2021 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Pauillac Grand Cru Classé Magnum

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Description

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Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Winery

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is one of Pauillac's most consistent and respected Grand Cru Classé estates. Classified in 1855, the château is known for its classic style, which emphasizes precision, balance, and terroir. Since the 1970s, the estate has been owned by the Borie family, who focused on quality in the vineyard and restrained, pure vinification. Grand-Puy-Lacoste wines combine power with refinement and are known for their reliable aging potential.

More information about this winery can be found under the Winery tab.

Pauillac and the 2021 vintage

Pauillac lies in the heart of the Médoc and is considered one of Bordeaux's most prestigious appellations. Its proximity to the Gironde estuary provides a temperate climate, while the deep, gravelly soils are ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon. This results in wines with structure, freshness, and a characteristic graphite-like minerality.

The 2021 vintage was characterized by a cool and challenging growing season. Producers who worked carefully in the vineyard and cellar produced wines with moderate alcohol, fresh acidity, and classic balance. At Grand-Puy-Lacoste, the 2021 vintage is considered a particularly successful one, with an emphasis on finesse and elegance.

Vineyards and grape varieties

The vineyards of Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste are located on the Pauillac plateau and consist primarily of deep gravel soils with clay in the subsoil. These soils force the vines to root deeply and ensure natural drainage.

Cabernet Sauvignon forms the backbone of the blend and defines the wine's character. In 2021, this is clearly evident in the aromas and structure. Merlot plays a supporting role, providing roundness and accessibility.

Harvest and vinification

The harvest was carefully planned to preserve optimal ripeness and freshness. After arriving in the cellar, the grapes were rigorously selected. Fermentation was controlled, with the goal of gently extracting color and tannins.

The wine was aged in oak barrels, with a slightly lower percentage of new wood than in some previous vintages. Lighter toasts were also chosen. This approach results in better integration of the wood and a wine that displays balance early on.

Magnum size and maturation advantage

This wine is offered in a magnum format. The larger bottle size allows the wine to age more slowly and evenly than in a standard bottle. This provides extra refinement, greater long-term complexity, and a longer drinking window. Furthermore, the size makes the wine particularly suitable for special occasions and extended cellar aging.

Color, smell and taste

In the glass, the wine displays a deep ruby red color. The nose is refined and classic, with aromas of cassis, raspberry, and cherry, complemented by violets, rose petals, graphite, cigar box, and pencil shavings. Subtle woody notes add depth without being overpowering.

On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, with a clean core of fruit, fresh acidity, and ripe, silky tannins. Flavors of black fruit, plum, spice, and a light menthol note gradually develop. The finish is long, layered, and elegant, with a clear Pauillac signature.

Structure, style and storage potential

The 2021 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a wine with a classic structure and a wide drinking window. The combination of freshness, ripe tannins, and restrained oak makes the wine appealing in its youth, but especially interesting for longer aging.

In magnum format this wine will develop particularly well and can age for several decades without any problem, further increasing its complexity and finesse.

Summary of professional reviews

William Kelley rates this wine 94 points, praising its aromatic precision, ripe acidity, and refined tannins. Antonio Galloni awards it 93 points, emphasizing its Cabernet-driven character and aging potential. James Suckling awards it 95 points, praising its finesse, balance, and long, layered finish. The full review texts can be found in the Professional Reviews tab.

Would you like to order wines from Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste online?

If available, you'll find the official fact sheet and additional information about this fine wine in the "Attachments" tab. We'll automatically send you this information when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at the checkout page. We're located in Dordrecht, right next to the A16 motorway, with ample parking. Click here for our address.

You can read the full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the perfect wine to pair with your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grand Cru customers.

Wine and food pairings

Grilled entrecote with rosemary and garlic complements the structure and ripe fruit.

Rack of lamb with thyme and a light jus goes well with the spicy and floral notes.

Beef stew with bay leaf and black olives enhances the depth and heartiness of the wine.

Duck breast with cherry sauce combines beautifully with the red fruit and the fresh acidity.

Sautéed mushrooms with polenta and Parmesan complement the earthy and graphite nuances.

Mature cheeses such as old Comté or Tomme de Savoie enhance the finesse and length of the finish.

Specifications

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Packing information Case
Type of Wine Red
Country France
Region Bordeaux
Appellation Pauillac
Winery Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste
Grape Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Biological certified No
Natural wine No
Vegan No
Vintage 2021
Drinking as of 2027
Drinking till 2045
Alcohol % 13.5
Alcohol free/low No
Content 1.5 ltr
Oak aging Yes
Sparkling No
Dessert wine No
Closure Cork
Parker rating 94
James Suckling rating 97
Vinous rating 94
Tasting Profiles Complex, Donker fruit, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Mineraal, Tannines
Drink moments Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard

Professional Reviews

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Parker

94

James Suckling

97

Vinous

94

Wijnhuis

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The Grand-Puy-Lacoste family history archives date back to the 16th century. The first recorded owner was M. de Guiraud, a member of the Bordeaux parliament. The estate usually passed down female lines of inheritance and was the dowry in successive marriages. One of M. de Guiraud's daughters married M. de Jehan, another MP. Their son, Bertrand de Jehan, had a daughter who inherited the estate and married M. d'Issac. Traditionally, an owner's name was appended to a place name (such as Grand-Puy), but the hereditary daughters took their husbands' names upon marriage, which explains the numerous name changes by which Grand-Puy is known. When d'Issac's daughter married a Bordeaux lawyer named Saint Guirons, the property became "Grand-Puy Saint-Guirons", it was their daughter, Marie-Jeanne de Saint Guirons, who married François Lacoste. With this marriage in the 19th century, the property took on the name of Lacoste. Still, the name Saint-Guirons remained a reminder of the bond between the two families and of the estate's heritage, so for a time the wines were labeled 'Saint Guirons-Lacoste'. François Lacoste and Marie-Jeanne de Saint Guirons had three children, and after the death of the couple, their son Pierre-Frédéric Lacoste inherited the property in 1844. Pierre-Frédéric Lacoste was an enterprising man who was very devoted to his estate. Like François-Xavier Borie the next century, Lacoste focused on quality and improving the wine's reputation. In 1855 he rebuilt the château, and that same year Grand-Puy-Lacoste's status was officially recognized by its inclusion in the official list of Bordeaux's Great Classified Growths.

The history of Grand-Puy-Lacoste is fascinating in many ways. It is a family saga dating back to the 16th century. The name Grand-Puy, already mentioned in documents from the Middle Ages, comes from the old term "puy" which means "little knoll, small height". The vineyard lives up to its name and is located on outcrops with a terroir similar to that of the first vegetation of the Médoc. From the 16th century, the property remained linked to a single family from generation to generation, in a direct line through marriage until 1920, before being linked to another family in 1978: the Borie.

The castle has been owned by the Borie family since 1978. Jean-Eugène Borie's eldest son, François-Xavier, gradually renovated the property in vineyard, cellars and château. The Borie family has a long history of winemaking at the highest level with properties such as Château Haut Batailley and Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, respectively 5th and 2nd Grand Cru Classé. François-Xavier is now assisted by his daughter Emeline, who is responsible for the château's PR. With the purchase of Grand Puy Lacoste, the Borie family has awakened a "sleeping beauty". Now the domain has great prestige and is at the top of the classification in Pauillac.

Grand-Puy-Lacoste is located in the Pauillac terroir, one of the six common appellations of the Médoc along the left bank of the Gironde. The Pauillac appellation is limited to the municipal district of 2,274 hectares. It boasts 18 properties classified in 1855 (about 85% of the appellation's total production). The commune is separated from Saint-Estèphe in the north by the marshy area of ​​Breuil and from Saint-Julien in the south by the hollow formed by the stream Juillac. The Grand-Puy plateau is located to the west of the village, above the hamlet of Bages. This offshoot of the grounds (called a "puy" in the old local dialect)

Attachments

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