Château Gruaud Larose
Gruaud Larose takes its name from two families who have played a key role in the estate’s history. In the 1700s it was purchased by Joseph Stanislas Gruaud whose descendants later developed a cunning sales strategy at auction; if the wine did not sell they simply increased the price until they found a buyer.
In 1997 the château was purchased by Jacques Merlaut whose family estates also includes some excellent Cru Bourgeois in the Médoc, a ranking which covers high quality estates not listed in the 1855 Classification. Although founded in 1725 and relatively youthful compared to many of Bordeaux's top château, Gruaud Larose was rewarded for its superb wines with the second growth status in 1855.
Today the estate is considered a "Super Second" thanks to the extensive efforts of the Merlaut family to produce excellent wines which often rival the First Growths. Gruaud Larose is known for producing some of Saint-Julien’s most ageworthy and full-bodied wines which develop beautifully in the bottle.