Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2000

The 2000 Grand Puy Lacoste is even better than such recent vintages as 2005 and 2009. A broad, classic, large-scaled effort, it boasts a deep blue/purple color as well as tell-tale notes of creme de cassis, subtle smoke, flowers, and unsmoked tobacco. Powerful, full-bodied flavors have shed a lot of tannin, but they remain relatively youthful. This is a young adolescent, broadly flavored Pauillac with an enticing texture as well as abundant richness and fruit. It can be enjoyed now, but promises to hit its peak in five years, and last for two decades.

A lovely, elegant version, with sweet tobacco and lightly singed cedar notes now taking the lead, while dried currant and warmed blackberry preserve flavors still have their say. The lengthy finish has a gentle, supple edge, with the dried fruit showing a sweet hint. Textbook aged Pauillac. -- Blind 2000 Bordeaux retrospective (December 2015). Drink now through 2020. 15,830 cases made.

Bright medium ruby-red. Exotic black fruits and spices on the nose, with notes of chocolate, smoke and game; showing its 29% merlot component today. Rich, broad and chocolatey; sweet, creamy and superripe. A big, mouthfilling vintage for this chateau, combining a classic Pauillac medicinal character with the chocolatey ripeness of the vintage. Thick but nicely delineated, finishing with very broad, sweet tannins and excellent length. Like a more refined version of the 1990, says Francois-Xavier Borie.

A big burst of chewy, sweet, fresh blackcurrant from start to finish, made even better by its cigar-wrapper, spice and forest-leaf accents. Concentrated, long and full-bodied, it’s only just starting to show well. Drink from 2023-2045.

Extremely dense, deep garnet-purple, concentrated at the core. On the nose, a delicate, pure, finely detailed yet peppery Cabernet bouquet—almost perfumed in its freshness—with plenty of blackcurrant and blackberry, plus black pepper. On the palate, an unparalleled fruit extract, tannins of real finesse worthy of a Premier Cru, a peppery note again underpinning the fruit, lots of blackberry, blueberry, more blackcurrant, perfect, all-encompassing astringency, and a long, persistent finish. Even better than Lynch-Bages and, alongside Pichon-Baron, at the top of the more affordable Pauillacs.

01: Extremely dense, deep garnet-purple, saturated at the core. Delicate, clear, finely etched yet peppery Cabernet bouquet, almost perfumed, fresh, with lots of blackcurrant and blackberry, black pepper. On the palate, fruit extract like no other, tannins of finesse worthy of a Premier Cru; a peppery note that again supports the fruit, lots of blackberry, blueberry and blackcurrant, perfect, all-encompassing astringency, lingering finish. Even better than Lynch Bages and, together with Pichon-Baron, at the top of the “affordable” Pauillacs. 04: At the book presentation in the Wachau: truffly bouquet; despite its reticence, its power in the background comes with a wealth of lavish aromas. On the palate, plenty of suppleness, thick tannins showing first signs of rounding out. It will offer an initial pleasure fairly soon while young. But those who wait for the “right” drinking maturity will get even more out of it (19/20). 06: Grand Puy-Lacoste: medium-deep red, lightening at the rim but showing no mature reflections yet. Intense, peppery bouquet, revealing ripe Cabernet and a hint of truffle, lots of fine woods, already showing much of its potential greatness. Rich palate, lots of flesh, finely structured muscle and a peppery sense of breed. Although the wine will certainly gain for at least another 5 years, it’s no crime to pull the cork on a bottle or two today. (19/20). 12: At a dinner at Grand-Puy-Lacoste. It kept improving steadily. A refined wine that at the same time builds up a lovely drive. Could it be edging almost towards 1982? At the moment, you might think so. (19/20). 13: At a Wine & Dine in Brandenberg. I went back for three refills. So fine, so elegant, so delicate. (19/20). 14: Drank a bottle with Karin. When there’s a bit more in the glass, it’s almost black. A great Pauillac. And still relatively inexpensive on the market. (19/20). 15: On a boat trip from the Studach cellar. A spicy, profound bomb. The day before, I’d happened to have the 2001 in my glass. It was much weaker… 16: Unrestrained enjoyment. There’s still so much to come, but it’s already so much fun… 17: At the Frutt. Smooth, fine, compact and harmonious. Enormous pleasure right now. Greatness doesn’t always have to be complicated! (19/20). 17: Noticeably lighter than its competitors, medium garnet. The black-berry fruit phase seems to be fading, fine leather tones, slightly dry on the attack. The palate feels grainy and almost austere, dark Peru balsam, and on the finish a rather demanding link between acidity and muscle. In direct comparison it clearly lagged behind the others. This bottle is—at least for now—a bit behind 2000 expectations. I’ve had much better bottles. This one 17/20 (?). 17: Dark garnet, the colour shows little evolution. The bouquet is intense with plenty of aromatic drive; Cabernet Sauvignon shows a wild, spicy note, Merlot fills out the picture; very homogeneous and appealing. Right between fruit and spice. On the palate, ripe, concentrated tannins, rounded off and brimming with charm. A full, soothing bundle of harmony. (19/20).

Deep, dense, velvety, complex bouquet with notes of prunes, cedar, mint and currants. The palate is tightly knit, elegant and classic, with fine tannins, a dense structure, a broad range of dark aromas, and a long, full finish. 19/20 drink – 2036

With its still bright, deep colour, this Pauillac reveals a full palate built on finely extracted tannins. An elegant expression of a fine terroir origin and modern winemaking. Notes of ripe fruit dominate the finish. A Grand-Puy-Lacoste that is both complete and balanced, and still offers excellent ageing potential.

An intense, subtle and compact bouquet. On the one hand, notes of prunes; on the other, freshness, with hints of peppermint as well as nuances of cedar and graphite. On the palate, the wine is compact, juicy, balanced and perfectly supported by the tannins. A refined, powerful wine that is beginning to show its true character.

Logo on the cork: CRL Evolved colour. Fruity, subtle nose with a chic hint of cedar. Lively, fruity palate, sapid and juicy, medium-bodied, with a touch too much softness. A note of acidity on the finish (a perception that was a hallmark of GPL during this tasting).