{"product_id":"chateau-gruaud-larose-2012","title":"Château Gruaud Larose 2012","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"The wine of kings, the king of wines\" — Gruaud Larose has worn that motto since the eighteenth century, and its greatest vintages have been compared to \u003cstrong\u003eFirst Growths by Robert Parker himself\u003c\/strong\u003e. This is one of Saint-Julien's largest and most historic Second Growths, farmed entirely to \u003cstrong\u003eorganic and biodynamic principles\u003c\/strong\u003e across 82 hectares of ancient Garonne gravel, with vines averaging 46 years old.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe estate calls 2012 \u003cstrong\u003e\"one of the most complicated vintages in 10 years\"\u003c\/strong\u003e — and the story of this bottle is the story of holding your nerve. A cold spring, water stress in summer, then rain. The Merlot came in early October in very good condition; rather than rush, the team waited for the Cabernets to reach full maturity and picked the good plots in excellent condition, finishing ahead of hard rain on 14 October. The blend that emerged is the most \u003cstrong\u003eCabernet-dominant of recent years at 67%\u003c\/strong\u003e, with the Petit Verdot stepping up to 6% for backbone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRated \u003cstrong\u003e90 points\u003c\/strong\u003e in critic aggregate. Ripe blackberry and cassis, well-integrated oak — restrained here at 40% new barrels, letting the fruit lead — and a velvety texture reviewers compared to the celebrated Gruaud Larose wines of the 1980s. \u003cstrong\u003eClassic claret for a proper dinner\u003c\/strong\u003e, at a very fair price for the pedigree.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt the table:\u003c\/strong\u003e Roast beef, lamb shoulder, coq au vin, mushroom dishes. Old-school Bordeaux for old-school cooking.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSaint-Julien, Bordeaux\u003c\/strong\u003e · 2ème Grand Cru Classé, 1855\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrape:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cabernet Sauvignon 67%, Merlot 27%, Petit Verdot 6%\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFarming:\u003c\/strong\u003e 100% organic and biodynamic · hand-harvested\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAgeing:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18–24 months in French fine-grain oak, 40% new\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAlcohol:\u003c\/strong\u003e 13.46% · \u003cstrong\u003eVines:\u003c\/strong\u003e 46 years average age\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRating:\u003c\/strong\u003e 90\/100 critic aggregate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrink:\u003c\/strong\u003e now through 2032\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"The Lifecycle Concepts","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50215954252028,"sku":"GRL-2012","price":200.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0808\/6385\/4844\/files\/product-02_c7d4e778-37ee-4945-89b9-da2ffc544328.png?v=1785146164","url":"https:\/\/urban-merchant.com\/products\/chateau-gruaud-larose-2012","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}