Château Grand Puy Lacoste, 5ème Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2015
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
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.