1988 Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste

1988 Château Grand‑Puy‑Lacoste: a mature classic with allure.

The Hidden Cellar is Grand Cru's exclusive wine club concept, specially designed for our most loyal customers. You automatically become a member if you regularly order from Grand Cru. As a Hidden Cellar member, you'll have first access to a selection of exceptionally rare wines: vintages, iconic Bordeaux appellations and Burgundies, Italian Super Tuscans, Napa Valley wines, and rare Champagne. We can offer these gems directly from the wineries at very attractive prices (well below market), often wines that are no longer available or unaffordable. So, the wines come directly from the wineries and haven't traveled halfway around the world in questionable circumstances.

View all the benefits of Hidden Cellar .

the house Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a prestigious Bordeaux winery in Pauillac, with roots dating back to the 18th century. Owned by the same family for generations, now led by the Cordier family, the estate is known for wines with structure and depth. Its location—bordering Grand-Puy-Lacoste and situated beneath the same slate soils—offers excellent drainage and nutrient-rich soils.

region and terroir of the 1988

Pauillac, in the Médoc region, on the left bank of the Gironde estuary, enjoys a temperate-maritime climate with cool nights, which preserves the refined tannins. The gravel, slate, and clay soils ensure excellent root development and ripening, essential for the character and aging potential of the 1988 vintage.

grapes, harvest, fermentation and maturation

The 1988 blend consists primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon, supplemented with Merlot and a touch of Cabernet Franc. Hand-harvesting selected optimally ripe, healthy bunches. Traditional fermentation then took place in concrete vats, with regular reassembly for extraction. Aging took place in oak barriques (toasted, partly new) for 18-24 months, giving the wine complexity and tranquility.

color, smell and taste of the 1988

Now almost 40 years after the harvest, the wine displays a deep ruby color with a bright brown-red rim. The nose reveals elegance of ripe cassis, cedar, tobacco, and leather. The palate reveals a rich structure with ripe black fruit, truffle, tobacco, and roasted spices. The tannins are harmonious, with a long, refined finish.

Wine is a natural product, and it's always fascinating to see how a vintage has developed. The 1988 remains impressively balanced, without feeling overripe.

ideal for sommeliers, enthusiasts and investors

For the sommelier, this wine is a benchmark for mature Bordeaux character. Consumers enjoy its layered character and now-drinkable complexity. For the investor, the 1988 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste offers historically renowned quality and potential for value retention or growth.

Hidden Cellar ordering and shipping options

Wines marked as Hidden Cellar are ordered separately and are not combined with the regular selection of approximately 4,500 wines. For shipping, we add the Hidden Cellar wine to our regular deliveries (approximately every two months). Want it faster? Choose Express Delivery: we'll send the wines directly to you within 1–2 weeks.

The 1988 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a mature, elegant Pauillac with ageing potential and enjoyable drinking pleasure. Secretig via Hidden Cellar and available only to loyal customers.