may merit an outstanding score. It is a powerful, bulky style of Gruaud-Larose, with a dark ruby/purple color, and plenty of cassis, spicy new oak, and roasted herbs in the jammy nose. On the palate, the wine has lost much of the forward precociousness it was revealing last spring, now boasting loads of tannin in its powerful, muscular flavors. It seemed much softer when I first tasted it, but the wine has put on weight and gained considerable structure. It now appears this husky wine has the potential for long-term cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2020. Gruaud-Larose was purchased in 1997 by Jacques Merlaut, the well-known proprietor of many other chateaux, including Chasse-Spleen. Merlaut was not responsible for making the 1996 or 1995, but is responsible for their elevage and bottling."
Robert Parker 88-91 Punkte
"The 1996 is a surprisingly forward, attractive, less muscular style of Gruaud-Larose. One-third of the production was declassified for a second wine, with one-third of the malolactic fermentation done in barrel. The result is a forward, deep purple-colored wine with a sweet blueberry, kirsch, and jammy cherry-scented nose, medium body, more plushness and up-front fruit than most of the more serious wines of the vintage, and attractive fat and depth. This medium-bodied, moderately tannic wine is destined to evolve quickly, although it will last for 15 or more years. Critics of the old, muscular, super-powerful, full-bodied Gruaud-Laroses that often exhibited earthy, leathery, animal notes along with their layers of concentrated fruit, may be even more fond of this new style of wine."
Robert Parker 88-90 Punkte
Quelle: www.robertparker.com