2025 Château Gruaud-Larose Sarget de Gruaud Larose

A FIRST - EXPECTED EARLY 2028

Winery Château Gruaud Larose

Château Gruaud Larose is one of the historical greats of Saint-Julien and was classified as a Deuxième Grand Cru Classé in 1855. The château has a history dating back to 1725 and celebrates its special 300th anniversary in 2025. To mark this occasion, the Grand Vin features a special golden jubilee label. Under the leadership of the Merlaut family and Technical Director Virginie Sallette, the focus is on biodiversity, agro-ecology, and an extremely precise plot approach. Sarget de Gruaud Larose is the château's second wine, but is produced with the same care and philosophy as the Grand Vin. More information about this winery can be found under the Winery tab.

Region, climate and location

Sarget de Gruaud Larose comes from Saint-Julien, in the heart of the Médoc, an appellation known for wines where elegance and structure come together. The vineyards are situated on deep Garonne gravel soils from the Quaternary period, deposited more than 600,000 years ago. These soils are particularly well-suited for Cabernet Sauvignon, but also lend Merlot beautiful tension and precision. The 2025 vintage was marked by extreme drought, with only about 700 mm of rain during the growing season. A mild winter ensured early bud formation, after which the warm summer accelerated ripening. The harvest took place exceptionally early and was completed fully before the autumn rains, a significant advantage in a year with such dry conditions. According to Gruaud Larose, this resulted in concentrated, intense, yet remarkably balanced wines.

Vineyards and grape varieties

The blend of Sarget de Gruaud Larose 2025 consists of 59% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot . The relatively high amount of Merlot gives the wine a softer, more accessible style, while Cabernet Sauvignon provides structure, freshness, and the typical Saint-Julien signature.

The château boasts 82 hectares of contiguous vineyards, a rarity in Bordeaux. The average age of the vines is approximately 49 years. A significant portion of Sarget de Gruaud Larose comes from plots on Terrasse 3, many parts of which were already included in the historic classification of 1855. This contributes to the remarkable quality and terroir expression of this second wine.

Harvest, vinification and aging

The harvest took place between September 3 and 20, the earliest of this century at the estate. The grapes were harvested entirely by hand and underwent four rounds of selection, including optical sorting. Thanks to this rigorous selection, only perfectly ripe fruit could be used. Vinification takes place by plot and micro-plot in small temperature-controlled concrete vats of 50 to 130 hectoliters. Fermentation occurs between 24°C and 28°C, with daily tastings to fine-tune extraction precisely via remontage and pulsed air systems. The wine then ages for twelve months in French oak barrels, creating extra refinement without overpowering the fruit.

Color, smell and taste

Sarget de Gruaud Larose 2025 opens immediately seductively with aromas of cassis, ripe blackcurrants, plums, and dark cherries. Additionally, floral notes, subtle spices, and light oak influences appear, beautifully interwoven with the fruit. In the background, nuances of hazelnut, graphite, and a refined minerality emerge.

On the palate, the wine reveals itself to be juicy, charming, and remarkably complete. The Drinks Business calls the wine impressively seductive for a Sarget, with a core of freshness that completely transcends the warmth of the vintage. Notable is the juicy and slightly saline finish, in which even the modest amount of Cabernet Sauvignon clearly brings structure and tension.

James Suckling specifically praises the velvety texture and the combination of spices, dark fruit, and polished tannins. Despite its status as a second wine, this vintage possesses great depth, precision, and a remarkably serious structure. The finish remains fresh, harmonious, and beautifully balanced.

Development and drinking window

Sarget de Gruaud Larose 2025 is more accessible than the Grand Vin, but clearly possesses sufficient structure to age beautifully. In its youth, the juicy fruit, velvety texture, and fresh tension will dominate.

With additional bottle aging, more notes of cedar, cigar box, graphite, and dried herbs will emerge. A drinking window from approximately 2029 to 2042 seems realistic, depending on personal preference for youthful freshness or extra tertiary complexity.

Summary of professional reviews

94-95 points – James Suckling: praises the juicy and velvety style, with dark fruit, spices, and polished tannins. 92-94+ points – The Drinks Business: calls the wine impressively seductive, juicy, and remarkably fresh for the warm vintage. 93 points – Bettane & Desseauve: praises the aromatic precision and careful vinification in the style of a Grand Vin. 93-94 points – Bernard Burtschy: speaks of a classic, reliable Saint-Julien with cassis, density, and freshness. 91-93 points – Jeb Dunnuck and Lisa Perrotti-Brown: emphasize the balance and refined structure. The full review texts can be found in the tab: Professional reviews.

Wine & Food Pairing and Discount

If available, you will find the official factsheet and additional information about this fine wine in the 'Attachments' tab. We will automatically send these to you upon ordering this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you come to collect the wine, you will often receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you select 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht, situated almost next to the A16 with ample parking. Click here for our address.

You can read full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the ideal wine for your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grandcruwijnen customers. In the Food tab, you will find advice on what to look for for the right food and wine pairing, and a number of dish suggestions from our Sommelier.