Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Pauillac 2018 - Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

The cru boasts one of the best-situated and most homogeneous terroirs in Pauillac, with appreciable potential from old Cabernet Sauvignon vines that give the wine its remarkable vinosity and noble spicy aromas. François-Xavier Borie manages it with wisdom, competence and an obvious fidelity to Médoc classicism. The lacoste-borie second wine had progressed significantly since 2014, but will be produced in smaller volumes in future as it will no longer integrate the young vines of Château Haut-Batailley.

Decanter

About the wine:

TOP PAUILLAC 2018: Sweet black cherry, blueberry and hedge fruit. A little austere at this stage, but it reveals itself confidently, with bitter dark chocolate. Big Pauillac tannins, no doubt - a little more prominent than they were in primeur. The wine has gained weight with age and I'm extending the drinking period slightly. Drink between 2026 and 2044.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

This estate has had just two owners in 75 years: Raymond Dupin, from 1932 to 1978, then the Borie family, represented today by François-Xavier and his daughter Emeline. They manage this fifth Cru Classé with its homogeneous vineyard on the gravel and clay plateau of Grand-Puy, with a good proportion of old vines. Regularity has been flawless for a good decade now, and some older vintages still surprise. "GPL", as they say in Bordeaux, produces a classic Pauillac, full and nervous, with richly spicy tannins and a rather straightforward style. In great vintages, it acquires a magnificent mellowness that benefits from ageing.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

It reveals itself juicy and compact, with notes of black currant, blackberry and fig at the heart, surrounded by generous notes of warm earth, burnt alder and tobacco leaves. Melting helps prolong the finish, while fruit and earth notes keep the pace. The wine has a slight vintage feel, so if you like your Pauillac rather old-school, this is the wine for you. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2024 to 2038. - JM

Vinous A. Galloni

About the wine:

Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2018 is fabulous, just as it was in barrel. Strong Cabernet scents burst from the glass, giving the wine an irresistible aromatic profile mixed with graphite essence, dried herbs, menthol and black fruits. One of the most classic (for want of a better word) Left Bank wines of 2018. Grand-Puy-Lacoste is super impressive right from the start. This is a wine of great aristocratic class, yet sober in its breeding. Don't miss it. 2028-2048

James Suckling

About the wine:

A nose of cherries, nuts and dried flowers. Medium- to full-bodied, with very fine tannins, a creamy texture and a bright, lively finish. Lots of currants and tar. It's polished and a real beauty. Drink after 2023.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Great finesse and precision in this bouquet, where the wine harmoniously reveals terroir, ageing and varietal character. Inviting notes of blackcurrant and eucalyptus. On the palate, the wine has a delicious, almost suave attack. It has body, breed and elegant tannins that lend power and charm. Refreshing structure supports aromatic expression and a persistent finish. 2025-2043

Jean-Marc Quarin

About the wine:

Dark, intense and beautiful color. Very aromatic, fine nose, with pure, ripe fruit. Caressing on the attack, silky in development, very fragrant, the wine glides across the palate charming, charming and well present in the second half. Long finish with no tannic angle. Very good.

Anthocyanes - Yohan Castaing

About the wine:

With a fresh, fruity, elegant and slightly minty nose, this wine has a delicate, fresh structure, full of finesse in a well-balanced whole. Truly delicate, and the fruity, gourmet finish adds a charming, alert dimension. A fine bottle that will age wonderfully for at least 10 to 20 years.