Sarget de Gruaud Larose 2020

The typicality of a Second Wine from Saint-Julien, revealed by Gruaud Larose

The estate

A historical reference of the Saint-Julien appellation, Château Gruaud Larose was founded in 1757, when different estates merged. The property received its current name when the heir of Joseph Gruaud added "Larose" to his name, thus becoming Château Gruaud Larose. Acquired by the Merlaut family in 1997, Château Gruaud Larose embodies the excellence of the fine red wines of Saint-Julien and seduces fans of the appellation with its signature style.

The vineyard

Enjoying a superb location in the Saint-Julien appellation, the Château Gruaud Larose vineyard covers 82 hectares of Quaternary Garonne gravel soils, more than 600,000 years old. The vines are 46 years old on average. The vineyard of Château Gruaud Larose is managed with sustainable viticultural practices that show respect to the environment, such as soil ploughing, the use of organic fertilisers, planting hedges, grassing the vine rows and introducing sheep to graze the latter.

The wine

Sarget de Gruaud Larose is the Second Wine of the estate.

The vintage

2020 began with a historically rainy winter. A tropical spring encouraged early budbreak, but also strong mildew pressure which resulted from heavy rainfall combined with a hailstorm. Summer was marked by dry and hot conditions, causing high water stress. The thunderstorms in mid-August and early September helped to revive the vine cycle and to ensure optimal berry ripeness.

Winemaking and ageing

Plot-based vinification, 50% in cement and 40% in thermo-regulated wooden vats. Yeasting and alcoholic fermentation at 24-26°C. Maceration for 20 to 30 days. 3 vertical presses. Placed into barrels at pressing. Malolactic fermentation carried out alongside alcoholic fermentation thanks to co-inoculation. Ageing lasts for at least 14 months in French oak barrels (15% new, 85% in barrels of one previous wine).

Blend

The 2020 Sarget de Gruaud Larose is made from a blend of Merlot (48%), Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), Petit Verdot (4%) and Cabernet Franc (3%).