Château Grand Puy Lacoste, 5ème Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2016
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 2016 is crafted from 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot from the gravel croupes above the village of Bages. This is an aristocratic GPL with perhaps even more refinement that usual. The bouquet offers notes of lilacs, pencil lead, cool cherry notes and Asian spice. This is so ethereal and lovely. There is a purity and energy to the fruit that is so alluring, it is sleek, refined and taut with pure crème de cassis and gravel notes that slide across the palate. We rate this is the most assured and authoritative GPLs we can remember tasting; we thought the 2015 was wonderful - this is on another realm.
critic reviews
Brambled fruit, cherry pit, damson, sandalwood, black pepper, baking spices, juicy finish. Moving into its drinking window, a classically succulent and drinkable GPL. 75% new oak.
The 2016 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is deep garnet-purple in color. It springs with vibrant notes of crushed blackcurrants and juicy blackberries, plus suggestions of unsmoked cigars, lilacs, and dusty soil. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound with black fruit and earthy layers, supported by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long.
The 2016 Grand Puy-Lacoste has a clean, precise bouquet with nicely detailed blackberry, briar and tobacco aromas, touches of mint emerging with time, all utterly charming. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity, conveying a sense of symmetry throughout and leading into a deft, quite persistent finish. This is very classy, and it should age with style. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.
The deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Grand-Puy-Lacoste gives up pure kirsch and red and black currants with violets and baking spices. Medium-bodied, firm and grainy, it's very expressive with good concentration and length.