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Wine Description
The Story
The name of Grand-Puy-Lacoste is one of the vineyards selected in 1855 by the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce, to figure in its famous classification.
This classification only recognized the well established reputation of the properties it listed, and because the first half century before listing were not the best times at Grand-Puy-Lacoste, it “failed” to make a noteworthy impression in terms of prices and reputation, achieving only a lowly 5th Growth classification. The reputation of Grand-Puy-Lacoste has improved a lot since then and today the quality and prices of Grand-Puy-Lacoste can often easily compare with 2nd Growth.
The origin of the property is very old, since its first mention in official documents appears at the beginning of the 15th century. The estate extends over 225 acres in a single unit to the south of Pauillac, on a rise, which is the origin of its name "Grand-Puy". Monsieur Lacoste gave his name to the Château when he bought the property and kept it until the epidemic of phylloxera at the end of the 19th century.
However Grand-Puy-Lacoste´s was built by Monsieur Raymond Dupin, a legendary figure in the Medoc wine world and president of the “Union of Médoc Classified Growths”, who bought Gran-Puy-Lacoste in 1932 and was the proprietor until 1978. He sold half of the estate’s shares to Jean-Eugène Borie, who took over the responsibility for the wine production.
Nowadays, François-Xavier Borie manages Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste. He renewed the cellars of the château just before producing the great vintage of 1982.
There are currently around 110 acres of vine producing approximately15.000 cases on a soil planted with 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. The grapes are picked always by hand and the wines are matured in oak barrels for 14 to 18 months.
Wine Information
2009 Vintage: Date of harvest : 24th of September to 7th of October 2009
Blend: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon - 18% Merlot - 2% Cabernet Franc
Tasting notes
This is a very good vintage with quality underlined by cabernets sauvignons of exceptional nobility. This wine presents a very deep, dark red colour. The "bouquet” reveals aromas of complex fruits and hints of ripe blackcurrant. The attack on the palate is precise, very dense, and follows with an exceptional velvety richness. The tannins are suave and elegant. It shows a beautiful complexity, combining smoothness and purity. A very well balanced wine with a spectacular length. In one word, a Grand Puy Lacoste with the promise of a bright future!
Total vineyard surface
90 hectares around the Château
Vineyard surface under production
55 hectares in one block around the Château
Average age of the vines
38 years
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 gloire & 101.14
Growing of the vines
Mechanical ploughing 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
Vinification
A long period of maceration (about 3 weeks)
Ageing
In French oak barrels (70% new barrels each vintage) for between 16 to 18 months depending on the vintage.
Owner
M. François-Xavier BORIE
Cellar Master
M. Philippe GOUZE
Vintage 2009
Much like 1947, 1961 and 2005, 2009 is a year of almost overly (for Bordeaux) flamboyant and opulent wines with high maturity and low acidity. The tannins are exceptionally ripe, while the wines are quite voluptuous in style. The Left Bank recorded more hours of sunshine than legendary vintages such as 1947 and 1982, and the grapes had higher sugar concentrations than in 2003 and 2005. The key was significant diurnal temperature variations that allowed the grapes to withstand hot daytime temperatures. An exceptional vintage on all levels.