95pts The Wine Independent

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. 

94pts Wine Enthusiast

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. 

92pts Vinous

The 2005 Gruaud Larose was tasted from two bottles at the estate as the first was corked. The second offers intense black fruit with juniper and cedar notes, but something prevents it from blossoming, like the 1982, for example. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit. It's a broad-shouldered Gruaud with a firm grip, sapid and muscular with a demonstrative finish that just needs to learn a few manners. This is a bit...gruff! Yet, it is a notch above the vintages of this era. Tasted at the Gruaud Larose vertical at the château in February 2023.

91pts Wine Spectator

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.

91pts Wine & Spirits

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.

90pts Jeb Dunnuck

Fully mature, with a pretty, perfumed, almost understated style, the 2005 Château Gruaud Larose has classic red and black fruits, spicy herbs, leather, and some underbrush notes in a medium-bodied, balanced, silky package that's drinking nicely today. There's no upside here, but it will clearly continue evolving for another decade or more.

90pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2005 Gruaud Larose has a deep ruby/purple color, excellent concentration, and clean, pure black and red currant fruit, licorice and spice. It is medium to full-bodied, lush, and very soft and round. I’m surprised how drinkable it is already, although it is certainly capable of lasting 15 or more years.

90pts Connoisseurs' Guide

Fairly complex and nicely fruited, but not among the deeper or the concentrated of the 2005s, this silky and relatively mannerly wine shows elements of cherries, cassis, tobacco and a touch of earth in both scent and taste. It picks up an edge of last-minute tannins, but it is comparatively easy to taste now and does not demand lengthy time in the cellar.

Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec

Organic

Biodynamic