2021 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste En Primeur
Released for sale en primeur at lunchtime today, 2021 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste will be amongst everyone's favourite wines of the vintage. At £300 per six and with excellent reviews, we recommend adding as much of this to your cellar as you can lay your hands on, in bottles and magnums at the very least!
As usual, we were met by the extremely charming Borie family, who wafted effortlessly about their drawing room, entertaining their guests...even Emeline Borie, who was recovering from a broken ankle acquired on a skiing holiday. Emeline described the elegant, balanced 2021 as being in "the style we love", with the moderate 12.9% alcohol being "back to normal".
We particularly liked the energy and vibrancy of the wine, highlighted by its fresh acidity. As Neal Martin comments, "if you love GPL, then you're going to appreciate this return to its quintessential style after three opulent vintages". Galloni is even more enthusiastic, describing it as "fabulous...a terrific example of the modern classicism of the year at its best (94-96 points)".
Bordeaux En Primeur, Landing in spring 2024.
Limited availability. To order, e-mail us at sales@richardkihl.ltd.uk
Producer Profile
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a Cinquième Cru Classé in Pauillac. The name Grand-Puy ('puy') comes from the Latin podium, or hill, describing this vineyard’s privileged location overlooking Pauillac. Included in the 1855 classification, Grand-Puy-Lacoste previously belonged to a family who contributed several members to the Bordeaux parliament. They fell in love with the magnificent gravel terroir and were responsible for establishing the wine’s reputation. They were followed by several other families: the Lacostes (who gave the estate its definitive name), the Saint-Guirons, and the Saint-Legiers.
From 1930 to 1978 the château was owned by Raymond Dupin. Shortly before his death, he sold Grand-Puy-Lacoste to the Borie family. François-Xavier Borie, the present owner, has made major investments and constantly improved the quality of Grand-Puy-Lacoste in order to reflect all the finesse of its great Pauillac terroir. The 90-hectare estate is planted at a density of 10,000 vine per hectare, to 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, with vines averaging 38 years of age. The wine is aged in 75% new oak barrels.
| RED | 2021 | Château Grand Puy Lacoste | 75cl | £300 per case of 6 | Château Grand Puy Lacoste 2021 / / 75cl £300 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Traditional and clasic Pauillac character, a little more old school than usual, certainly than the last few years. Plum, cassis, cocoa bean and liqourice keep things firm, with straight-laced tannins tight and pulled in. Will soften further over ageing, and no question that this is delivering appellation typicity. Tasted twice. 75% new oak, harvest September 24 to October 8. 93 points" janeanson.com------"The 2021 Grand Puy Lacoste was picked from September 24 to October 8 at 40hL/ha, and matured in 75% new oak. There is quite a conspicuous gap between this and the Deuxième Vin this year, the Grand Vin delivering much more cohesion and fruit intensity: blackberry, tobacco, mahogany bureau and a touch of sage. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, well balanced, and predictably unapologetically classic in style. If you love GPL, then you're going to appreciate this return to its quintessential style after three opulent vintages. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2021 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a beauty, bursting with aromas of dark berries, plums, rose petals, violets, warm spices and cigar wrapper. Medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, it's fleshy and enveloping, with melting tannins, succulent acids and a pleasure-bent, demonstrative personality. While it's clear that this is an irresistibly charming, satisfying Pauillac from the Borie family, it wouldn't surprise me to see it acquire additional depth, flesh and seriousness with further barrel maturation. 92-94+ points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Very fine and polished tannins with lovely balance and beauty. Blackberries, blackcurrants and a creamy texture. Lovely finesse and focus. There’s delicacy and beauty to this. 85% cabernet sauvignon and 15% merlot. 94-95 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2021 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is fabulous. Bright and punchy, with terrific aromatic presence, the 2021 is a terrific example of the modern classicism of the year at its best. It's the sort of wine that needs years or maybe even decades to truly blossom, and yet all the requisites are there for that to happen. There is something about Grand-Puy-Lacoste that is absolutely striking in 2021. I can't wait to taste it from bottle. Tasted two times. 94-96 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com |
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