CHÂTEAU GRAND PUY LACOSTE

2003 5ème Cru Classé Pauillac

Grapes Merlot, Cab Sauv, Cab Franc
Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Sub-district Haut Médoc
Village Pauillac
Classification 5ème Cru Classé
ABV 12.5%

This must be the most harmonious and complete Grand Puy Lacoste shown at this stage (it can sometimes have a slightly herbal or medicinal greenness at the primeur tastings). None of that here - powerful, spicy, rich and long, with a mid-palate which is almost oily in its richness - it's gorgeous. L&S (Mar 2005)


Alternatively, we may well have some bottles in one of our shops - why not give us a call on 0207 244 0522 or send an email to: sales@leaandsandeman.co.uk.

Or, check the RELATED PRODUCTS below for different vintages or wines of a similar style.


The 2003 Grand-Puy-Lacoste, picked at 38hl/ha, has a lovely nose with scents of fireside hearth, black truffle and black pepper, plus plenty of open-knit black fruit underneath. The palate is medium-bodied and plush with supple tannins. Menthol notes render this a medicinal Pauillac, and in a sense, this trait occludes some of the terroir expression. Yet there is freshness in situ, providing satisfying length on the finish. Drinking perfectly now. Drinking range: 2027 - 2055 Rating: 91 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jan 2023)

The deep gravel soils that you find at Grand Puy Lacoste are not ideal for a vintage as hot and dry as 2003, and you do feel the impact of drier fruits, with fig and prune evident along with more generous blackberry and raspberry. Still has a fresh feel on the finish with fennel, eucalyptus and autumnal leaf aromatics. This is gentle and appealing, softer than many vintages but still with personality and hold. Harvest October 15 to 26, 70% new oak. Drinking range: 2021 - 2038 Rating: 92 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (Oct 2021)

The nose has the sweetness of ripe cassis and black plum and the palate is fleshy supple with the richness of chocolate, liquorice and coffee. The tannins on the mid palate are firm but not aggressive giving structure but not over dominating. The finish is firmer slightly dry with a touch of spicy cedar wood. 2013-18 Rating: 89 Derek Smedley MW, www.dereksmedleymw.co.uk (Dec 2013)

Château Grand Puy Lacoste

Pauillac Cinquième Cru 1855.

If there's an estate that can rival Lynch Bages for the crown of most over-performing 5th Growth, it would be Grand-Puy-Lacoste.

The "Grand Puy" is the low gravelly hill on which the vineyards sit. In 1750 a portion were sold to Pierre Ducasse and became, obviously, Château Grand Puy Ducasse while the rest, after a couple of name changes owing to inheritance by daughters, became Château Grand Puy Lacoste.

The Borie family bought into Grand Puy Lacoste in 1978 and began quite a renaissance for the property.

Just a few kilometres from the town of Pauillac, the vineyards of Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste total roughly 36 hectares (90 acres) with Cabernet Sauvignon making up 75% of the total plantings and the rest belonging to Merlot (20%) and Cabernet Franc (5%). Typical of the region, the vineyard consists of a deep gravel top soil on a limestone base.

Production is about 12,000 cases of wine in an average year. Fermentation takes place in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, and then the wines are placed into oak barrels (50% new) for 18 months of aging.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
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