A benchmark Fifth Growth from Pauillac, Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste has long been celebrated for producing classically styled Bordeaux with exceptional consistency and longevity. The 2023 vintage is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot, aged in 75% new French oak, capturing the estate's hallmark precision, elegance, and gravelly minerality.
Tasting Notes
Deep purple-red in color, the nose reveals blackcurrant, blackberry, cassis, violets, graphite, cedar, pepper, and subtle spice. The palate is medium to full-bodied with remarkable purity and precision, showcasing vibrant dark fruit, crushed stone minerality, fine-grained tannins, and fresh acidity. Seamlessly balanced, it finishes long with notes of graphite, savory spice, and classic Pauillac structure, promising outstanding aging potential.
Professional Ratings
- 97–98 Points – James Suckling
- 95–97 Points – Vinous (Neal Martin)
- 95 Points – Decanter
- 95 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
- 93–95 Points – Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
- 95 Points – Falstaff
Drink Window
Best from 2030–2055, though patient collectors may find it rewarding even longer as it develops classic Pauillac complexity.
Food Pairing
Excellent with:
- Herb-crusted rack of lamb
- Dry-aged ribeye
- Beef Wellington
- Venison loin
- Aged Comté or Manchego
Overall: The 2023 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is another superb expression of this revered estate, combining cassis-driven fruit, graphite minerality, refined tannins, and vibrant freshness. Elegant rather than opulent, it is a textbook Pauillac that continues the château's reputation as one of Bordeaux's greatest values among the classified growths.
95-96pts James Suckling
Beautiful purity and freshness to the blackcurrants and blackberries with subtle notes of cedar and graphite. Medium- to full-bodied. So polished and silky, almost weightless. It’s very long. 77% cabernet sauvignon and 23% merlot.
95pts Decanter
Fragrant floral and blackcurrant notes on the nose. Just ripe fruit, on the bright side but nothing out of place, not too high toned or too sour. It’s lacking a touch in density, but makes up for it in precision and nuance. Lots of fine, salty and spiced tannins support the pure fruit with a graphite edge that lingers on the tongue. It’s clean and focussed, not so vertical or wide, but there’s finesse here no doubt. Mouthwatering and minty all the way through. Very classy and classic with fine ageing potential. Excellent quality. Ageing 75% new oak. 3.56pH. A yield of 48hl/ha. 55% grand vin production. 12.5% press wine.
93-95pts Vinous
The 2023 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is powerful, reticent and shy, revealing notes of black cherry, gravel, scorched earth and licorice. It's rich, ample and quite potent, marked by an intriguing mix of super-ripe Merlots and later-picked Cabernet. All of this fruit was picked before the September rain, so the tannins are a touch aggressive. Time in a bottle should help this come together. - Antonio Galloni
93-95pts Wine Advocate
Aromas of cassis, cigar wrapper, pencil shavings and violets introduce the 2023 Grand-Puy-Lacoste, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and supple wine that's seamless and sensual, with good depth at the core, beautifully integrated tannins and a lively, charming profile. It's a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot that was picked between September 11-28.
94pts Jane Anson
We are in classic Grand Puy Lacoste territory here, great balance, good freshness, Pauillac typicity, less concentration than 2022, showing instead bright cassis and blackberry fruits, salted cracker edge, liquorice, graphite, spiced cocoa beans, and flashes of fresher redcurrants on the close of play. Great quality, and you can see the fine ageing potential stretching ahead. 75% new oak, rest one year old, around 60% of production in this 1st wine (this is similar each year, as here the vineyard footprint has not changed since 1855). Harvest September 11 to 28.
92-94pts Vinous
The 2023 Grand-Puy-Lacoste was picked September 11th to 28th at 48hL/ha and matured in 75% new oak. It has a classic "GPL" bouquet with blackberry, pencil box and light marine scents, obviously not as powerful as the previous vintage, yet in typical style, beautifully defined and focused. Just a touch of cracked black pepper surfaces with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle but insistent grip, just a light bitter edge lending tension and nerve. I perceive good depth here, but this is not a powerhouse of a Pauillac (is GLP ever?). It fans out toward the finish whilst maintaining control. There's an impressive linearity to this wine, and thus I suspect it will require less bottle-age compared to recent vintages. - Neal Martin
91-93pts The Wine Independent
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Grand-Puy-Lacoste slowly emerges with restrained notes of crushed black and red currants, fresh blackberries, and raspberry leaves plus suggestions of lilacs and underbrush with a waft of wild thyme. The light to medium-bodied palate is soft and lively, with just enough mid-palate intensity and an herbal lift on the finish. The blend is 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot.
History
The history of Grand-Puy-Lacoste is fascinating in many ways. It is a family saga going back to the 16th century. The name Grand-Puy, already mentioned in documents from the Middle Ages, comes from the ancient term "puy" which means "hillock, small height". True to its name, the vineyard sits on outcrops with a terroir similar to that of the Médoc's first growths. Since the 16th century the property was passed down from generation to generation, until the current family, the Borie's, bought the property in the 1920s.
