Château Grand Puy Lacoste, 5ème Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2009
It's always a pleasure to taste with Xavier and Emeline Borie. You know how they say how dogs resemble their owners, well perhaps the same is true with wines. These are charming, reserved wines, full of class. Gorgeous Cabernet perfume: small berries, graphite, cassis and violets. Such flowing savoury Cabernet fruit - everything is harmonious, nothing is excessive or out of place. Suave, detailed cherry fruit, wild plums and wood spice and gravelly briar fruit. Pure refinement and class, it flows effortlessly with a beginning, middle and long noble finish of granular, finely laced tannins. This is yet another superb effort from this high flying Fifth Growth Chateau. As a footnote, this is Xavier's fortieth vintage at GPL - we hope we'll be there to celebrate the 50th with him. Produced from 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot.
critic reviews
Here we are in classic Pauillac territory, still young even at 15 years old, with a ton of tannic grip, slate and pencil lead, cassis and cocoa bean, channeling tension, freshness and bright fruits. A wonderful example of the vintage, needs a few more years than really being in its drinking window, but this is exceptional quality. 70% new oak for ageing.
Medium to deep garnet in color, the 2009 Grand-Puy-Lacoste prances out with exuberant notes of chocolate-covered cherries, blackcurrant pastilles, and licorice, plus wafts of pencil shavings and tobacco leaf. The medium-bodied palate is soft and juicy, drinking deliciously now, finishing on a lingering exotic spice note.
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.
The 2009 Grand Puy-Lacoste has a clean and precise bouquet with graphite infused red berry fruit, woodland scents, fern and touches of autumn leaves. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, quite bold and assertive with dried blood and ferrous notes infusing the red fruit towards the persistent finish. You could broach this now although I would prefer to leave another couple of years, when it may well deserve a higher score. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.