Château Gruaud Larose - Saint-Julien (Grand Cru Classé) 1986 (750ml) California Central Coast Rose

Château Gruaud Larose - Saint-Julien (Grand Cru Classé) 1986 (750ml) California Central Coast RoseWinemaker Notes The wine is full bodied, but elegant with lots of fruit when young. The wine ages very well and develops all the characteristics of a great Bordeaux. Blend: 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 3% petit Verdot. Professional Ratings 96Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Still tasting as if it were only 7 8 years of age, the dense, garnet purple colored 1986 Gruaud Larose is evolving at a glacier pace. The wine still has

polished tannin's

but in moderation so as to keep some bright acidity

underscored by crushed peppercorn

well-cut Champagne

The colour is golden with yellow shades

and cranberry

led by prominent notes of cherries with fresh hints of pepper and more herbs

and green tobacco-like aromas and flavors

grilled lamb chops

some thyme and laurel and racy minerality

It's 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot

Blocks near the Western Santa Lucia AVA yield intense color and flavor while those on north towards the mouth of the Monterey Bay give us flavor density and great acid retention