Château Gruaud Larose
St.-Julien, Borderaux
L’Abbé Gruaud, worthy representative of the Noblesse de Robe, which typified the Pre-Revolutionary Ancien Regime of France, initiated the story of Château Gruaud Larose in 1725. He wanted a wine with elegance and power and was rapidly successful. Early records of the famous Bordeaux wine-broker Lawton spoke of the wines of a certain “Sire Gruaud” in 1755 - a century before the famous 1855 classification - which produced 60 casks of premium wine always sold at high price. Gruaud had already made its reputation in Saint Julien and abroad. Thanks to the family of Joseph-Sébastien de Larose, son-in-law and heir of L’Abbé Gruaud, the wine not only made a reputation but also made a name for itself : Gruaud Larose. Over nearly 300 years, the château produced some iconic wines known for their finesse when young and their elegance after ageing. In that sense, every vintage reminds us that Gruaud is the soil, the tannins and the terroir, and Larose is poetry, aromas and bouquet. The property was marked as a 2nd Growth in the 1855 classification.
The 20th century opened with the estate divided amongst family members, although with the purchase of both halves by the Cordier group this divided situation was not to last much longer. Gruaud-Larose was whole once more, and has remained so ever since. The estate was part of the Cordier portfolio, along with other top properties such as Lafaurie Peyraguey and Talbot, for much of the 20th century. In 1983, however, it was sold, and was subsequently passed from pillar to post in a number of rapidly successive transactions. In 1997, Château Gruaud-Larose was purchased by another important Bordeaux family headed up by Jacques Merlaut, who has put together a portfolio of properties under the Taillan Group. Merlaut is a relative newcomer to Bordeaux, having worked in the region as a négociant in the 1960s, but he began to purchase properties in 1976, starting with Chasse-Spleen. The Group, which includes his granddaughter Claire Villars, now also own Château La Gurgue, Château Haut Bages Liberal, Château Citran and Château Ferrière, among others.