Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a wine estate situated on a hillock (or puy) above the village of Bages in the Pauillac region of the Médoc. Classified as a fifth growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant grand vin is known for its velvety texture and cigar box and cassis aromas. A second wine, Lacoste-Borie, is made from lots declassified from the grand vin and tends to have a higher proportion of Merlot.
The vineyard is sited around the château and covers 55 hectares (136 acres) of the wider estate. It is planted 75 percent to Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 percent Merlot and 5 percent Cabernet Franc. The soil is a classic Médoc mix of layers of gravel of differing depths, mixed with sand and a little clay. This allows excellent drainage and moderates day-night fluctuations in temperature to help ripen the crop. Pauillac's proximity to the Gironde estuary moderates weather extremes and helps to guard against frost.
Grapes are fermented in 43 temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, sized to correspond to specific parcels of vines. Vats are then tasted and a blend is made before ageing. Grand-Puy-Lacoste sees 16 to 18 months in Allier oak (two-thirds new wood), while Lacoste-Borie has 14 to 16 months in oak, 45 percent of which is new.
Rated 95 points by James Suckling
//Complex and decadent. Blackberries and black currants, with fresh herbs on the nose. Tea too. Full body, with soft tannins and an earthy finish. Juicy wine. Turns to pure black currants. //
Rated 95 points by Decanter
//Individual judge’s scores: SB 18.5 AG 18.5 SS 19 Like Haut-Batailley, this excellent property is owned by the Borie family and managed by François-Xavier Borie. Its 55 hectares are planted with vines with an average age of over 40 years, ensuring moderate yields and good concentration of fruit. This has long been a favourite of many claret lovers, since it offers classic Pauillac typicity – vigorous, muscular and long lived, with considerable elegance – at a fair price. It is hard to think of any disappointing vintages, and this consistency also wins it admirers. SB Seductive, oaky black cherry and cassis nose. Rich, sumptuous and concentrated without being too extracted. Robust and spicy, already showing considerable nuance and complexity. It’s forward and fleshy, but doesn’t lack grip and structure. Harmonious, with well-judged tannins. AG Ripe black cassis and hedgerow fruit on the nose. Powerful and enticing. Seamless on the palate with rich, lush fruit backed by ripe but firm tannins and excellent balancing acidity. Lovely structure and a real sense of potential for the future. Fresh and elegant. SS Very fine, fragrant black berry fruit, showing great purity and elegance in the Pauillac range. Wild violets and beautiful texture. A beautiful wine, totally harmonious, and with all the elegance you need for a long future. //
Rated 92 points by Wine Advocate
/Medium to deep garnet in color, the 2009 Grand-Puy-Lacoste opens with a nose of sweaty leather, damp earth, baked cherries and dried mulberries with touches of fried herbs, black olives and cast iron pan. Medium-bodied, firm and chewy, this is a more elegantly styled 2009 with provocative herbal sparks and a ferrous finish. //
Rated 91 points by Stephen Tanzer - Vinous
//(80% cabernet sauvignon, 18% merlot and 2% cabernet franc; pH 3.72; 75 IPT; 70% new oak) Purple ruby. Smoky blackberry, blueberry juice, chocolate and a whiff of iron on the nose. With air, this became silky, pliant and rather easygoing, with good depth to the flavors of small dark berries and flint. Finishes with creamy tannins, good vinosity and sneaky length. Almost too easy to drink presently: should it develop more complexity, weight and depth, my score will look ungenerous. //
