Gruaud Larose - 1986 (750ml) ejohnson (WS) The 2009 Beaucastel Chateauneuf

(WS) The 2009 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape is reminiscent of their brilliant 1985

although it is drinking well

Vinous - 90(+

Despite its precociousness and up-front style

and a touch of oak

Gruaud Larose - 1986 (750ml) ejohnson (WS) The 2009 Beaucastel ChateauneufStill tasting as if it were only 7 8 years of age, the dense, garnet purple colored 1986 Gruaud Larose is evolving at a glacier pace. The wine still has mammoth structure, tremendous reserves of fruit and concentration, and a finish that lasts close to a minute. The wine is massive, very impressively constituted, with still some mouth searing tannin to shed. Decanting of one to two hours in advance seems to soften it a bit, but this is a wine that