Chateau Gruaud Larose 2012
- Producer Chateau Gruaud Larose
- Country France
- Region Bordeaux
- Appellation Saint-Julien
- UPC 0 15643 42840 1
Tasting notes
Dark, intense colour. The nose is powerful with an explosion of fruit. Good attack, round and soft on the palate with countless flavours. It's chewy with delicate tannins. It is starting to evolve beautifully in the barrels.
Weather
Very dry winter. February and March were very cold. April: high rainfall, very low temperatures (late, heterogeneous bud break). Spring temperatures below past 30 years’ average (late flowering). July was cold but August was hotter than in the previous 7 years. End of summer: major water stress.
End of July: intense heat. Rain in the early autumn (homogenized maturity of the grapes). Merlots were harvested early October (very good conditions). Wait for full maturity of the Cabernets: the good plots were picked in excellent condition. Hard rain on Oct. 14 (accelerated harvesting).
One of the most complicated vintages in 10 years.
One of the most complicated vintages in 10 years.
Vineyard
Integrated Pest Control (mechanical work, organic fertilisation), Weather Station (phytosanitary protection), Prophylaxis (thinning out the leaves, removal of excess buds and shoots, green harvest). Heightening of the trellis. Manual harvesting, selection on a belt in the vineyard and double sorting at the harvest reception.