Source: jamessuckling.com. Issue Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2019 (JS-97)

A neoclassical edition of Grand-Puy-Lacoste, this has cedar, graphite, deeply integrated cedar and spicy-oak influence and a very fresh array of ripe blackberries, dark cherries and cassis. The palate is so seamless. It builds beautifully and delivers a long, seamless array of perfectly ripe dark fruit, swathed in fine, firm, ascending layers of tannins. As good as we have seen in recent vintages, this is a star of the vintage. Try from 2024.

Source: The Wine Advocate; Published: Nov 30, 2018?(RP-94+)

The deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Grand-Puy-Lacoste gives up pure kirsch and red and black currants with violets and baking spices. Medium-bodied, firm and grainy, it’s very expressive with good concentration and length.
Drink Date: 2021 – 2039

Source: www.chateau-grand-puy-lacoste.com

Date of harvest
September, 28th to October, 13th 2016

Blend
79% Cabernet Sauvignon – 21% Merlot

Tasting notes
Grand Puy Lacoste 2016 is an example once again of a vintage marked by a significant proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the assemblage – 79%, which demonstrates the tremendous potential of its terroir. The wine has a deep, bright crimson colour. There are aromas of intense black fruit which explode on the nose, underlining the character of perfectly ripe grapes whilst retaining an attractive mineral freshness. The whole is floral with a touch of spiciness. On the palate, there is a crescendo of flavours, suave, dense and complex. 2016 has fine balance and freshness coupled with a long finish sustained by ripe tannins. Once more, we find in this fine vintage the expression of the great terroir of Grand Puy Lacoste which underlines all its richness, complexity and elegance.

Total vineyard area
90 hectares around the Ch?teau

Vineyard surface under production
58 hectares in one block around the Ch?teau

Average age of the vines
38 years old

Soil – Terroir
Very deep coarse gravel

Vineyard grape varieties
75% Cabernet Sauvignon – 20% Merlot – 5% Cabernet Franc

Density of planting
10,000 vines/hectares

Rootstock
Riparia Glory & 101.14

Growing of the vines
Mechanical plowing of the soil Viticulture practices: Spraying kept to the absolute effective minimum

Harvest
Exclusively hand picked

Grape sorting
Two successive selections before and after the de-stemming process

Winemaking
A long period of maceration (about 3 weeks)

Aging
In French oak barrels (75% new barrels each vintage) for between 16 to 18 months depending on the vintage.