Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2008

Superb aromatic notes of lilac and peony, elegant and fresh on the palate, dense and racy, with an endlessly long berry-and-floral finish—outstanding.

Unsmoked cigar tobacco intermixed with plums, red and black currants presented in an evolved style characterize this dark plum/garnet-colored effort. Medium-bodied, delicious and evolved, it is best consumed over the next 10-12 years.

You start to feel the dial turning up the power as this travels through the palate. Even at 10 years old, the tannins go in deep around the fruit, with luscious menthol notes on the finish. This is one of the juiciest of the Pauillacs, with layers of plum fruits, tobacco and melted tannins. It's totally firing on all cylinders, although not a blockbuster, reflective of this vintage. But that means you can drink this now, or you can wait; either way you can enjoy what is going on here.

Particularly horsey aroma, which suggests brett influence. This will be divisive according to your preferences, but I think the flavours work quite well in context – it isn't all animal, there is lots of fruit on offer too. (RH)

The 2008 Grand Puy Lacoste has a very expressive bouquet with blackberry, cedar and graphite notes, quintessentially Pauillac, building in intensity all the time in the glass but remaining "correct". The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin on the entry, more red fruit here than black, good density with a fine bead of acidity. This all leads to a cohesive finish that might be more forward than I expected or would have liked. It is a fine GPL albeit one that feels conservative and does not reach for the stars like other vintages under Xavier Borie. (Tasted at BI Wine & Spirit’s annual 10-Year On tasting.)

The wine is showing some signs of aging, which matches its secondary development as you find forest floor, cigar wrapper, cedar wood and softening of the fruit and tannins. The wine is full bodied, juicy, crisp and fresh. You can start drinking this now, but it will be even better if you wait another 5-7 years for more of the tannins to soften.

A beautiful, classic wine, the 2008 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste has an old school nose of currants, saddle leather, ground herbs, cherries, hints of dried flowers and just a touch of cedar. It's ripe, medium-bodied, lightly textured, and has true Pauillac character. Drink it over the coming decade or more.

Fairly dark ruby color with a lilac rim, lightening. A floral, clearly focused bouquet with blue-fruit notes, noble woods, a hint of cedar, and great complexity. Refined on the palate, with equally fine tannins; a generous mid-palate, well balanced, very long thanks to its fine peppery edge, with plenty of drive on the finish.

Quite dark ruby with a lilac rim, lightening towards the edge. Floral, clearly focused bouquet with blue-fruit notes, noble woods, a hint of cedar, multi-layered. Fine palate with equally fine tannins, a generous core through the mid-palate, well balanced; its subtly peppery, racy character makes it very long with plenty of drive on the finish. Here, finesse and race come together.

Deep, powerful, spicy, animal bouquet with notes of leather, tobacco, plums, toasted aromas and dried fruits. A silky, dense, multi-layered, classic palate with good tannins, a tight structure, intense aromatics and a long, full finish. 18/20 2016 - 2035

Earthy tannins that are a little austere, this is classic Pauillac but is softened and beginning to show hints of tertiary, soy, olive and sweet strawberry notes. If you are going to drink now, give it a good 2 or 3 hours in carafe to really stretch out, as there are some subtle layers of smoke and cedar that become clearer with time, and this wine is far from giving up all its secrets yet. No mid palate dip, and still with depth to the cassis fruits, but not as concentrated or powerful as the best years. Harvest October 2 to 14, 70% new oak.

Faulty cork and no second sample; the wine had aged prematurely, with leathery and meaty notes. Needs revisiting.

Slight reduction on the nose, then the wine opens up, both silky and dense. The structure is beautiful, the oak aging integrates gently, and the overall impression is elegant.

Supple on the attack, lovely texture, more depth, nice length, a hint of rusticity.

Garnet-red color. A fresh bouquet revealing a milky touch along with notes of raspberries, grenadine and cedar wood. A fruity, juicy and refreshing attack. As on the nose, the palate shows freshness. The tannins are well integrated, while the structure provides support through the finish. A fresh, racy and persistent wine.

Deep colour, medium intensity and showing development. Highly aromatic, fruity nose with a slightly leafy note. It fades with aeration to give way to a bouquet reminiscent of undergrowth and spices. Very well integrated on the palate, surprising for its juicy character and the nobility of its texture. Unexpectedly mellow notes lift the finish. Long and very good. Ready to drink. Blend: 69% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot, 3% cabernet franc.