Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2022

Herb-spiced notes, blackcurrant, a textbook Cabernet aroma, with violets and tobacco on top; very elegant on the palate, light-footed yet dense, athletic, precise, remarkably long-lasting and fresh; a magnificent sense of tension, red-fruited finish. Can GPL do better?

The 2022 Grand-Puy-Lacoste has turned out nicely in bottle, unwinding in the glass with aromas of cassis and plums mingled with notions of rose petal, tobacco leaf and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, bright and velvety, with a layered core of fruit and powdery structuring tannins, it's beautifully balanced.

This version shows the floral side of the vintage, with a vibrant mix of iris, violet and rose petal notes leading the way, backed by a core of pure and racy red and black currant preserves. There's a well-integrated singed cedar note running along its flanks and a long beam of iron driving the finish. Textbook. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2042. 10,000 cases made.

Vibrant floral scents on the nose—roses and violets—with blackcurrants, dried herbs, and chocolate. Smooth and round on the palate, this has excellent weight in the mouth—silky tannins, fleshy cherry fruit, cushioning acidity, and subtle spice all combine to give such a delicious mouthful of wine that feels cool and classic, which wasn’t easy in 2022. It has Pauillac power but with real charm and drinkability. Well constructed and characterful, with mineral markers of wet stone and graphite as well as tobacco, tar, clove, and espresso. I loved this wine En Primeur and it has totally delivered after ageing. A joy to drink and this will also age supremely well.

The 2022 Grand-Puy Lacoste has a clean, fresh and intense nose, a mixture of blackberry and blueberry fruit, quite floral, gaining refinement and clarity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. Fresh and cohesive, bright with impressive precision and complexity on the finish, this is outstanding. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

Cigar box, mint leaves, black currants, licorice, spice, and smoke pack the complex aromatics. The palate is loaded with layers of sweet, bright cherries, currants, and a gorgeous, refreshing freshness in the finish that expands as it lingers. The wine blends 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot. The earliest harvest in the history of the estate has created one of the best vintages ever produced here! Drink from 2030 - 2060.

Dark ruby in colour with purple reflections, and subtle brightening on the rim. On the nose, an inviting bouquet of fine cherry fruit, delicate fig and nougat notes, and candied orange zest. The palate is juicy and elegant, with a lively structure, fresh red forest fruits and a mineral finish; a refined food wine, appears light-footed, with definite ageing potential yet already approachable. (1/25, +30, PM).

Rose buds, cassis, crayon, mint leaf, graphite, black tea; this is full of classic Pauillac character in a vintage where that is not a given. It has ridden confidently through ageing and I am still fully on board. Easy to recommend, great stuff. 60% of production in the 1st wine, Eric Boissenot consultant, 75% new oak.

A classic nose where black fruits mingle with notes of graphite and slate. On the palate, a piercing intensity, as sharp as Cruella de Vil’s gaze. An icy, spellbinding freshness, with purple fruits and floral notes.

The nose is discreet at first yet fairly concentrated, highlighting the tangy side of the fruit (bigarreau cherry, blackcurrant, blueberry, morello cherry, raspberry, tangy strawberry). Then come pleasant spicy and chocolatey tones (liquorice, cumin, cardamom, a fine hint of vanilla, a tangy touch of cocoa nibs and a slightly bitter note of dark chocolate). Next, the wine reveals toasted notes (hazelnut, almond, toasted oak and fresh oak in the background), combined with lovely freshness and an elegant floral perfume (peony, violet, wild rose), as well as a touch of chocolate-covered morello cherry. The palate is fresh, tangy and refined, with notes of tangy fruit (blackcurrant, bird cherry with a pleasant bitterness, along with bigarreau cherry, blueberry, morello cherry, raspberry, strawberry). The spicy and toasted flavours are pleasant and elegant. Beautiful concentration; the finish is long, tangy, firm and fresh. The tannins are slightly gripping and firm, yet fine and pleasant. Lovely acidity and length. Savoury, refined persistence.

Dark red color with purple highlights. An intense, delicate nose with fine, fruity, subtle, complex and noble aromas. The palate is all smooth, melting pulp, with classy texture. Power emerges mid-palate, never disturbing the graceful poise of Grand Puy Lacoste. An impossible-to-spit finish, long, deep, with fine grain. Blend: 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot. Alcohol: 14.2% – pH: 3.57. Yield: 38 hl/ha.

Grand-Puy-Lacoste reveals itself with restraint and finesse. And when a Pauillac behaves this way, it signals ambitions dedicated to the future, but also to harmony. On the palate, the wine is compact and elegant. It can rely on the support of precious, compact, fine-grained tannins that shape the entire palate in a uniform and precise manner. It does not seek flash; it focuses on depth, on the subtlety of its extraction, and on its capacity to perform over time. This is a truly great wine. A fine success.