Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2021

Refined and profound, blackcurrant, mineral undertones, tobacco, withered flowers. On the palate, polished and precise, great drive, superb balance, shows breed and length, will age beautifully.

The 2021 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is one of the vintage’s successes, wafting from the glass with aromas of cassis and raspberries mingled with notes of violets, rose petals, pencil shavings and cigar wrapper. Medium to full-bodied, with a deep, layered core of pure fruit framed by ripe acids and sweet tannins, its suave, charming profile means it will offer a broad drinking window. A slightly lower percentage of new oak, with lighter toasts, is reflected in better barrel integration out of the gates.

Pure and fresh, with a mix of damson plum and red cherry notes laced with sandalwood, red tea and sanguine accents. Shows a lively savory streak, which adds energy to this relatively understated style. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2035. 10,000 cases made.

Lovely, pretty and fragranced nose. A sense of classicism with bright, shining acidity underpinning crushed-velvet-textured tannins and a cool cola and liquorice undertone. Slightly lean but also with lots of Cabernet markers that do well to support the frame. Good weight and focus, with drive on the palate. It's light, it's not plush at all, and in that sense really quite linear and lean, but this totally works.

The 2021 Grand Puy Lacoste, matured in around 70% new oak and bottled in June 2023, is about as classic a Bordeaux as you will find in contemporary Bordeaux, which is not unexpected given the vintage and château in question. Black fruit, cedar and tobacco unfurl on the nose with pencil shavings coming through with time—it is much more open and expressive compared to recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, one of the most saline vintages in recent years with a gentle build toward the finish. It's not a showstopper. It's not the apotheosis of GPL. But you'll finish the bottle and probably want another glass.

Blackberries, cigar wrapper, roses, cocoa, currants and cedar create the aromatics. The palate is even better with its layers of ripe, sweet, creamy, fresh, bright red fruits. There is solid lift and energy here with a chewy bite of cassis on the back end that lingers. This is a superb wine that exceeds the vintage. The wine blends 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot. Drink from 2026 to 2050.

Dark ruby core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Tobacco and herbal spices are woven against vibrant blackberries, fresh red currants, and hints of liquorice and orange zest. Juicy, elegant, fresh red cherries with taut, well-integrated tannins and freshly structured nougat nuances on the finish. Good ageing potential.

85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 40 hl/ha. Dark purple with a dense core and a lightening ruby rim. Seductive bouquet of freshly picked red cherry, raspberry jelly, delicate violet perfume and lingonberry juice. On the perfectly balanced palate, silky texture, magical breed, “sapid” extract-driven richness, power, tightly knit tannic frame and a perfectly shaped body. Concentrated finish with red-berry contours, dark minerality and fine, sandy astringency. A classically “pure” and very precise GPL that fits the vintage perfectly – bravo!

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot) Dense, dark, elegant, powerful, complex bouquet; black cassis, fine woods, nougat, subtle plum, fragrant wood. A tightly knit, multi-layered palate with dense, dark, powerful fruit, plenty of fine tannins, concentrated, dark, and varied aromatics, an elegant, dense structure, and a very long, full, aromatic finish with persistent afterflavors.

Plenty of Pauillac typicity, with savoury Cabernet Sauvignon dominance in the flavour profile: blueberry, cassis, cocoa bean, liquorice root, grilled cloves, even silky tannins – this is a success, with estate character, even if the drinking window is shorter than in more concentrated vintages. Eric Boissenot consultant, Borie family owners. 75% new oak, harvest from September 24 to October 8.

The 2021 Grand-Puy-Lacoste has a deep garnet-purple color. It slowly unfurls to reveal evocative notes of raspberry coulis and redcurrant jelly, leading to a core of cassis, cedar, and underbrush. Medium-bodied, the palate is bright, crunchy, and tightly wound, with a racy backbone and fine-grained tannins, finishing with a red berry lift.

We applaud the consistency of the vintage and its very classic style, without austerity. This 2021 doesn’t show off and delivers a refined bouquet with notes of fruit, cedar, and flowers. The palate is straight, sapid, and indulgent on the finish. A great success.

Shy on the nose at first, then opening up to heady notes, dark as ink. On the palate the wine is more flamboyant, with the pedigree of Grand-Puy-Lacoste, tempered by the vintage’s weather vagaries, showing notes of ink and iris.

A great deal of finesse and energy, balancing freshness and maturity, terroir and élevage in the bouquet of GPL 2021. Classic notes of blackcurrant and graphite, with floral nuances. Juicy on the attack, the wine has substance, depth and tannins that provide solid support, delivering breadth and persistence. A convincing, precise and refined wine.

Dark, deep color. Very aromatic nose—refined, fruity, and pure. Delicious on the attack, very flavorful mid-palate, with a silky body, lots of taste, and a refined tannic structure; the wine caresses the palate, precise, savory, and noble on the finish. Very long length. Blend: 85% cabernet sauvignon (the highest proportion on record), 15% merlot. Alcohol: 12.95% - pH: 3.64. Average yield on the estate: 40 hl/ha. Selection for the grand vin: 30 hl/ha.

2021 is a vintage that suits the timeless classicism of Grand Puy Lacoste. You can discern a lovely freshness of cedar and eucalyptus, menthol, and a smoky touch framing the al dente cassis. The palate is taut, with well-judged acidity and tannins offering just the right firmness, supporting the substance through to a nicely thirst-quenching finish.

(85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot) Dense, dark, elegant, powerful, complex bouquet: black cassis, noble woods, nougat, subtle plum, fragrant wood. A tightly knit, multi-layered palate with dense, dark, powerful fruit, plenty of fine tannins, concentrated, dark, varied aromatics, an elegant, compact structure, and a very long, full, aromatic finish with plenty of after-flavors. 19/20 2029 - 2060