Château Grand Puy Lacoste, Variation Case, 1x3L, 2x1.5L, 4x75cl, 2023
Xavier and Emeline Borie have made a glorious range of 2023s. The fragrant GPL 2023 emerges from the glass with suggestions of violet, iris, bergamot, pencil shavings and creme de mûre. Cool, composed fruit flows over the palate; juicy and textural, but so well pixilated and defined. There's a real sense of freshness and verve and focussed energy to the pure bramble fruit. As one would expect, the tannins are impeccably judged with lots of rock salt and blackcurrant detail. A supremely elegant and refined GPL. Bravo! 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot.
critic reviews
A blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot, the 2023 Grand-Puy-Lacoste has turned out very well, evoking aromas of cassis, dark berries, cigar wrapper and rose petals, lifted by a delicate minty nuance. Medium- to full-bodied, enveloping and seamless, it is shaped by powdery, velvety tannins and a layered mid-palate that opens onto a long, vibrant and saline finish. A classic at this address, it nonetheless stands out as a particularly fine effort and an excellent value.
Lovely deep ruby colour, cocoa bean, cassis, bilberry, salted cracker, vanilla bean, expansive through the mid palate, a ton of slate and graphite and smoked oak on the finish. Classic, finessed, with appellation character. 75% new oak, rest one year old, around 60% of production in this 1st wine. Harvest September 11 to 28. Hubert de Boüard consultant, tasted twice.
The 2023 Grand Puy Lacoste has an understated bouquet that is beautifully defined, opening with blackberry, briar, cedar and light pencil box aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a sapid entry, fine grip, quite linear and correct in style, in keeping with the GPL style. Fine grip on the finish with a tad more length than I noticed from barrel, this is a superb Pauillac that will require three or four years in bottle.
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Grand-Puy-Lacoste slowly emerges with restrained notes of crushed black and red currants, fresh blackberries, and raspberry leaves plus suggestions of lilacs and underbrush with a waft of wild thyme. The light to medium-bodied palate is soft and lively, with just enough mid-palate intensity and an herbal lift on the finish. The blend is 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot.