Among Pauillac's wines, Grand-Puy-Lacoste is considered 'a great classic', capable of aligning its consistent character with the spirit of each vintage. Wines are the expression of their terroir, their climate and their grapes, but they also carry the mark of those who made it. So while showing the utmost respect for the gifts of nature, François-Xavier Borie will proudly refer to Grand-Puy-Lacoste's "signature", which is clearly evident in vertical tastings.
The wines have a beautiful, deep color, the aromas are very pure and complex, subtle and refined. Depending on the vintage, one's first impression may be of ripe fruit or flowers, often toasted notes, spice and vanilla... With time it develops a remarkably full, rich character. In the mouth one is struck by its elegant individuality from the very first impression through the last moments of a finish which affords continual and subtly changing pleasure. The flavours support and amplify its aromatic sensations with a notably large range of fruit, particularly cassis which develops with age. The wines are well-built, with a powerful tannic structure which never loses its silky smoothness.
The fourth dimension of Grand-Puy-Lacoste is time. By nature a wine for long ageing, it needs between eight and ten years to reveal its full potential, bringing power and harmony together. Each vintage fully develops after a period corresponding to its profile. 'Patience is rewarded with complex aromas of dried fruit, Havana tobacco and cedar wood, smooth tannins and an exceptionally long aromatic finish' Markus del Monego, world's best sommelier in 1998.
The vineyards extend to 90 hectares in a single block surrounding the Chateau planted with 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc on deep coarse gravel. Following manual harvest and vinification the wines are aged in French oak (75% new barrels each vintage) for between 16 to 18 months depending on the vintage.
