Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2018

Quite closed at this stage, yet perfectly delineated and particularly harmonious; stylish despite its richness, it does not deny the vintage and remains true to itself.

The 2018 Grand-Puy-Lacoste displays a deep garnet-purple color and slowly emerging notes of ripe blackberries, blackcurrant pastilles and redcurrant jelly, plus hints of cedar, underbrush, cinnamon stick and potpourri. The medium-bodied palate has well-managed, slightly chewy tannins and a refreshing line lifting the black and red berry layers, finishing earthy.

Juicy and compact now, with dark currant, blackberry and fig notes at the core, surrounded by lots of warm earth, singed alder and tobacco leaf notes. A cast-iron note helps extend the finish, with the fruit and earth notes keeping pace. It has a slight throwback feel, so if you like old-school, ageworthy Pauillac, this is your wine. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2024 through 2038. 10,000 cases made.

Sweet black cherry fruit, bilberry and hedgerow. A little austere at this stage but confidently so, with a slice of bitter dark chocolate. Big Pauillac tannins, no question – a little more prominent than they were en primeur. The wine has put on weight with ageing so I am slightly extending the drinking window. Harvest from 21 September to 5 October. 12% press wine. 75% new oak. A yield of 40 hl/ha.

Cherries and walnuts with dried flowers on the nose. It’s medium- to full-bodied with very fine tannins, a creamy texture and a bright, vivid finish. Plenty of currant and tar. Such polish and beauty. Drink after 2023.

The 2018 Grand Puy Lacoste has a quintessential Pauillac nose of intense black fruit infused with graphite scents, pencil shavings and a very discreet marine influence. It is beautifully defined, less opulent than the 2018 Lynch Bages tasted alongside, yet maybe more complex. The palate is medium-bodied and taut, offering sappy black fruit, gritty tannins and a lot of crushed stone. The focused, graphite-driven finish could only come from this appellation. Superb. A wine to correct those bemoaning that Bordeaux no longer makes “proper Claret.”

Showing a beautiful depth in the color, the array of flowers, tobacco leaf, cedar, spice, cigar box and crème de cassis hits the right spot. Full-bodied, dense, tannic, and piquant, this is a perfect amount of crunch and firmness complimenting the juicy Cabernet from start to finish. This is quite classic and firm in style, so be prepared to allow this gem at least 10-12 years or more before opening. The wine is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot and the harvest took place September 21 to October 5. 93-95 Pts

Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle brightening at the rim. Blackberry, delicate cassis, some nougat, fine new oak nuances, a hint of cedar, multi-faceted bouquet. Juicy, pronounced fruit, ripe sweet cherry, integrated tannins, fresh acidity, mineral finish, shows good length and secure development with definite ageing potential. (2025-2045)

I love the purity of the 2018 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, a ripe, upfront, expressive beauty that has loads of currant and cassis notes as well as flowers, spicy wood, graphite, and hints of tobacco. Full-bodied, rich, expansive, and incredibly sexy, it stays fresh and lively on the palate, with ultra-fine tannins.

Kunz barrel sample 19: (78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 40 hl/ha) Mineral, dense, deep, complex bouquet with small black berries, currants, cedar, graphite, fine licorice, tar, black truffle. Concentrated, multi-layered, finely powerful, elegant palate with dense, dark aromatics, plenty of fine tannins, a finely muscular, precise structure, dense, dark fruit, and a very long, powerful, aromatic finish.

Silky, deep, fresh bouquet with cassis, mulberries, mint, fine herbs, and licorice. Balanced, full, dense palate with creamy fruit, plenty of fine tannins, a diverse, powerful, sweet-tinged aromatic profile, and a very long, dense, full finish. 19/20 2025 - 2050

Hard to go wrong with recent vintages of Grand Puy Lacoste. This doesn't quite hit the strides of 2016 or 2019, but for me is more successful than either 2015 or 2017. This is full of Pauillac classicism in its cassis, slate and cedar mix, with sweet black cherry fruits through the mid palate that reflect the warmth of the vintage but balanced by crushed mint and eucalyptus on the finish. You can relax with this one - it's easily got another few decades in it. Harvest 21 September and 5 October. 12% press wine. 75% new oak. A yield of 40hl/ha.

Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2018 is deep garnet-purple in color. It strides boldly out of the glass with notions of baked blackberries, plum preserves, and warm cassis, plus hints of unsmoked cigars, cedar, and bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is elegant with grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing savory.

We find the smoothness and seduction that define the estate’s wines. Admirable tannin quality with a fine, silky grain. It has depth, structure, and a great deal of class.

A great deal of finesse and precision in this bouquet, where the wine harmoniously reveals the terroir, the ageing, and the varietal character. Inviting notes of blackcurrant and eucalyptus. On the palate, the wine opens with a delectable, almost suave attack. It has body, pedigree, and elegant tannins that bring both power and charm. A refreshing structure underpins the aromatic expression and the persistence on the finish.

Dark, intense, and beautiful color. A very aromatic, refined nose with pure, ripe fruit. Caressing on the attack, silky through the mid‑palate, highly perfumed; the wine glides across the palate with charm, seductive and well-present in the second half. Long finish with no angular tannins. It’s very good. Blend: 78% cabernet sauvignon, 22% merlot.

This is a relatively soft wine, its tannins already embracing the black-currant fruits. The structure is there, smoothly textured and ripe with fruitiness as well as good acidity. This wine is likely to develop relatively quickly, so drink from 2024.