2005 Pauillac, Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste
About Producer
In the same lineage of connected families during 200 years since its creation in the 1730s, Grand-Puy-Lacoste was sold in 1932 to Raymond Dupin who had a monumental reputation for his hospitality but sadly neglected his estate in the 1960s and 1970s. When Jean-Eugène Borie of Ducru-Beaucaillou acquired the estate in 1978, the vineyard was just half of its original size and the château itself was in a poor state of disrepair. Under the aegis of François-Xavier Borie, Jean-Eugène’s son, massive renovation and modernisation works were quickly rolled out, just in time to produce an outstanding wine in 1982. Since then, this 90ha estate has gone from strength to strength to outperform its 5th growth classification.
Varietals
Blend of 78% cabernet sauvignon and 22% merlot.
About Appellation
Largest town in the Médoc and slighly more elevated than its surrounding area, Pauillac has always played an important role in the wine trade, notably when the city of Bordeaux lost its privilege and monopoly of wine exports to England in the 18th century. The vineyards cover 1,213ha and sit on well-drained sand and gravelly soils, with the best sites being located on rolling mounds, called 'croupes', that reach their highest point at 30m above sea level. Cabernet sauvignon is the predominant grape variety, albeit always blended with merlot, and to a lesser extent, with cabernet franc and petit verdot. Pauillac is home to 18 grands crus classés in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, including Lafite-Rothschild, Latour and Mouton-Rothschild (since 1973) as first growths.
Tasting Notes
Enticing nose of black fruits, cedar, smoked meat, pencil lead, crushed stones, undergrowth and violets, smooth mouthfeel with cashmere-like texture, nicely framed structure and excellent focus, multilayered flavours of black currant, blueberry, raspberry, plum, tobacco, ganache, mint and liquorice intermingled with earthy undertones, well-knit acidity and resolved tannins leading onto a long, strikingly precise finish. Often hailed as the best value among the Bordeaux crus classés, Grand-Puy-Lacoste is actually more than that. It’s an utterly beautiful wine on its own merits that on great years would stand toe to toe with higher rated crus. Over the last four decades, it has consistently punched above its fifth-growth weight, and this 2005 is probably the best GPL since the legendary 1982. Having entered its prime time window, it’s deliciously lush, lively and fresh. Remarkably poised and balanced at 19 years old, it’s a sensational wine that captures the essence of Pauillac and heralds the string of wonderful vintages produced in recent years by this estate. (04/2024)