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Red

1981 Château Gruaud Larose

Red Bordeaux Blend

  • France
  • Bordeaux
  • Médoc
  • St. Julien
Drink between 1991 - 2010 (Edit)
CT90.4 122 reviews
1981
1981
1981
1981
1981
1981
1981
1981
1981
1981
N.V.
N.V.
N.V.
N.V.
N.V.
Label borrowed from 1982
1982
Label borrowed from 1982
1982
Label borrowed from 1980
1980
Label borrowed from 1982
1982
Label borrowed from 1982
1982
Label borrowed from 1982
1982
Label borrowed from 1982
1982
Label borrowed from 1982
1982
Label borrowed from 1982
1982
Label borrowed from 1982
1982

Community Tasting Notes 111

  • RockinCabs wrote: 92 points

    September 18, 2023 - Same bottle as EC. To me, this showed really well. Classically Talbot of the era with loads of cedar, cassis, tobacco, funky mushroom and forest floor. Very nice personality, and surprising density and a nice briney squid ink note.

  • Purple Tooth wrote: 94 points

    September 17, 2023 - These are outstanding examples of fully mature Bordeaux wines that make you take it all in. When we talk about sensual wines, this is a sensual wine capable of filling a whole room with pungent scents of earth, clay, barnyard, beef ajus, coupled with that pretty dry potpourri and night flower ending. Really classy and debonaire, and a great example of a fine Bordeaux. Ready to drink, but not at risk. DRINK

  • englishman's claret wrote: 88 points

    September 17, 2023 - The 1981 Gruaud Larose is a pleasant surprise; the nose is a little low-key but it expands nicely on the palate with blackberry, squid ink, and black coffee. There’s a whisper of brett that is inconspicuous enough to avoid distracting. I’m surprised still to see so much tannin in the mouth; it’s not coarse or unpleasant, just surprising given the vintage (now age 42).

    1 person found this helpful Comment
  • Echovineyards Likes this wine: 97 points

    May 13, 2023 - 1981 Gruaud La Rose. We opened this 42 year old Bordeaux at a Mano restaurant,San Francisco with a Durand at Mike’s birthday celebration. John and Steven attended. The cork was 90% moist with one seepage spot. The wine exhibited some bricking but had an aromatic nose. The flavors were forward and fruity. Black currant, red raspberry, tobacco, leather, cassis and smoke dominated. The wine was medium bodied and very well balanced, slightly passed the peek of maturity. This was the most profound 81 tasted in years.

  • bucktooth22 Likes this wine: 93 points

    April 8, 2023 - 42 year old bottle. Bloody color. On 👃 red fruits and secondary notes well balanced — ripe strawberries , wet forest floor, peppercorn, leather. On 👅 , dry, medium acidic, smooth tannins, strawberries & walnut.

    2 people found this helpful Comment
1 - 5 of 111 More notes

Pro Reviews 5

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Vinous

  • By Neal Martin
    Cellar Journal – Bordeaux to Start… (Jul 2018), 7/18/2018 (link)

    (Gruaud-larose Gruaud Larose Red) Subscribe to see review text.

View From the Cellar

  • By John Gilman
    Jul/Aug 2016, Issue #64, Comparing the 1981 Claret Vintage at Age Thirty-Five And the 1986 Bordeaux Vintage At Age Thirty

    (Château Gruaud-Larose) Subscribe to see review text.

Vinous

  • By Ian D'Agata
    February 2013 (link)

    (Chateau Gruaud Larose Saint Julien) Subscribe to see review text.

Winedoctor

  • By Chris Kissack
    July 2003 (link)

    (Chateau Gruaud-Larose St Julien) Subscribe to see review text.

  • By Chris Kissack
    July 2003 (link)

    (Château Gruaud-Larose St Julien Red) Subscribe to see review text.

Wine Definition

  • Vintage 1981
  • Type Red
  • Producer Château Gruaud Larose
  • Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
  • Designation n/a
  • Vineyard n/a
  • Country France
  • Region Bordeaux
  • SubRegion Médoc
  • Appellation St. Julien
  • UPC Code 087000336810

Community Holdings

  • Pending Delivery 4 (0%)
  • In Cellars 496 (58%)
  • Consumed 362 (42%)

Food Pairing

Community Recommendations

franks and beans

Who Likes This Wine

100% Like It  18 votes

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