Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2016

From the very first aromas, it’s stunning, seductive, fruity and floral; a straightforward attack, dense structure, first-class tannins, great length on juicy, refreshing berry notes; absolute class.

A lively style, with lots of briar and tobacco notes out front, backed by punchy plum and black currant paste flavors. Has a shot of sweet tobacco lining the finish, with echoes of savory and hints of iron giving this range and length. Best from 2023 through 2038. 10,000 cases made.

This has a punch of mouthfilling dark cassis fruit and plenty of complex tobacco, liquorice, and truffle. Layer upon layer of flavour comes with tight tannins, yet there’s air and lift in between. It’s young and well balanced, easily matching the power of a Lynch Bages or a Pichon Baron. I loved it en primeur and love it again here. Consultant is Eric Boissenot, technical director is Christel Spinner.

A neoclassical edition of Grand-Puy-Lacoste, this has cedar, graphite, deeply integrated cedar and spicy-oak influence and a very fresh array of ripe blackberries, dark cherries and cassis. The palate is so seamless. It builds beautifully and delivers a long, seamless array of perfectly ripe dark fruit, swathed in fine, firm, ascending layers of tannins. As good as we have seen in recent vintages, this is a star of the vintage. Try from 2024.

Cedar, tobacco leaf, blackberry, currants, leafy herbs, and underbrush aromatics open the wine. Interestingly, at the moment, the wine is better on the palate with its non-stop layers of concentrated, ripe, sweet, powerful fruits. There is a rustic purity to the fruits which linger and expand in the finish. This could be the finest vintage of Grand Puy Lacoste ever produced. This is a steal for a Pauillac Classified Growth of this quality! Drink from 2028-2060.

Deep, dark ruby with an opaque core, brightening at the rim. Blackberries and cassis are underlaid with oak notes, a hint of spice, and orange zest. Full-bodied and finely-meshed, with pronounced dark berry fruit and well-embedded, ripe tannins. Mineral and persistent. Certain ageing potential.

Pure nose of inky dark fruit, graphite, fine oak and butterscotch notes. Nicely layered palate, dense and weighty but with a rounded texture, grainy tannin, attractive dark fruit notes, crushed black currant, plum notes and a long muscular finish with mild spiciness.

The 2016 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is closed and needs bottle age but has a beautiful, medium- to full-bodied style as well as ripe currants, some smoky tobacco and cedar pencil notes, ripe tannins, terrific fruit, and outstanding length. It needs 4–5 years of bottle age and should evolve gracefully over the following 15+ years.

79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 45 hl/ha. Purple garnet with a garnet sheen at the rim. Dense, sweet wild-strawberry bouquet, followed by raspberry purée, rosewood and violets – all blending into a beguiling perfume. On the elegant palate, supportive tannins, plenty of freshness and red currants on the finish, and a very long, elegantly lingering finale – what a dancing delicacy! François-Xavier Borie sees parallels with the great 1996, but with added precision!

Kunz barrel sample 17: (79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 45 hl/ha) Fresh, elegant, complex, and deep bouquet; black berries, cassis, currants, cedar, truffle, mint, fine licorice. Balanced, tightly knit, multi-layered palate with dense dark fruit, plenty of fine tannins, compressed aromatics, a velvety, finely muscular structure, and a very long, fresh finish with abundant afteraromas.

Inky red in colour, the fruits are concentrated and tightly knit, needing some coaxing from the glass to really open up—be sure to decant this even if you’re cellaring it for a few more years, and swirl enthusiastically to let that oxygen in. As it opens, you start to appreciate just how great this wine is: so balanced, so Pauillac, feathered yet rich tannins, no dip through the mid-palate, black truffle, graphite and pencil lead set against cassis, cassis and a little more cassis. The tertiary flavours won’t arrive for at least another decade, because everything here is so concentrated. Everything you love about Grand Puy Lacoste is right here in this glass, and a vintage that shows what truly ripe fruit brings to Cabernet Sauvignon. Harvest September 28 to October 13. 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.

A classic, complete expression of the vintage and terroir: tension, breadth, firmness, precise élevage, and a perfect cork. Highly recommended.

The 2016 has lost none of its charm. It’s an absolutely delicious wine, driven by a dense yet refined texture and very delicate tannins. A benchmark for the cru.

Dark, intense, beautiful, youthful color. Very aromatic nose, with ripe fruit becoming creamier upon swirling, accompanied by a fresh note of oak. Very Médoc. Precise on the attack, flavorful mid-palate, with a melting, supple body; the wine caresses the palate—delicate at first, then more powerful on the finish—while retaining its lovely aroma. Good length. Blend: 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot.

(79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 45 hl/ha) Fresh, elegant, complex, deep bouquet: black berries, cassis, currants, cedar, truffle, mint, fine licorice. Balanced, tightly knit, multi-layered palate with dense dark fruit, plenty of fine tannin, compressed aromatics, a velvety, finely muscular structure, and a very long, fresh finish with many lingering flavors. 19/20 2025 - 2045

Juicy and jammy, this wine is already smoothly textured. Its black fruits add a fresh touch and give a ripe feeling. Likely to develop quickly, the wine will be ready to drink from 2022.