1999 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste
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Tasting notes
The 1999 Grand Puy-Lacoste offers attractive brambly red fruit with pencil shavings and touches of undergrowth. There is plenty of freshness here, more than in other Pauillacs that I have tasted at 20 years of age. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin and pretty red currant and raspberry notes tinged with orange peel and a hint of leather. It is not a powerful Grand-Puy-Lacoste, and never was, but the balance sees it through, and it will give another ten years of drinking pleasure. Tasted from an ex- château bottle at the estate.
Critic scores
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
This was served with the 1996 and pigeon and foie gras in a little flaky pastry medallion. It looked a bit more developed than the 1996 at the rim. Ruby with a hint of age at the rim. Firm and dry and nearing its apogee. Very fresh and clean. Lively and racy. Xavier Borie commented, '1999 was not considered a top vintage – it hasn't got that much power but it has elegance and structure. Our wines always have balance and freshness'. (JR)
Looks quite evolved. Sweet, neat, punchy in its initial attack. Not (yet?) integrated and yet showing quite a bit of acid at the moment. I wonder whether it will ever be really harmonious? (JR)
About the producer
In 1978 the Borie family took over Grand-Puy-Lacoste and Xavier Borie has been making exceptional wines here ever since. With 58 hectares of vines around the château, this is a wine with real Pauillac style.