I have one and only one bottle of Chateau Gruaud Larose 1990 should I drink
it now or wait a couple of years ?



Best Regards Morten Pedersen
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Morten Pedersen wrote:
> I have one and only one bottle of Chateau Gruaud Larose 1990 should I drink
> it now or wait a couple of years ?

What are your storage conditions like? If stored at 10 C or so, I'd
wait another 5-10 years before opening it. '90 was a lower acid year,
so the wines probably won't age as well as e.g. '86, but Gruaud-Larose
is never a soft wine.

Mark Lipton
(still holding on to his '82 and '86)

The wine has been stored at about 11-12 C, so I think I will wait a couple
of years more....

Thanks.

"Mark Lipton" > wrote in message
news:UyJ%e.190440$084.100340@attbi_s22...
> Morten Pedersen wrote:
>> I have one and only one bottle of Chateau Gruaud Larose 1990 should I
>> drink
>> it now or wait a couple of years ?
>
> What are your storage conditions like? If stored at 10 C or so, I'd
> wait another 5-10 years before opening it. '90 was a lower acid year,
> so the wines probably won't age as well as e.g. '86, but Gruaud-Larose
> is never a soft wine.
>
> Mark Lipton
> (still holding on to his '82 and '86)

I'll disagree with Mark. I've had this twice in last 2-3 years, and
think it's ready. Lots of 1990s never really shut down, and are
drinking well.

The 1990 Gruaud is a bit atypical for G-L and doesn't resemble the
hulking '86 very much. It's a big wine, with that slightly roasted note
that some '90s have as well as the vintage's roundness. I don't think
there's any need to hurry to drink, but also no reason to wait if you
want now.

I'm not as much of a fan as some (very experienced) tasters I have had
it with, but no one thought it needed time.

We're doing a '90 horizontal next month, haven't seen the Gruaud on the
list yet, but will report if it shows up.

DaleW wrote:
> I'll disagree with Mark. I've had this twice in last 2-3 years, and
> think it's ready. Lots of 1990s never really shut down, and are
> drinking well.
>
> The 1990 Gruaud is a bit atypical for G-L and doesn't resemble the
> hulking '86 very much. It's a big wine, with that slightly roasted note
> that some '90s have as well as the vintage's roundness. I don't think
> there's any need to hurry to drink, but also no reason to wait if you
> want now.

I will certainly defer to you on this, Dale. Do you really feel that
it's fully mature? My experience with it dates to its release, and like
you I was not impressed enough with it (or the '89) to invest my $$ in
it. I'd have guessed, though, that its tannins would last through the
mid-aughties at least.

Mark Lipton

There's some tannins, but by time they're fully resolved I'm not sure
what you'd have. This has the classic hot weather profile- lots of
(slightly roasted) fruit, low-acidity, lush texture. It also has a
minty note that some like, a few don't. I'm not clairvoyant, and I
can't say for sure where this is going, but I'd bet 90% of tasters
would find it more attractive now than in 2020.

(actually, depending on price, the mistake you made was not investing
in the '89. Now that's a classic G-L for my tastes, just coming into
its own, nice now or in 10 years).

All opinions my own, right or wrong.