Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste 2016

JAMES SUCKLING: "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."

DECANTER: "This has a punch of mouthfilling dark cassis fruits and lots of complex tobacco, liquorice and truffle. Layer upon layer of flavour is joined by tight tannins, but with air and life in between. It's young and well balanced, easily equal to the power of a Lynch Bages or a Pichon Baron. I loved it en primeur and love it again here. Consultant is Eric Boissenot, technical director is Christel Spinner. Drinking Window 2024 - 2038"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Dewy and succulent cassis, smoke, tobacco, cedar wood and blackberry aromas pop up with just an easy swirl or two. Refined, polished, elegant with a medium-bodied personality, ending with loads of sweet, dark fruit. This vintage from GPL has the structure to age, coupled with the silky-mouth feel that its loyal tasters enjoy. From a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, the harvest took place September 21 to October 5."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, dezente Randaufhellung, mit Edelholznoten unterlegte schwarze Frucht nach Brombeeren und Cassis, ein Hauch von Gewürzen und Orangenzesten. Stoffig, engmaschig, dunkle Beerenfrucht, extraktsüße Nuancen, gut eingebettete, reife Tannine, mineralisch und anhaltend, sicheres Reifepotenzial."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2016 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is deep garnet-purple in color. It springs with vibrant notes of crushed blackcurrants and juicy blackberries, plus suggestions of unsmoked cigars, lilacs, and dusty soil. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound with black fruit and earthy layers, supported by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "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."

WEINWISSER: "79 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 21 % Merlot, 45 hl/ha. Purpurgranat mit Granatschimmer am Rand. Dichtes, süsses Walderdbeerbouquet, dahinter Himbeermark und Rosenholz sowie Veilchen – alles zusammen vermischt sich zu einem betörenden Parfüm. Am eleganten Gaumen stützendes Tannin, mit viel Frische und roten Johannisbeeren im Rückaroma und ein sehr langes, elegant nachklingendes Finale – was für eine tänzerische Delikatesse! François-Xavier Borie sieht Parallelen zum grandiosen 1996er, aber mit dem Plus an Präzision!"

WINE SPECTATOR: "A lively style, with lots of briar and tobacco notes out front, backed by punchy plum and black currant paste flavors. Has a shot of sweet tobacco lining the finish, with echoes of savory and hints of iron giving this range and length. Best from 2023 through 2038."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Rich and savoury, even slightly toasty – immediately appealing nose. Perhaps not the most noble but very flashy."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Juicy and jammy, this wine is already smoothly textured. Its black fruits add a fresh touch and give a ripe feeling. Likely to develop quickly the wine will be ready to drink from 2022."