Chateau Gruaud Larose 1982

WEINWISSER: "Intensives Granat-Rubin. Betörender Duft von reifen Pflaumen, schwarzer Trüffel, Lakritze, animalisch, bezaubernd komplex. Ein Kraftpaket am Gaumen, immer Finessen und Eleganz in den Vordergrund stellend, viel Opulenz, ohne schwer oder breit zu wirken, seidig weich, wie Butter auf der Zunge schmelzend, perfekt, ein Traum."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "In serious competition for one of the best bottles of 82 Gruaud Larose I have ever had, this is a beauty. Clean on the nose, with its blend of cedar, tobacco leaf, cigar box, smoke, cassis, wet earth and leafy green herbs with a generous blast of red fruits, the wine wants to get noticed. Still looking and feeling young for its age, the wine is full-bodied, rich, powerful and wildly regal. The finish fills your mouth with layers of sweet, ripe earthy red fruits, wet earth and tobacco. This is really in the zone, and while not inexpensive, for a 1982 Bordeaux at this level, it is a deal!"

FALSTAFF: "Kräftiges Rubingranat, zart Ockerreflexe, breitere Randaufhellung. Feinwürziges Bukett, Nuancen von Heidelbeeren und Kirschen, zart animalisch, sonnendurchflutetes Unterholz, ein Hauch von feuchten Kies und Nougat. Stoffig dunkles Waldbeerkonfit, reife Tannine, extraktsüß und lange anhaftend, intensiver und sypmathischer Wein, der gerade in großen Jahren immer wieder aufzeigen kann, wenngleich auch immer etwas rustikal. Ein Großbauer mit Brokatweste und goldener Taschenuhr."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A massive wine that is clearly of first-growth quality in this vintage, the 1982 Gruaud Larose remains a youngster. A broodingly dense, thick, unctuously textured, inky/plum/garnet/purple color offers up scents of beef blood, steak tartare, cassis, herbs, tobacco, and underbrush. One of the most concentrated wines of the vintage (as well as one of the most concentrated Bordeaux’s I have ever tasted), it is a huge, full-bodied, weighty, rich wine whose tannins are getting silkier and silkier. It appears set for another 30-40 years of life. This behemoth is a singularly profound example of Gruaud Larose that continues to justify its legendary status. Anticipated maturity: now-2050."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Cool and very fresh with a seam of graphite. Drier than the Grand Puy Lacoste 1982 served blind alongside. More intense but with more obvious acidity. It may be drying out but I have given it the benefit of the doubt."

WINE SPECTATOR: "One of the best wines ever made at this estate. Dense ruby color with a slight amber edge. Intense grape, berry and raspberry aromas. Full-bodied, with loads of velvety tannins and a long, ripe fruit and mineral aftertaste.--1982 Bordeaux horizontal. Drink now."