Wow- stunning bottle and levels and this was clear ruby and looking like a 1990 rather than a 1978! So fresh and amazingly open on the nose. Lots of black and red cherry still but with lovely overlay of leather, soil, autumnal leaves, black tea and truffle notes. So clean and energetic still on the palate with the freshness of acidity and no hard edges. You just wanted to keep drinking this- delicious and perfect aged Bordeaux at bargain basement prices if you can still find it!
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Xmas eve dinner 2023: decanted for approx. 3 hours (cold storage); dark crimson brown color; intense bouquet of strawberries, mocha and spices; with a mild, however juicy, racy acidic texture on the palate.
This Gruaud Larose 1978 surprised everybody on the dinner table. The label of the bottle looked worn out (see picture), but not so the wine. While certain signs of decline could be detected, today the wine performed on a clearly excellent level.
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Double decanted. Plethora of exciting aging notes of tobacco, wet earth, black truffles and leather – this actually smells like the beginning of Autumn. Still fresh red cherry fruit, but also darker plum. The fruit linearly gains in intensity with aeration. Tannin has become ultra-soft but is still present enough to help build an amazing structure.
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Perhaps I'm flying too close to the sun with this vintage, but wow, my second bottle in three months and yet another joy to drink. Very similar notes to the bottle opened in July, but contrary to that bottle, the spice didn't fade this time around. The fruit was still intact, albeit fading slightly towards the end, but the earthiness and spices from the last bottle carried over this time around as well. No more bottles of this wine left sadly, but maybe that's a sign not to push my luck!
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Once the substantial barnyard aromatics blew off, there was a lot to like here. The green notes resonated, along with some black cherries and white pepper. Good concentration.
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Wow - I was not expecting this to be as good as it was. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. The 1978 Gruaud Larose is a gem when it comes from a well-stored bottle. Despite a very soft cork, the wine was still exceptional. The first glass opened up with a highly aromatic nose of spices and smoke that would fade by the last glass. The palette sustained itself for the duration of the bottle, though, as light red fruit was paired with spices, leather and tinges of earthiness and cassis. The finish lingered as the spices came back again and with the softened tannins, the table couldn't stop talking about this bottle all night long. Will be trying to find another well-stored bottle asap.
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Another - my second - quite recently acquired pristine bottle, this eclipsed the one I drank two years earlier and opened up magnificently well. It is of course dominated by mature tertiary nuances, woodsy sous bois among many, but this wine show cased how magnificently Gruaud Larose can age, and how well the 1978 vintage can still drink when you stumble across good bottles like this.
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The recent tasting notes are spot on with character of this wine, but I can’t give it such haughty numbers. Highly evolved, and the color of a flat cola. Impressive flavors abound with green bell pepper and jalapeño, peppercorn, tobacco leaf orange peel, fruitcake all very present. I cannot see this going much longer.
PS - showing better than 1978 Mouton!!!
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4 Rosé Unicorns & 6 Mature Bordeauxs: Five red Bordeauxs from 1978 to 1998 + one Sauternes 2001. All tasted double blind. Winner - by a margin - was the L’Evangile 1982 (98 pts). Best bottle so far, this showed a lot of intensity and substance combined with a perfect precision. The Pichon Baron 1989 is a quintessential Pauillac in its prime. The complete package. Complex, precise, super harmonious. The Pontet Canet 1996 (95 pts) showed surprisingly layered and seductive. The 1998 Ducru Beaucaillou (94 pts) showed the typical earthy, mineral and herbal profile but had some alcohol notes and showed overall more modern and ripe than today’s DBs. The Gruaud Larose 1978 (92 pts) had a nice fruit core with lots of tertiary aromas wrapped around it but compared to the others was lacking definition and complexity. The Dosiy Daene 2001 (96 pts) is another stunning 2001 Sauternes with a perfect balance of sweetness and freshness.
TN: We discussed a possible cork taint but in the end this was just some murky cellar stink which needed time to blow of. This was quite good with more fruit than I would have expected, nice tertiary notes, some burnt sugar notes, a bit of minerality. Not super clean, not super precise but quite fun to drink. Melted tannin structure, high and well-integrated acidity, ok-ish tension, light and airy texture and good length. Good but not great and no comparison to the legendary 1982.
Decanting: No extensive decanting necessary.
Glass: Conterno Sensory
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Holding well, even the notes of bell pepper (green) accents it to the positive. Tertiary, aged, meaty Left Bank. Viscosity nice, great bottle! *3rd night bell pepper has become the dominant flavor. Green peppers and jalapeños on the palette.
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Part of a small Bordeaux 20+ years of age line-up. The Gruaud Larose 78 needed some dusting off initially to get rid of the cellar must. The nose was fine and elegant, with limited intensity, and dominated by aging notes with lots of leather and barnyard. But I also found roses, rather red type of berries and some black tea. On the palate surprisingly fruity, catching you off guard with plenty of red berries, even if again more restrained than expressive. A really solid performance. Not as spectacular as the 1982 I had earlier this year, but evidence of how well these older Gruaud Larose vintages are drinking now is definitely mounting…
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The reason we got together.. always a pleasure to drink a birth year wine for someone, for their birthday. Sweet red fruit, earth, leather, cordier smokiness. Lovely btl holding on to good shape.
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During a St.Julien dinner. The surprise of the night. Expressive and brooding nose of dark fruit, gingerbread, forest floor. Rich and ripe with high aromatic intensity. Does not feel tired at all. Excellent showing.
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A beautifully resolved and pristine bottle of Ch. Gruaud-Larose 1978, medium-bodied with bell pepper, tobacco, smoke and tar. One of the best mature clarets I have tried this year I would put it marginally behind the Talbot 1966 and D’Issan 1985. First of three, all pristine, no rush to drink these, based on #1.
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A splendid bottle in perfect condition, the nose is so expressive with notes of tobacco, sweet earth and leathers. It possesses a great silky aged Bordeaux texture with delicious flavors of sweet and subdued smoky dark fruits and saddle leather. A bit of green in the style of the vintage at this point but it doesn't at all take away from the wine's incredible smoky sweetness. The finish lacks great complexity but it flows over the tongue with fully resolved tannins and a satisfying gravelly lift. Drink up for sure but it's amazing how top Bordeaux goes on and on even after the party seems to have ended years before.
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Drinking well but not as good as last bottle. Not decanted, cork soaked but intact. Very much a "house flavor" to this wine. I don't really like the term "Cordier Funk" but I can see why the term appeared. Earthy and spicy notes dominate. The balance is good but the tannic side of the 1978 vintage comes through here. Hollow would be unfair. Perhaps angular or reserved would be more appropriate. The texture was not as rich and balanced as in other vintages. Still classic St. Julien pleasure though...
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This wine was drinking exceptionally well tonight. Good fill level and cork. Decanted about an hour prior to dinner. It showed both the strengths and weaknesses of the 1978 vintage. Excellent hue after 42 years and great clarity, minimal sediment. Yes, there is a slightly herbaceous element to this wine, but that is precisely what you should look for here. as time went on, the herbaceous character receeded and the earthy and fruity parts came to the front. Lively acidity, tobacco notes, this wine has staying power: either for additional bottle age or in the decanter. Critics would say that it lacks richness, but is that really what you should be looking for in an aged Medoc wine? Exceeded expectations. Will drink over next 10 years.
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Dinner at Nico Osteria: The combination of bretty funk, pyrazine, and a very faint hint of VA at first reminds me of Musar (and not in a bad way) - air clears this up a bit as the Cordier funk and the slight VA note both dissipate, and what's left is a very pretty red fruited wine with lots of mature savouriness and some sharp herbal/green notes on the note that add freshness without detracting.
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Dinner at Nico Osteria (Chicago, IL): The Cordier funk was initially just too strong here; it did seem to reduce with air. Tons of pyrazines here, and that's almost the whole story. The palate has an intense green herbal edge. A nice bit of graphite and a slightly dusty disposition here; I liked this more than the 1982 alongside.
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Came a collection of well-stored bottles, but cork fell in when pushed down. Certainly drinkable, but well past its prime and nothing there -- no fruit, nothing very interesting left. Ended up pouring at least half the bottle down the drain.
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The nose was a classic Bordeaux expression initially. Not a real wow but nice. It got a bit funky later on. Lean, balanced palate. Not super interesting but very drinkable. Not really tiered but passed it's best days. Holding well.
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The Cordier funk is here in spades. This shows more barnyard and leathery funk than any of the various 80s Gruauds I've been checking into lately, though there's still quite a bit of bright red fruit, cedar wood, and other more classic Bordeaux flavours in the back - but it's one of the rare times (with an old Cordier) that I find the brett too much, and would have probably liked this more if it were dialed back some.
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Dinner Honoring Bernard Hervet (Lake Forest, IL): Both of tonight's bottles were purchased upon release and perfectly stored since. These were opened several hours before serving and quickly double decanted. Good combination of mature black fruit, barnyard and mushroom with some cedar background notes. Still very enjoyable, but certainly no upside from here.
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My last bottle of 4 and this is still showing well. Classic mature Bordeaux nose showing tobacco and cedar. Still quite dark in color and showing surprising freshness. Fully resolved and earthy with a hint of fruit. Cordier wines from this period are just terrific.
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Lovely and complex wine Nose - sweet tobacco, soil, cornucopia of light red fruit Mouth - savory and complex , classic Bordeaux soul, infused fruit with sweet tobacco while less complex dare I say reminiscent of a great wine we had last week ( 89 HBrion ). Surprisingly good given the age and frayed state of the label.
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Uncle Fine Wine Club Fall BYO; 10/14/2016-10/15/2016 (Tord House): Maroon cloudy. Welcoming and complex nose with basement, potato, marsh, forest and light hints of mint. The mouth is unfortunately "over the top". Juice, meat, flat fruit, swamp water and tameness. Some stewed plums are there too. Charming
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Uncles Fine Wine Club’s - Grand Cru Tasting (Bodø): Mature elements and quite intense – espresso roasted coffee beans, leather, barnyard, swamp, forest floor, overripe cherry and decomposed wood. Not much fruit left. A bit sour on the palate with cherry elements and saw dust. This wine is on its decline. Drink now.
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Medium-deep, reddish garnet in color with slight amber tint at the edges. Forward, attractive & fragrant nose of well-developed, mature & complex, ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blueberries, & cassis with overtones of classic cigar box notes of cedar & tobacco, floral notes of violets, earthy/dusty, some mint, loam, old leather, herbs, spices, smoky, truffles & minerals in the background. Medium-full bodied with a good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, elegant, mature, well-developed & multi-layered, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blueberries & cranberries with earthy/dusty, herbs, mushrooms, minerals, spices & a hint of oak. Lingering elegant finish. Drinks quite well at present and appears to be at or very close to its peak of development, so drink up soon. The bottle had a good fill & clean cork. A wonderful mature classic Bordeaux.
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This too had a great fill despite a cork that was wet to the top. The wine was great. delicate, all secondary, and held up for at least an hour while consumed. actually improved with air. alone might be boring, but sang with lamb stew. was a little overwhelmed by the younger Bordeaux served alongside. I don't see any upside in waiting any longer on these, but perhaps bottles with better corks might have more longevity. I wouldn't take the chance.
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Perfect fill, impeccable cork, great beginning clarity that started precipitating solids as we got deeper into the bottle. I think it might be some cold damage...Cedar chest, beef bullion, herbaceous, savory, and dungeneous. Flavor were all intact but the finish was flat due to the storage damage...Still very good if you drink it with food.
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Classical Bordeaux on the nose showing cedar and tobacco. Fully mature and resolved on the palate showing savory and earthy elements. All the fruit has gone but the wine retains freshness. Not as good as my last bottle but sill a lovely mature wine. Drink.
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Not a wine of weight or power, but a really beautiful, elegant expression of deep earthiness and cedar. Fully mature, with only the slightest bit of sweet fruit holding on, but still very energetic and fresh from the acidity. A real treasure to savor now.
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What does good fill level mean to an old bottle of wine? The odds are definitely in your favor tonight! Shared by a good friend who bought it with some suspicion, the 1978 CGL teaches you that good wines exist from any vintage. Not that 78 was a bad year, but you would have never thought it was still SO valid. Rusted edges with youthful and shining garnet beneath, the wine showed no fatigue in its appearance. Typical cedar chest nose with loam and herbaceous must, the wine gained weight and improved throughout the bottle. Very complex palate with faint traces of the remains of fruit. Adequate finish, propped up with acidity and faded tannins. DRINK
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Very pretty, understated and graceful with gentle red and dark fruited flavours tinged with dusty earthy notes, herbs, and tobacco. Flavours slowly build and get more complex with air, and this is lovely to follow over a few hours.
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Robe rubis briquée encore d’une belle intensité. Nez de fruits noirs, tapenade et terre humide. La bouche est étonnamment vivante malgré son âgé et démontre encore fruit et fraicheur. Les tannins sont tout à fait fondu. Belle élégance et longueur.
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Old Bordeaux (Uncle Jack's): Earthy and cigarettey with this odd citrusy character, like someone dumped a bunch of tart orange juice in the wine. I've encountered this a couple of times before in old Cabernet-based wines, and I'm pretty sure this is a flaw, although I don't know exactly what the source is (I suspect some combination of VA and oxidation, but who knows).
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Grands bordeaux chez Olivier (Geneva): La robe la plus évoluée de la série. Le nez est clairement sur les arômes tertiaires. En bouche, le vin paraît un peu dépouillé, l'apogée ayant certainement été dépassé pour cette bouteille. C'est encore agréable à boire mais il fait plus vieux que son âge.
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1978 Bordeaux @ Ledbury (The Ledbury): Savoury, deep nose. A little muddied and a touch shrill. Nicely savoury. Not quite as sweet and rounded as a bottle a couple of weeks ago, but still attractive in its own right. ****
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Rond, mûr et équilibré. Beau rubis profond, très légèrement orangé. Suave, délicat et persistant en bouche. Notes de cuir, tabac, venaison, sous-bois, cerise, mûre, grande minéralité, très bonne mâche et incroyable pureté... Excellent. Ce millésime a vraiment produit d'excelletns vins qui tiennent la distance...
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Great showing. I don't think I've ever had a '78 before with this much oomph. It has a dense, tarry character reminiscent of old Barolo, and feels pitch-black, like drinking molten asphalt. Tannins have totally resolved, so this is really rounded and polished too. At its peak.
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Perfect cork and deep color of a well stored bottle. Rich and deeply fruited. Tannins have melted away. Terrific aged Bordeaux that just tasted like an old wine should. This wine was absent the classic Cordier funk - enjoyable and clean.
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Cork was nearly saturated but came out relatively easily. Brick red in color. Nearly all of the fruit has faded, leaving just a hint of prunes. Tar and graphite hit the palate along with more subtle elements of tobacco and pencil shavings. A pleasurable, fully mature wine. I suspect this is on its decline.
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Tawny and fully mature. A bit of sour plum and raisin. Mature nose of mushroom, earth, dry leave, graphite. Tannins fully resolved and very smooth palate. Still has weight and good acidity. Long finish. Very good.
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Brickish-orange to the rim Mushrooms, vegetable, licorice Age, a little metallic, dirty, aged, dry, downside, fruit diminishing to gone...green weediness.... Definitely peaked in my opinion
Not quite my style of Bordeaux, but its a good representation of the style that was prevalent during that time
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The bottle was put on the table as a replacement but...the bottle was cold, 52 F. I had to employ an old microwave trick and in 15 seconds we had the perfect temperature wine which was garnet color, see through, sediments on the bottom only, fully mature and very pleasant Bordeaux, even though Todd rightfully noted that the fruit is diminished. Oh well, nothing lives forever.
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The first bottle we opened was bad, really bad. Very dark no see through color with lots of sediments. The wine ended up in the sink a-la Charlie Fu's style.
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This is the encapsulation of mature Bordeaux. Still lots of life left in this wine - fully resolved tannins but still with structure and depth - wonderfully mature notes of mushrooms, earth, cedar and tobacco. Very very fine wine indeed. Excellent.
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Dusky auburn color. Nose retains only hints of the brighter notes, with the majority of the aromas being darker and earthier. Structure has disappeared except for mild lingering acidity. A wine past its prime, sadly.
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30-40-50 Dinner (Music and Wines of the 1960s, 70s and 80s) (Bounce, Iluma): I thought this was very good. Nose was tight, showing leafy tobacco notes and some coffee beans along with little hints of dark fruit - quite nice, and very similar to the 1970 Poyferre actually. The palate was far more alive though. Cleanly concentrated, it showed black olives, pure, juicy transparent cassis notes and a long finish of tobacco and damp leafiness. Rich and delicious, yet supremely balanced, this was probably drinking at peak. Not one for those who like their wines modern and shiny - this was a typically rustic Gruaud Larose, but I found it a gorgeous wine for its vintage and one of the best clarets amongst a very strong line-up.
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courtesy of Neil and karyn; cork moist and disintegrated with some falling into the bottle; poured thru strainer and decanted due to cork and heavy sediment, tho drunk immediately; darker than expected with minor bricking; leather and barnyard hints on the nose; smooth/fading dry cherry and rhubarb, leather, sandalwood notes finishes with some tartness and pepper (in a good way); elegant though soft mouthfeel ; dont really notice any oak and tannins well integrated; just right at french restaurant with both first and second courses.
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Celebrating Christmas with this classic Bordeaux. Appearance: Ruby / brickish colored, syrupy - not at all opaque in appearance. Heavy sediment. Rustic and earthy nose - still quite pleasant. Decanted for 4 hours then poured. Flavors have faded, but still taste of currants, red berries. Finish is very earthy. Still in balance but well past its prime and on its last legs. Drink immediately if you have any.
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Perfect bottle. Level just 3/8" below cork, edge brick but not brown, heavy sediment. Nose somewhere between sloe and redcurrant, palate pure rhubarb. Rustic and unmistakably Gruaud. Finish rather abbreviated, not unusual for this vintage. Birth year of tonight's guest of honor. Will not improve, so drink 'em if ya got 'em.
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Tough to open as the cork was dried out. Decanted and poured. Ruby with brickish color and not opaque. Beautiful nose of barnyard, dried red fruit, herbs and oak. Thin mouthfeel and the flavors are fading, but what is there is a terrific mix of flavors that matched the nose -- dried red fruits and herbs. Finishes with a very pleasant musty/earthy/oaky flavor. Everything is in balance and it retains complexity and elegance, but it is clearly on its last legs. Tastes exactly like what it is -- a once-powerful wine that is fading. It is the last bottle of a case that I purchased at least 20 years ago -- and was one of the first wines I ever had from bordeaux . I feel a bit like I would if I had a friend who is passing on and there is nothing you can do to stop it.
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I have enjoyed many bottles of this wine over the past 15 years and this one was typical of all the others. The cork pushed back into the bottle when I tried to open it with a corkscrew. I assumed the worst, but should not have been concerned. Ruby red with brickish tones. Characteristic Gruaud nose of earthiness with dark cherry, plum and leather. Medium bodied with a medium finish and flavorss that matched the nose. It is soft and but has just enough acidity to have some elegance. In spite of being a bit past its prime, is still drinking great right now.
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Opened, decanted to remove sediment and poured immediately. It was fantastic, with lovely earthy tannins and a good length. We were very pleased, having previously had the same vintage and been disappointed at a wine tasting which had the same source of supply - we think maybe they had opened the bottle too far in advance - this just needs opening and pouring, there is no benefit from additional airation. Lukcily I have one more bottle! Thirty year old Bordeaux at its best.
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This wine was sampled at The New Mill Restaurant "bin-ends" dinner, giving those present an opportunity to sample this vintage at nearly 30 years old. Whilst known to have been stored in the restaurant cellars for many years, the label was badly damaged as a result of flooding. Sadly, this particular example was well past its best, though still drinkable. There was little nose and the taste was thin with low levels of fruit. It still had some typical claret characteristics, somewhat earthy and still smooth. A small quantity was left in the glass for 3 hours, with no noticeable change. It's always interesting to try old vintages of Bordeaux and this was no exception, despite it having lost most of its appeal. I have two bottles of Gruaud Larose 78, so it will be interesting to see if they have survived better.
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Dark red cherry colour. On the nose cedar, leather and spice (Shane said smells of Christmas presents and cookies). Smooth, beautifully integrated tannins. Hints of black currant, blackberries and a little cherry. Elegant, refined. 20 second finish.
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A bit worrisome opening this-the cork was so loose that when I started rubbing the gunk off the top of it it literally just slipped right down the neck into the bottle! My worries were swept away on decanting by gorgeous aromas of cedar, leather and faded cassis essence. This was really nice, elegant in the best since-still vibrant and fresh on the palate, with good length and presence, but with impeccable integration of tannins and lovely secondary nuances. Really enjoyable!
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Internet Group tasting Feb. 2006; Languedoc (@ JdZ): Beautiful and complex bouquet with rustic and autumn impressions, some licorice and vanilla. On the palate concentrated cassis and other black berries. Concentrated. Good acidity and still some tannin and bitterness.
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In the bouquet beautiful barnyard, butter, cassis, smoky flavors and some chocolate. On the palate still cassis and all the oaky flavors from the bouquet. Really complex wine with also a touch of sweetness. Great! Long finish! Beautiful wine although it is not as great as the 1979. Drink now or soon.
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Very dark red. Beautiful deep, rich and complex bouquet with cassis, a lot of cream, liquorice and good oak. Very complex and beautiful. Full bodied, firm and powerful. A lot of cassis and liquorice. A lot of good tannin. The wine develops in the glass and becomes more elegant later in the evening. Even blind I recognised the Cordier style; the elegance of St. Julien and the power of Pauillac, but because of the firm tannin I made the wrong guess and thought it was Talbot.
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Inserted as a ringer in a tasting of 1978 California Cabernet Sauvignon, it was Wine of the Night for me. Gorgeous sweet bouquet took me to Pomerol more than St. Julien. Medium color. Intense well focused fruit. Really fine. À point.
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1/31/2024 - dchain Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow- stunning bottle and levels and this was clear ruby and looking like a 1990 rather than a 1978! So fresh and amazingly open on the nose. Lots of black and red cherry still but with lovely overlay of leather, soil, autumnal leaves, black tea and truffle notes. So clean and energetic still on the palate with the freshness of acidity and no hard edges. You just wanted to keep drinking this- delicious and perfect aged Bordeaux at bargain basement prices if you can still find it!
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12/24/2023 - Fatty Cat wrote: 93 Points
Xmas eve dinner 2023: decanted for approx. 3 hours (cold storage); dark crimson brown color; intense bouquet of strawberries, mocha and spices; with a mild, however juicy, racy acidic texture on the palate.
This Gruaud Larose 1978 surprised everybody on the dinner table. The label of the bottle looked worn out (see picture), but not so the wine. While certain signs of decline could be detected, today the wine performed on a clearly excellent level.
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10/27/2023 - sirpat00 wrote: 93 Points
Double decanted. Plethora of exciting aging notes of tobacco, wet earth, black truffles and leather – this actually smells like the beginning of Autumn. Still fresh red cherry fruit, but also darker plum. The fruit linearly gains in intensity with aeration. Tannin has become ultra-soft but is still present enough to help build an amazing structure.
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9/16/2023 - ankitmehra Likes this wine: 94 Points
Perhaps I'm flying too close to the sun with this vintage, but wow, my second bottle in three months and yet another joy to drink. Very similar notes to the bottle opened in July, but contrary to that bottle, the spice didn't fade this time around. The fruit was still intact, albeit fading slightly towards the end, but the earthiness and spices from the last bottle carried over this time around as well. No more bottles of this wine left sadly, but maybe that's a sign not to push my luck!
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9/5/2023 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 92 Points
Once the substantial barnyard aromatics blew off, there was a lot to like here. The green notes resonated, along with some black cherries and white pepper. Good concentration.
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8/3/2023 - ankitmehra Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wow - I was not expecting this to be as good as it was. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. The 1978 Gruaud Larose is a gem when it comes from a well-stored bottle. Despite a very soft cork, the wine was still exceptional. The first glass opened up with a highly aromatic nose of spices and smoke that would fade by the last glass. The palette sustained itself for the duration of the bottle, though, as light red fruit was paired with spices, leather and tinges of earthiness and cassis. The finish lingered as the spices came back again and with the softened tannins, the table couldn't stop talking about this bottle all night long. Will be trying to find another well-stored bottle asap.
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10/30/2022 - Loathesome Likes this wine: 88 Points
Surprisingly dark colour. Fruit healthy but very rustic and overall balanced and still drinking but not with great charm.
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10/1/2022 - Comte Flaneur wrote: 95 Points
Another - my second - quite recently acquired pristine bottle, this eclipsed the one I drank two years earlier and opened up magnificently well. It is of course dominated by mature tertiary nuances, woodsy sous bois among many, but this wine show cased how magnificently Gruaud Larose can age, and how well the 1978 vintage can still drink when you stumble across good bottles like this.
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12/26/2021 - Wine MOB Likes this wine: 88 Points
The recent tasting notes are spot on with character of this wine, but I can’t give it such haughty numbers. Highly evolved, and the color of a flat cola. Impressive flavors abound with green bell pepper and jalapeño, peppercorn, tobacco leaf orange peel, fruitcake all very present. I cannot see this going much longer.
PS - showing better than 1978 Mouton!!!
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11/22/2021 - Cailles wrote: 92 Points
4 Rosé Unicorns & 6 Mature Bordeauxs: Five red Bordeauxs from 1978 to 1998 + one Sauternes 2001. All tasted double blind. Winner - by a margin - was the L’Evangile 1982 (98 pts). Best bottle so far, this showed a lot of intensity and substance combined with a perfect precision. The Pichon Baron 1989 is a quintessential Pauillac in its prime. The complete package. Complex, precise, super harmonious. The Pontet Canet 1996 (95 pts) showed surprisingly layered and seductive. The 1998 Ducru Beaucaillou (94 pts) showed the typical earthy, mineral and herbal profile but had some alcohol notes and showed overall more modern and ripe than today’s DBs. The Gruaud Larose 1978 (92 pts) had a nice fruit core with lots of tertiary aromas wrapped around it but compared to the others was lacking definition and complexity. The Dosiy Daene 2001 (96 pts) is another stunning 2001 Sauternes with a perfect balance of sweetness and freshness.
TN: We discussed a possible cork taint but in the end this was just some murky cellar stink which needed time to blow of. This was quite good with more fruit than I would have expected, nice tertiary notes, some burnt sugar notes, a bit of minerality. Not super clean, not super precise but quite fun to drink. Melted tannin structure, high and well-integrated acidity, ok-ish tension, light and airy texture and good length. Good but not great and no comparison to the legendary 1982.
Decanting: No extensive decanting necessary.
Glass: Conterno Sensory
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11/7/2021 - 559Cheers Likes this wine: 93 Points
Holding well, even the notes of bell pepper (green) accents it to the positive. Tertiary, aged, meaty Left Bank. Viscosity nice, great bottle!
*3rd night bell pepper has become the dominant flavor. Green peppers and jalapeños on the palette.
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10/30/2021 - sirpat00 wrote: 93 Points
Part of a small Bordeaux 20+ years of age line-up. The Gruaud Larose 78 needed some dusting off initially to get rid of the cellar must. The nose was fine and elegant, with limited intensity, and dominated by aging notes with lots of leather and barnyard. But I also found roses, rather red type of berries and some black tea. On the palate surprisingly fruity, catching you off guard with plenty of red berries, even if again more restrained than expressive. A really solid performance. Not as spectacular as the 1982 I had earlier this year, but evidence of how well these older Gruaud Larose vintages are drinking now is definitely mounting…
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8/6/2021 - mye wrote:
The reason we got together.. always a pleasure to drink a birth year wine for someone, for their birthday. Sweet red fruit, earth, leather, cordier smokiness. Lovely btl holding on to good shape.
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4/19/2021 - Collector1855 wrote: 97 Points
During a St.Julien dinner. The surprise of the night. Expressive and brooding nose of dark fruit, gingerbread, forest floor. Rich and ripe with high aromatic intensity. Does not feel tired at all. Excellent showing.
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10/15/2020 - Comte Flaneur wrote: 93 Points
A beautifully resolved and pristine bottle of Ch. Gruaud-Larose 1978, medium-bodied with bell pepper, tobacco, smoke and tar. One of the best mature clarets I have tried this year I would put it marginally behind the Talbot 1966 and D’Issan 1985. First of three, all pristine, no rush to drink these, based on #1.
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10/5/2020 - dream Likes this wine: 93 Points
A splendid bottle in perfect condition, the nose is so expressive with notes of tobacco, sweet earth and leathers. It possesses a great silky aged Bordeaux texture with delicious flavors of sweet and subdued smoky dark fruits and saddle leather. A bit of green in the style of the vintage at this point but it doesn't at all take away from the wine's incredible smoky sweetness. The finish lacks great complexity but it flows over the tongue with fully resolved tannins and a satisfying gravelly lift. Drink up for sure but it's amazing how top Bordeaux goes on and on even after the party seems to have ended years before.
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7/1/2020 - vagrantone Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking well but not as good as last bottle.
Not decanted, cork soaked but intact.
Very much a "house flavor" to this wine. I don't really like the term "Cordier Funk" but I can see why the term appeared.
Earthy and spicy notes dominate. The balance is good but the tannic side of the 1978 vintage comes through here. Hollow would be unfair. Perhaps angular or reserved would be more appropriate. The texture was not as rich and balanced as in other vintages. Still classic St. Julien pleasure though...
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4/6/2020 - vagrantone Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine was drinking exceptionally well tonight.
Good fill level and cork.
Decanted about an hour prior to dinner.
It showed both the strengths and weaknesses of the 1978 vintage.
Excellent hue after 42 years and great clarity, minimal sediment.
Yes, there is a slightly herbaceous element to this wine, but that is precisely what you should look for here.
as time went on, the herbaceous character receeded and the earthy and fruity parts came to the front.
Lively acidity, tobacco notes, this wine has staying power: either for additional bottle age or in the decanter. Critics would say that it lacks richness, but is that really what you should be looking for in an aged Medoc wine?
Exceeded expectations. Will drink over next 10 years.
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3/11/2020 - curtr Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was stored in a cellar at 52 degrees. Tertiary at this point, however holding together better than I would have imagined.
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2/28/2020 - tinybubbles wrote: 88 Points
Overperformed expectations. Dusty but deep dark red fruit. Modest soil tones. 88-89
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9/19/2019 - salil wrote: 92 Points
Dinner at Nico Osteria: The combination of bretty funk, pyrazine, and a very faint hint of VA at first reminds me of Musar (and not in a bad way) - air clears this up a bit as the Cordier funk and the slight VA note both dissipate, and what's left is a very pretty red fruited wine with lots of mature savouriness and some sharp herbal/green notes on the note that add freshness without detracting.
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9/19/2019 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Dinner at Nico Osteria (Chicago, IL): The Cordier funk was initially just too strong here; it did seem to reduce with air. Tons of pyrazines here, and that's almost the whole story. The palate has an intense green herbal edge. A nice bit of graphite and a slightly dusty disposition here; I liked this more than the 1982 alongside.
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7/4/2019 - vinopunk wrote: 79 Points
Came a collection of well-stored bottles, but cork fell in when pushed down. Certainly drinkable, but well past its prime and nothing there -- no fruit, nothing very interesting left. Ended up pouring at least half the bottle down the drain.
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2/21/2019 - WetRock wrote:
The nose was a classic Bordeaux expression initially. Not a real wow but nice. It got a bit funky later on. Lean, balanced palate. Not super interesting but very drinkable. Not really tiered but passed it's best days. Holding well.
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8/25/2018 - salil wrote: 86 Points
The Cordier funk is here in spades. This shows more barnyard and leathery funk than any of the various 80s Gruauds I've been checking into lately, though there's still quite a bit of bright red fruit, cedar wood, and other more classic Bordeaux flavours in the back - but it's one of the rare times (with an old Cordier) that I find the brett too much, and would have probably liked this more if it were dialed back some.
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10/14/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Dinner Honoring Bernard Hervet (Lake Forest, IL): Both of tonight's bottles were purchased upon release and perfectly stored since. These were opened several hours before serving and quickly double decanted. Good combination of mature black fruit, barnyard and mushroom with some cedar background notes. Still very enjoyable, but certainly no upside from here.
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10/2/2017 - EhrlichDY wrote: 92 Points
My last bottle of 4 and this is still showing well. Classic mature Bordeaux nose showing tobacco and cedar. Still quite dark in color and showing surprising freshness. Fully resolved and earthy with a hint of fruit. Cordier wines from this period are just terrific.
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12/4/2016 - soyhead wrote:
Lovely and complex wine
Nose - sweet tobacco, soil, cornucopia of light red fruit
Mouth - savory and complex , classic Bordeaux soul, infused fruit with sweet tobacco while less complex dare I say reminiscent of a great wine we had last week ( 89 HBrion ). Surprisingly good given the age and frayed state of the label.
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10/15/2016 - Torchy Likes this wine: 87 Points
Uncle Fine Wine Club Fall BYO; 10/14/2016-10/15/2016 (Tord House): Maroon cloudy. Welcoming and complex nose with basement, potato, marsh, forest and light hints of mint. The mouth is unfortunately "over the top". Juice, meat, flat fruit, swamp water and tameness. Some stewed plums are there too. Charming
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10/14/2016 - Bobhelge wrote: 88 Points
Uncles Fine Wine Club’s - Grand Cru Tasting (Bodø): Mature elements and quite intense – espresso roasted coffee beans, leather, barnyard, swamp, forest floor, overripe cherry and decomposed wood. Not much fruit left. A bit sour on the palate with cherry elements and saw dust. This wine is on its decline. Drink now.
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9/11/2016 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium-deep, reddish garnet in color with slight amber tint at the edges. Forward, attractive & fragrant nose of well-developed, mature & complex, ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blueberries, & cassis with overtones of classic cigar box notes of cedar & tobacco, floral notes of violets, earthy/dusty, some mint, loam, old leather, herbs, spices, smoky, truffles & minerals in the background. Medium-full bodied with a good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, elegant, mature, well-developed & multi-layered, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blueberries & cranberries with earthy/dusty, herbs, mushrooms, minerals, spices & a hint of oak. Lingering elegant finish. Drinks quite well at present and appears to be at or very close to its peak of development, so drink up soon. The bottle had a good fill & clean cork. A wonderful mature classic Bordeaux.
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3/26/2016 - chcook wrote:
This too had a great fill despite a cork that was wet to the top. The wine was great. delicate, all secondary, and held up for at least an hour while consumed. actually improved with air. alone might be boring, but sang with lamb stew. was a little overwhelmed by the younger Bordeaux served alongside. I don't see any upside in waiting any longer on these, but perhaps bottles with better corks might have more longevity. I wouldn't take the chance.
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11/29/2015 - Purple Tooth wrote:
Perfect fill, impeccable cork, great beginning clarity that started precipitating solids as we got deeper into the bottle. I think it might be some cold damage...Cedar chest, beef bullion, herbaceous, savory, and dungeneous. Flavor were all intact but the finish was flat due to the storage damage...Still very good if you drink it with food.
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10/4/2015 - EhrlichDY Likes this wine: 90 Points
Classical Bordeaux on the nose showing cedar and tobacco. Fully mature and resolved on the palate showing savory and earthy elements. All the fruit has gone but the wine retains freshness. Not as good as my last bottle but sill a lovely mature wine. Drink.
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9/28/2015 - Billigan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not a wine of weight or power, but a really beautiful, elegant expression of deep earthiness and cedar. Fully mature, with only the slightest bit of sweet fruit holding on, but still very energetic and fresh from the acidity. A real treasure to savor now.
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9/26/2015 - Purple Tooth wrote: 92 Points
What does good fill level mean to an old bottle of wine? The odds are definitely in your favor tonight! Shared by a good friend who bought it with some suspicion, the 1978 CGL teaches you that good wines exist from any vintage. Not that 78 was a bad year, but you would have never thought it was still SO valid. Rusted edges with youthful and shining garnet beneath, the wine showed no fatigue in its appearance. Typical cedar chest nose with loam and herbaceous must, the wine gained weight and improved throughout the bottle. Very complex palate with faint traces of the remains of fruit. Adequate finish, propped up with acidity and faded tannins. DRINK
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5/21/2015 - salil wrote: 90 Points
Very pretty, understated and graceful with gentle red and dark fruited flavours tinged with dusty earthy notes, herbs, and tobacco. Flavours slowly build and get more complex with air, and this is lovely to follow over a few hours.
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1/31/2015 - LWI wrote: 89 Points
Château Gruaud-Larose 1928 - 2011: Exotic, funky, a hint of complexity; slimmer in the mouth than the nose suggested, some warmth.
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11/25/2014 - FMRsommelier wrote: 93 Points
Robe rubis briquée encore d’une belle intensité. Nez de fruits noirs, tapenade et terre humide. La bouche est étonnamment vivante malgré son âgé et démontre encore fruit et fraicheur. Les tannins sont tout à fait fondu. Belle élégance et longueur.
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10/18/2014 - coremill wrote: flawed
Old Bordeaux (Uncle Jack's): Earthy and cigarettey with this odd citrusy character, like someone dumped a bunch of tart orange juice in the wine. I've encountered this a couple of times before in old Cabernet-based wines, and I'm pretty sure this is a flaw, although I don't know exactly what the source is (I suspect some combination of VA and oxidation, but who knows).
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9/26/2014 - petitblanc wrote: 87 Points
Old Wine Offline; 9/26/2014-9/27/2014 (The Room Off the Patio at Ruth's Chris, and My House): This bottle had a good fill and nice looking cork. The general profile was very advanced, showing celery and green pepper character, with no structure, and with just faint hints of the classic Gruaud Larose style.
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8/14/2014 - Ericsson wrote: 85 Points
Grands bordeaux chez Olivier (Geneva): La robe la plus évoluée de la série. Le nez est clairement sur les arômes tertiaires. En bouche, le vin paraît un peu dépouillé, l'apogée ayant certainement été dépassé pour cette bouteille. C'est encore agréable à boire mais il fait plus vieux que son âge.
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6/2/2014 - Rupert wrote: 92 Points
1978 Medoc Horizontal (The Ledbury, London): Deep, funky, tannic, lots of guts - I loved this (I sensed the others present were less impressed)
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6/2/2014 - SimonG wrote: 91 Points
1978 Bordeaux @ Ledbury (The Ledbury): Savoury, deep nose. A little muddied and a touch shrill. Nicely savoury. Not quite as sweet and rounded as a bottle a couple of weeks ago, but still attractive in its own right. ****
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5/12/2014 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points
Richard Z's Soif soirée (Soif, Clapham): Mid garnet. Beautifully clear. Lovely savoury-sweet nose. Quite light. No obvious 78 green character. Very harmonious and silky smooth. Really lovely. ****
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5/2/2014 - meqoubal36 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rond, mûr et équilibré. Beau rubis profond, très légèrement orangé. Suave, délicat et persistant en bouche. Notes de cuir, tabac, venaison, sous-bois, cerise, mûre, grande minéralité, très bonne mâche et incroyable pureté... Excellent. Ce millésime a vraiment produit d'excelletns vins qui tiennent la distance...
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10/7/2013 - Keith Levenberg Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great showing. I don't think I've ever had a '78 before with this much oomph. It has a dense, tarry character reminiscent of old Barolo, and feels pitch-black, like drinking molten asphalt. Tannins have totally resolved, so this is really rounded and polished too. At its peak.
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10/7/2013 - EhrlichDY wrote: 92 Points
Perfect cork and deep color of a well stored bottle. Rich and deeply fruited. Tannins have melted away. Terrific aged Bordeaux that just tasted like an old wine should. This wine was absent the classic Cordier funk - enjoyable and clean.
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8/14/2013 - G_H Likes this wine: 92 Points
Espresso, coffee beans, herbs, dense nearly fat with a nice long finish. That's the way I love bordeaux
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5/25/2013 - stinkycook Likes this wine:
Fully mature. Pleasant and forward nose of beets, meat, pencil shavings. Gentle tannins.
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11/16/2012 - prof b Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cork was nearly saturated but came out relatively easily. Brick red in color. Nearly all of the fruit has faded, leaving just a hint of prunes. Tar and graphite hit the palate along with more subtle elements of tobacco and pencil shavings. A pleasurable, fully mature wine. I suspect this is on its decline.
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11/3/2012 - j30 wrote: 91 Points
Tawny and fully mature. A bit of sour plum and raisin. Mature nose of mushroom, earth, dry leave, graphite. Tannins fully resolved and very smooth palate. Still has weight and good acidity. Long finish. Very good.
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9/24/2012 - Genghis88 wrote: 87 Points
DINNER AT Q4 CENTRO with Roberto and Family
Brickish-orange to the rim
Mushrooms, vegetable, licorice
Age, a little metallic, dirty, aged, dry, downside, fruit diminishing to gone...green weediness....
Definitely peaked in my opinion
Not quite my style of Bordeaux, but its a good representation of the style that was prevalent during that time
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4/10/2012 - Serge Birbrair wrote:
The bottle was put on the table as a replacement but...the bottle was cold, 52 F. I had to employ an old microwave trick and in 15 seconds we had the perfect temperature wine which was garnet color, see through, sediments on the bottom only, fully mature and very pleasant Bordeaux, even though Todd rightfully noted that the fruit is diminished. Oh well, nothing lives forever.
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4/10/2012 - Serge Birbrair wrote:
The first bottle we opened was bad, really bad. Very dark no see through color with lots of sediments. The wine ended up in the sink a-la Charlie Fu's style.
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3/31/2012 - otherjamesbrown Likes this wine: 87 Points
Definitely needs drinking up. Fine old wine, fun to drink - but do so sooner than later
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3/12/2012 - Serge Birbrair wrote:
Cork almost fell through. Fully mature with some life left but not much, drink up.
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8/12/2011 - pjaines wrote:
This is the encapsulation of mature Bordeaux. Still lots of life left in this wine - fully resolved tannins but still with structure and depth - wonderfully mature notes of mushrooms, earth, cedar and tobacco. Very very fine wine indeed. Excellent.
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6/5/2011 - NineteenEightyTwo wrote: 80 Points
Dusky auburn color. Nose retains only hints of the brighter notes, with the majority of the aromas being darker and earthier. Structure has disappeared except for mild lingering acidity. A wine past its prime, sadly.
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12/19/2010 - Alex H wrote: 89 Points
Combined bday dinner; 12/19/2010-12/20/2010 (Tornado): Green peppers Chinese tonics. Lots of fresh tobacco leaves and lots of herbaceous goodness. Very leafy but i like
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12/18/2010 - Paul S wrote: 93 Points
30-40-50 Dinner (Music and Wines of the 1960s, 70s and 80s) (Bounce, Iluma): I thought this was very good. Nose was tight, showing leafy tobacco notes and some coffee beans along with little hints of dark fruit - quite nice, and very similar to the 1970 Poyferre actually. The palate was far more alive though. Cleanly concentrated, it showed black olives, pure, juicy transparent cassis notes and a long finish of tobacco and damp leafiness. Rich and delicious, yet supremely balanced, this was probably drinking at peak. Not one for those who like their wines modern and shiny - this was a typically rustic Gruaud Larose, but I found it a gorgeous wine for its vintage and one of the best clarets amongst a very strong line-up.
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4/10/2010 - wabi47 wrote: 89 Points
courtesy of Neil and karyn; cork moist and disintegrated with some falling into the bottle; poured thru strainer and decanted due to cork and heavy sediment, tho drunk immediately; darker than expected with minor bricking; leather and barnyard hints on the nose; smooth/fading dry cherry and rhubarb, leather, sandalwood notes finishes with some tartness and pepper (in a good way); elegant though soft mouthfeel ; dont really notice any oak and tannins well integrated; just right at french restaurant with both first and second courses.
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12/25/2009 - starkravingmad wrote: 85 Points
Celebrating Christmas with this classic Bordeaux. Appearance: Ruby / brickish colored, syrupy - not at all opaque in appearance. Heavy sediment. Rustic and earthy nose - still quite pleasant. Decanted for 4 hours then poured. Flavors have faded, but still taste of currants, red berries. Finish is very earthy. Still in balance but well past its prime and on its last legs. Drink immediately if you have any.
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11/29/2009 - Vinomane wrote: 90 Points
Perfect bottle. Level just 3/8" below cork, edge brick but not brown, heavy sediment. Nose somewhere between sloe and redcurrant, palate pure rhubarb. Rustic and unmistakably Gruaud. Finish rather abbreviated, not unusual for this vintage. Birth year of tonight's guest of honor. Will not improve, so drink 'em if ya got 'em.
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3/21/2009 - rickspicks wrote: 90 Points
Tough to open as the cork was dried out. Decanted and poured. Ruby with brickish color and not opaque. Beautiful nose of barnyard, dried red fruit, herbs and oak. Thin mouthfeel and the flavors are fading, but what is there is a terrific mix of flavors that matched the nose -- dried red fruits and herbs. Finishes with a very pleasant musty/earthy/oaky flavor. Everything is in balance and it retains complexity and elegance, but it is clearly on its last legs. Tastes exactly like what it is -- a once-powerful wine that is fading. It is the last bottle of a case that I purchased at least 20 years ago -- and was one of the first wines I ever had from bordeaux . I feel a bit like I would if I had a friend who is passing on and there is nothing you can do to stop it.
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12/31/2008 - rickspicks wrote: 91 Points
I have enjoyed many bottles of this wine over the past 15 years and this one was typical of all the others. The cork pushed back into the bottle when I tried to open it with a corkscrew. I assumed the worst, but should not have been concerned. Ruby red with brickish tones. Characteristic Gruaud nose of earthiness with dark cherry, plum and leather. Medium bodied with a medium finish and flavorss that matched the nose. It is soft and but has just enough acidity to have some elegance. In spite of being a bit past its prime, is still drinking great right now.
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4/1/2008 - Keith Cooper wrote: 90 Points
Opened, decanted to remove sediment and poured immediately. It was fantastic, with lovely earthy tannins and a good length. We were very pleased, having previously had the same vintage and been disappointed at a wine tasting which had the same source of supply - we think maybe they had opened the bottle too far in advance - this just needs opening and pouring, there is no benefit from additional airation. Lukcily I have one more bottle! Thirty year old Bordeaux at its best.
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1/17/2008 - Keith Cooper wrote: 72 Points
This wine was sampled at The New Mill Restaurant "bin-ends" dinner, giving those present an opportunity to sample this vintage at nearly 30 years old. Whilst known to have been stored in the restaurant cellars for many years, the label was badly damaged as a result of flooding. Sadly, this particular example was well past its best, though still drinkable. There was little nose and the taste was thin with low levels of fruit. It still had some typical claret characteristics, somewhat earthy and still smooth. A small quantity was left in the glass for 3 hours, with no noticeable change. It's always interesting to try old vintages of Bordeaux and this was no exception, despite it having lost most of its appeal. I have two bottles of Gruaud Larose 78, so it will be interesting to see if they have survived better.
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7/23/2007 - owainm wrote:
Dark red cherry colour. On the nose cedar, leather and spice (Shane said smells of Christmas presents and cookies). Smooth, beautifully integrated tannins. Hints of black currant, blackberries and a little cherry. Elegant, refined. 20 second finish.
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5/18/2006 - i musicisti di boston wrote:
A bit worrisome opening this-the cork was so loose that when I started rubbing the gunk off the top of it it literally just slipped right down the neck into the bottle! My worries were swept away on decanting by gorgeous aromas of cedar, leather and faded cassis essence. This was really nice, elegant in the best since-still vibrant and fresh on the palate, with good length and presence, but with impeccable integration of tannins and lovely secondary nuances. Really enjoyable!
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4/6/2006 - Myownscale wrote: 75 Points
Nose:
Lots of barnyard
Palate:
Olive Brine, barnyard, green pepper, cedar
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2/12/2006 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Internet Group tasting Feb. 2006; Languedoc (@ JdZ): Beautiful and complex bouquet with rustic and autumn impressions, some licorice and vanilla. On the palate concentrated cassis and other black berries. Concentrated. Good acidity and still some tannin and bitterness.
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3/21/2005 - MRichman wrote:
Gruaud Larose Vertical (Michael's NYC): Perhaps just slightly corked? Thick, smooth, sweet with good fruit.
B/B+
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4/23/2004 - Jeff W wrote:
Swedish in London offline.
Tasted blind. Ancient looking. Leathery, complex and delicious. Still vibrant and very long. exc
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3/7/2004 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Special Bordeaux tasting for a group that wanted to taste mature wines (@ Klap by AS and me): The color is light orange. In the bouquet celery and also complex maturity flavors. On the palate still juicy with leather, plums, vegetal impressions, rose hips and some caramel. Overall a clean and mature wine with a firm amount of acidity.
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12/13/1997 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
Aged top Bordeaux with my local tasting club (@ My place): Beautiful, expressive and complex bouquet with pleasant barnyard. Some spices as well. Fully mature and all in perfect balance. Great wine.
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3/29/1996 - Zweder wrote: 91 Points
In the bouquet beautiful barnyard, butter, cassis, smoky flavors and some chocolate. On the palate still cassis and all the oaky flavors from the bouquet. Really complex wine with also a touch of sweetness. Great! Long finish! Beautiful wine although it is not as great as the 1979. Drink now or soon.
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10/7/1988 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Very dark red. Beautiful deep, rich and complex bouquet with cassis, a lot of cream, liquorice and good oak. Very complex and beautiful. Full bodied, firm and powerful. A lot of cassis and liquorice. A lot of good tannin. The wine develops in the glass and becomes more elegant later in the evening. Even blind I recognised the Cordier style; the elegance of St. Julien and the power of Pauillac, but because of the firm tannin I made the wrong guess and thought it was Talbot.
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7/1/1988 - sdr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Inserted as a ringer in a tasting of 1978 California Cabernet Sauvignon, it was Wine of the Night for me. Gorgeous sweet bouquet took me to Pomerol more than St. Julien. Medium color. Intense well focused fruit. Really fine. À point.
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11/18/1987 - buckeye76 wrote: 88 Points
Concentrated fruit, deep ruby red color...beginning to reach maturity stage
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