1870 Gruaud Larose to go under the hammer

A bottle of Château Gruaud Larose from 1870 is to be sold as part of La Tour d’Argent’s auction of 18,000 bottles from its famed wine cellar.

Neal Martin described the wine on tasting it in October 2007 as “unbelievable”, “certainly superior to the Mouton 1870”, and “otherworldly”.

The Parisian restaurant La Tour d’Argent’s wine cellar will be auctioned on December 7-8 as part of an attempt to clear space in its vast 450,000-bottle cellar and raise funds for a refurbishment.

Neal Martin awarded the 1870 Château Gruaud Larose 100 points when he tasted it in London in October 2007.

He described the wine as follows: “A deep tawny core with light amber/tawny rim. The nose is still clean and fresh, a touch of walnuts, cedar, mint and a hint of burnt honey. Incredibly fresh with again, brilliant definition.

"The palate is medium-bodied with superb acidity, still quite vigorous, it tastes as mature as the 1928. Very well-balanced, harmonious and unlike many wine of this age, still tangibly claret not Burgundy. Cedar, cigar box and vestiges of ripe cherry on the long, almost citrus-like finish.

"An unbelievable wine, certainly superior to the Mouton 1870 tasted a couple of years ago. Otherworldly…that is all I can utter. Drink now.”

The second growth wine from Saint-Julien will not be the oldest item going under the hammer as there will be three bottles of Clos du Griffier Cognac from 1788.

Patrick Schmitt, 19.11.2009