2023 Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste - 5eme Cru Classe Pauillac

Decanter.com – 95 pts – GH: *Fragrant floral and blackcurrant notes on the nose. Just ripe fruit, on the bright side but nothing out of place, not too high toned or too sour. It’s lacking a touch in density, but makes up for it in precision and nuance. Lots of fine, salty and spiced tannins support the pure fruit with a graphite edge that lingers on the tongue. It’s clean and focussed, not so vertical or wide, but there’s finesse here no doubt. Mouthwatering and minty all the way through. Very classy and classic with fine ageing potential. Excellent quality. Ageing 75% new oak. 3.56pH. A yield of 48hl/ha. 55% grand vin production. 12.5% press wine.* - 04/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 94 pts – PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart nach Orangenzesten, reife Kirschen, ein Hauch von Cassis, feine Edelholzwürze, einladendes Bukett. Saftig, frische rote Frucht, finessenreich strukturiert, reife, runde Tannine, salzig-mineralisch, wirkt leichtfüßig, bleibt lange haften, delikater Stil mit Frische und Länge.* - 05/2024

Vinum Magazin – 95/100 pts: *Einmal mehr mit viel Tiefgang, facettenreich, verspielt, komplex; seidige Gerbstoffe umhüllen die Frucht, baut Druck auf, hallt sehr lange nach. Klassisch gebaut.*

WeinWisser – 18+/20 pts – GL, TW: *77 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 23 % Merlot, 48 hl/ha. Verführerisches rot- und blaubeeriges Bouquet, intensiver Veilchenduft, Lakritze, getrocknete Rosenblätter und Schattenmorellensaft. Am saftigen Gaumen mit viel Komplexität und Präzision, engmaschigem Tanningerüst, reifer Extraktfülle und geradlinigem Körper. Im gebündelten, energiegeladenen aromatischen Finale edle Cassiswürze, Palisander und dunkles Graphit. Kann noch zulegen.* – 04/2024

JancisRobinson.com – 16,5+/20pts – JL: *77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot. 48 hl/ha. Cask sample. Relatively subdued but upright, firm and structured. Clear-cut and classic in form. Shouldn’t disappoint GPL fans.* - 04/2024

Vinous.com – (92-94) pts – AG: *The 2023 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is powerful, reticent and shy, revealing notes of black cherry, gravel, scorched earth and licorice. It’s rich, ample and quite potent, marked by an intriguing mix of super-ripe Merlots and later-picked Cabernet. All of this fruit was picked before the September rain, so the tannins are a touch aggressive. Time in bottle should help this come together.* - 04/2024

Vinous.com – (93-95) pts – NM: *The 2023 Grand Puy Lacoste was picked September 11 to 28 at 48hL/ha and matured in 75% new oak. It has a classic "GPL" bouquet with blackberry, pencil box and light marine scents, obviously not as powerful as the previous vintage, yet in typical style, beautifully defined and focused. Just a touch of cracked black pepper surfaces with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle but insistent grip, just a light bitter edge lending tension and nerve. I perceive good depth here, but this is not a powerhouse of a Pauillac (is GPL ever?). It fans out toward the finish whilst maintaining control. There’s an impressive linearity to this wine, and thus I suspect it will require less bottle-age compared to recent vintages.* - 04/2024

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (93-95) pts – JL: *Concentrated, full-bodied, vibrant, juicy, fresh, and rich, the wine displays its black, and red currants, blackberries, cigar box, and flowers with only a bit of coaxing. Vibrant, lifted, and energetic, but not overly bright, everything is in balance, with freshness, sweetness, chewy currants, and a savory, peppery-tinted finish that lingers. This is one of those wines that with aging, is a candidate for a higher score in a decade, or so. The wine is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon with 23% Merlot, 13.2% ABV, 3.6 pH. Picking took place September 11 - September 28. Drink from 2029 - 2060.* - 05/2024