Château Grand Puy Lacoste, 5ème Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2015
It is always a joy to taste Xavier Borie's Grand Puy Lacoste, there is such elegance to the fruit here and a wonderful sense of cohesion and effortless charm. The 2015 is crafted from 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. This is a classic GPL with perhaps even more refinement that usual. The profile is one of violets, pure Cabernet fruits, pencil shavings and Asian spice. There is an ethereal character to the fruit, it is velvety, sleek and complex yet so refreshing and almost weightless. There is a stunning structure with honed tannins and mouth-watering acidity. One of the finest Grand Puy Lacostes we can remember tasting.
critic reviews
The 2015 Grand-Puy-Lacoste has a conservative, complex yet reserved nose with tobacco- and graphite-tinged black fruit aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. It is a little drier than some peers though this has held on to its smooth texture. This is just a little meatier on the finish than I recall. I am a massive fan of GPL and though I admire this, I would not include it amongst the greats of recent years. Alas, the bottle at Farr's 10-Year-On a couple of weeks later was corked. Tasted at the 2015 Ten-Year-On tasting at Bordeaux Index.
Juicy but understated, with Pauillac scrape and intensity, appellation signature in a glass - cassis bud, cocoa bean, graphite, bilberry, crushed mint, tobacco, saffron. There is enough weight and definition to the tannins to suggest that it will age well from here, but a good carafe will bring it into its drinking window. A definite standout and one to look out for. 75% new oak for ageing.
Medium to deep garnet in color, the 2015 Grand-Puy-Lacoste sashays out with showy notions of baked black cherries, fruitcake, and dried mulberries, plus a waft of redcurrant jelly, Indian spices, and incense. The medium-bodied palate is lively and plush, with tons of expressive black and red berry preserves flavors and a wonderfully spicy finish.