Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Pauillac (Grand Cru Classé) 2018 (750ml)

The Borie family over three generations : A passion spanning generations

The Borie family has owned the property since 1978. François-Xavier Borie has restored it to greatness and preserved its spirit.

Grand-Puy-Lacoste does not belong to a large corporation; it remains family-owned. Jean-Eugène Borie, who loved the Médoc and its vines, bought the property in 1978. He entrusted it to his eldest son, François-Xavier, who gradually renovated the château and its winemaking facilities. Today, his eldest daughter, Emeline, works at his side.

History
Bequeathed over several centuries : One of the oldest estates in the Médoc

The history of Grand-Puy-Lacoste is fascinating in many ways. It is a family saga going back to the 16th century.

The name Grand-Puy, already mentioned in documents from the Middle Ages, comes from the ancient term "puy” which means "hillock, small height”. True to its name, the vineyard sits on outcrops with a terroir similar to that of the Médoc's first growths. From Since the 16th century the property remained attached to a single family from generation to generation, in a direct line through marriage until 1920, before connecting with another family in 1978—the Borie.

Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2018 is one of a series of great vintages. The blend has a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%) whose character and charm so perfectly express the richness and quality of this distinguished terroir. This wine is deep magenta, intense and brilliant. The bouquet reveals aromas of ripe black fruits and liquorice, underlining the grapes' perfect maturity, whilst keeping a pretty freshness and good minerality. On the palate, the attack is precise, very dense and complex. This 2018 has a very fine balance combining power, elegance and complexity. It has a long, very aromatic and tannic finish. The whole emphasizing the great ageing potential of this wine.

Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2018 is one of a series of great vintages. The blend has a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%) whose character and charm so perfectly express the richness and quality of this distinguished terroir. This wine is deep magenta, intense and brilliant. The bouquet reveals aromas of ripe black fruits and liquorice, underlining the grapes' perfect maturity, whilst keeping a pretty freshness and good minerality. On the palate, the attack is precise, very dense and complex. This 2018 has a very fine balance combining power, elegance and complexity. It has a long, very aromatic and tannic finish. The whole emphasizing the great ageing potential of this wine.

Critical Acclaim

WS95
Wine Spectator

Juicy and compact now, with dark currant, blackberry and fig notes at the core, surrounded by lots of warm earth, singed alder and tobacco leaf notes. Cast iron note helps extend the finish, with the fruit and earth notes keeping pace. Has a slight throwback feel, so if you like old school, ageworthy Pauillac, this is your wine. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2024 through 2038.

D95
Decanter

Sweet black cherry fruits, bilberry and hedgerow. A little austere at this stage but confidently so, with a slice of bitter black chocolate. Big Pauillac tannins, no question - a little more prominent than they were en primeur. The wine has taken on weight over ageing so I am slightly extending the drinking window. Harvest 21 September and 5 October. 12% press wine. 75% new oak. Drinking Window 2026 - 2044

JS94
James Suckling

Cherries and walnuts with dried flowers on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with very fine tannins, creamy texture and a bright, vivid finish. Plenty of currant and tar. Such polish and beauty. Drink after 2023.

JD94
Jeb Dunnuck

A beautiful Pauillac, the 2018 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste has a classic nose of ripe blackcurrants, scorched earth, cedarwood, and tobacco. This carries to a medium to full-bodied 2018 offering wonderful balance, ripe, polished tannins, and gorgeous purity of fruit. A wine that grows on you with time in the glass, it has building mid-palate depth and tannins, again, terrific balance, remarkable purity of fruit, and outstanding length on the finish. It should round into form in 4-5 years and keep for 20+.

WW94
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste shows greatness from start to finish, and it is built like a tank. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers aromas and flavors of black fruit, mineral notes, savory spices, and oak. Enjoy its powerful presence with grilled beef kebabs in a mushroom, white wine reduction sauce. (Tasted: June 25, 2021, San Francisco, CA)
RP93
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2018 Grand-Puy-Lacoste displays a deep garnet-purple color and slowly emerging notes of ripe blackberries, blackcurrant pastilles and redcurrant jelly plus hints of cedar, underbrush, cinnamon stick and potpourri. The medium-bodied palate has well-managed, slightly chewy tannin's and a refreshing line lifting the black and red berry layers, finishing earthy.

WE92
Wine Enthusiast

This is a relatively soft wine, its tannins already embracing the black-currant fruits. The structure is there, smoothly textured and ripe with fruitiness as well as good acidity. This wine is likely to develop relatively quickly, so drink from 2024.