CHÂTEAU GRAND PUY LACOSTE

96-98 points

Neal Martin, Vinous

I“[There is] more precocity & sensuality compared to other vintages. Underlying this velvety veneer are enticing traits of freshly-rolled tobacco & undergrowth. The palate is medium-bodied with finely-sculpted tannins. Silky smooth in texture, so much so that it belies that backbone underneath. There is a peacock’s tail of mineral-rich, quite peppery black fruit on the finish, completing a Pauillac endowed with huge potential.”

GPL as it is invariably known, might just be the only 1855 estate in Bordeaux unchanged in size & location since the time of the ranking. It is also one of the few in Pauillac to have its vines in a single plot around the château - also to have its owners living here full time. And if all that isn’t enough continuity for you, even the harvesters have been coming from the same Spanish village for the past half-century: Valdepeñas de Jaén in Andalucia. Undoubtedly one of the wines of the appellation, [it delivers] consistency and power without going over the top.

Grand Puy Lacoste’s rise has gone under the radar, such is its enduring status as a reliable, value Pauillac. But in the background investments in the vineyard and winery have seen a slew of high scores in recent years, culminating in leading critic, Neal Martin, awarding the 2022 vintage 96-98 points.

What makes this even more remarkable is that this is the same score awarded to neighbouring Pauillac First Growth, Château Lafite Rothschild, a wine which will sell for up to nine times more!

I thought GPL was brilliant in 2022 admiring its “intoxicating aromas of wild mint, violets, boysenberry, flecks of black olive, pencil shavings & pink pepper. On the palate there is juicy fruit and a sensuous mouthfeel and a finish that percolates for ages”. This is a wine not to miss in 2022 under any circumstances.