2015 Gruaud Larose uncorked, preparing to drink to oblivion and reminisce of our once proud democracy....

[JimHow]

My biggest fear has been, as Bret Stephens said today, that Orange Head will rein himself in tonight, unlike that 2020 debate performance where he went crazy, that really hurt him last time.

[JimHow]

Stephens made a good point, could you imagine if the governor of Pennsylvania were up on the stage taking on Orange tonight?
Man, we have such a strong bench, especially among governors. Give me Whitmer, or Newsom, or the young guy from Kentucky as a Veep. Joe needs to bow out gracefully. Ah well, I guess we'll see how he does tonight.

[JimHow]

First observation of this 13% Gruaud is that it appears true to its St. Julien terroir, it is definitely St. Julien, we'll see if it is worth the premium over Talbot, Branaire, etc.

[Hm$(still)]

I’m drinking gin. Need strong stuff for tonight

[JimHow]

The nose has been consistently and beautifully St. Julien from the very beginning, very strong on the nose, lots of cedar, pencil, at the nine year mark. The color is a fresh deep ruby and nobody would ever call this purple. At 13% the alcohol is beautifully balanced. Is there a lack of acidity in 2015? Is this "too" smooth? Certainly no sharp edges. But I don't think so. This wine has nice depth. Not sure how much more complexity I can expect over my five remaining bottles, which I anticipate drinking over the next decade. And this this in no way resembles anything like the glory days of the 1975 to 1989 era of Cordier glory for Gruaud Larose and the other Cordier estates of that era. Why that can't be reproduced from that very same acreage is a question way above my understanding. But that's just the way it goes, I don't ever expect Lynch to repeat its '89. I don't ever expect again to see a Gruaud effort like that from 1975-1989, for whatever reason, so it goes. That doesn't mean we can't celebrate the modern Gruaurd. Sure, 100 points aren't in the offing like they were for 1982 and 1986, but, hey, 13% alcohol and nice balance from 2015, that's nothing to sneeze at. The 2015 Gruaud Larose is a lovely, balanced, no hard edges, 13%, true to the St. Julien appellation, rich ruby colored, very lovely St. Julien lead pencil, cedar nose (one of the highlights of the wine, effort.... Rating: 94+ points. I look forward to drinking my remaining five bottles at two year intervals over the next ten year period. A side note: So this wine was like $75 when I bought it in NH when it hit the shelves. After I bought a single bottle as part of a larger purchase I went out into the parking lot and looked at my receipt, and realized that the bottle had mispriced at like a $28 chianti. I went back in and bought the five remaining bottles, which now sit in my cellar. Lucky for me! Then I started feeling guilty, and wondered whether I should return those five Gruauds. Then I said... eh, to hell with it, too bad for them, I've bought into the hundreds of thousands of dollars from the tax free New Hampshire system over the years, they can absorb a loss for 5 bottles due to their mistake. The 2015 Gruaud Larose is a lovely 94 point wine, don't hesitate to drink it now and over the next decade.

[JimHow]

Omg Joe looks like death.

[JimHow]

Holy fuck.

[JimHow]

What a disastrous night for democracy, our worst fears realized. What a selfish, vain old man, Joe Biden. He could have gone down in history as a successful one term president. Instead he will be known as a political fool. He obviously has some level of dementia or mental deterioration. He shouldn’t pass a DMV test, let alone hold the nuclear code.

[Nicklasss]

The 2015 Gruaud Larose sounds quite classical in style for the 2015 vintage. I think i would like it.

On another topic, i have the opportunity to buy some 2023 red Bordeaux en primeur and i’m hesitating. I wonder if i should buy more 2015-2016-2019-2020 instead, and forget 2023. Yes, i guess 2023 is a vintage pace down, more classical, but i guess 2016 and 2020 as well, and 2015-2019 just slightly riper. As well, am I already too old for buying young Bordeaux?

[stefan]

I have bought some 2020, Nic, and I have a son who is older than you.

[DavidG]

I have bought some 2020, Nic, and I have a son who is older than you.

Is it too late to get you on the ballot for President?

[Gerry M.]

Nice to read your impressions on the 15' Gruaud.

I had to turn it off after 15 minutes. My jaw dropped from the minute Joe shuffled on stage. I couldn't understand wtf he was saying half the time and he appeared flustered and oin over his head. My god, the Dem's need to pull an audible and fast before it's too late.

He actually made Trump appear coherent, if that's possible. Ughh

[JimHow]

Yeah no kidding Gerry. I knew we were in trouble literally before he reached his podium, he was freaking mumbling to himself.

[JimHow]

The 2015 Gruaud is lovely, drinking nicely now and for 20+ more years. Very St. Julien, very 2015 vintage.

[Gerry M.]

I don't know how I missed it but I just realized I don't have any 15' . I have the bookends of 14' and 16' but not the middle child. Now how did that happen? I guess I on the hunt for it now.

[marcs]

My comment on the debate is on the trump thread. Agree with you 100% Jim.

I really really liked this 2015 Gruaud when I had it a few years ago - in fact I think there’s a note I wrote on it somewhere on this site. I really like the modern Gruaud style although others don’t seem to appreciate it. Elegant, modest, subtle, low-alcohol and classical - doesn’t club you in the face but there’s a lot of depth there if you sit with it. My kind of wine.