Stately ruby red, raspberry and cassis fruits, still young, needs another few years to fully open and integrate, but everything is there for a brilliant wine with pleasure. This is a château that always takes its time, and needs half an hour in the glass to reveal smoked vanilla bean, sweet raspberry puree, turmeric spice, fresh acidity and crushed mint. Not showing quite as well as it did at a château vertical last year, but this is still a wonderful wine, and is one to look out for. Harvest September 20 to October 11, 35% new oak.

The 2005 Gruaud Larose is medium to deep garnet-brick in color. It needs a moment of swirling to bring out fragrant notes of rosehip tea, crushed rocks, dried lavender, and red loam leading to a core of prunes, redcurrant jelly, and black truffles. The medium-bodied palate shimmers with energetic black and red berry layers supported by firm, fine-grained tannins and lovely tension, finishing long and minerally. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

This tastes of great Cabernet Sauvignon, with its black currant, cedar and herbs and fresh, juicy acidity. It is as fresh as it is rich, but it has a structure of dense tannins that balances the wine. This is one of the best wines from Gruaud-Larose for several years.

This is always a wine that has split opinion in 2005. In this example I found a beautifully balanced nose of subtle black fruit showing great power and intensity. A rustic edge. Menthol and eucalyptus help deliver some refreshing notes that bely the power. The palate has silky fine tannins, with an inky and blackberry filled finish. An exceptionally good Gruaud.

The 2005 Gruaud Larose, which was decanted for 30 minutes upon my request, replicated its performance a couple of years ago. This was the final vintage to include Malbec (1%). It has a very "useful" bouquet of blackberry, juniper berries and cedar that opens with vigour in the glass with satisfying intensity. The palate is slightly less "broad-shouldered" than before, very powerful to the point of being almost overpowering, and the slightly feral finish slightly shifts it away from Bordeaux typicité. Drink now or over the next 20 years. Tasted at the château. -- Neal Martin

The Château Gruaud Larose 2005 has an open bouquet: quite savoury in style with touches of bacon fat and cured meat infusing the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly angular tannin. The acidity is well judged although it still needs to develop a little cohesion towards the finish. It seems to have just lost a little length since I last tasted it – obviously still going through its awkward “teenager” moment. I am sure it will come down from its bedroom at some point and those sage and thyme notes on the aftertaste continue to appeal.

Licorice spice and tough black tannins form tight boundaries around this wine. Within them, sweet red fruit lends a gracious impression, gentle and refined. Age will allow the wine to expand as the tannins relent, but this offers impressive drinking now, particularly if decanted with steak.

Aromas of blackberry, meat and earth follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and a rich finish. Decadent, balanced and very approachable already. I thought it would have been a little better than this. Best after 2014. –JS