Grand Puy Lacoste 2010

An absolutely magnificent wine from this very popular estate, which sits well off the Route du Vin, just to the southwest of the town of Pauillac, its classic creme de cassis and floral notes are well-displayed. The wine possesses supple tannin, a full body, voluptuous character and a layered, impressively textured mouthfeel. This is a brilliant effort from Grand Puy Lacoste that can be drunk in 4-5 years or cellared for three decades or more.

An attractive minty bouquet, a mixture of red and black fruit laced with subtle marine/seaweed notes, a touch of graphite developing with time. The palate is medium-bodied with impressive tension and wonderful freshness right from the start. There is a sense of coiled up energy here and the finish just leaves you breathless. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal. Drink 2023 to 2055.

Intense hazelnuts and blackberries on the nose follow through to a full to medium body, with chocolate and berry flavors and firm tannins. Not giving away a lot at the finish at the moment. Reserved and sophisticated. But structured and chewy. Try in 2017.

Inky ruby colour even at 10 years old, easily as good as the 2016 and possibly even better. You can spend a lot more money on wines of this vintage and not get as much pleasure as you are getting in the glass here. Pure brilliant Pauillac, dripping with liquorice, black chocolate, rose petals, blackberries, liqourice, smoked earth, cassis, all poised with purity. Only just thinking about its drinking window, and just so generous and balanced even now, but come back in 10 years and it will only have moved on a few tiptoes - this is a slow-ageing, confident wine that will take its time. Harvest 29 September to 12 October, 75% new oak. Drink 2021-2045.

Correct, classic claret with an undertow but the opposite of showy. Lots of both tannin and fruit here. Classic Cabernet. Lots in reserve and great length. QGV 13.5%
Drink 2020 – 2042

Tasted blind. Second bottle: smudgy deep garnet. Savoury, lots of black fruit and a charry savoury quality. Cedary too. Cool, fresh and unexpectedly elegant on the palate, refined and flowing. Sober exterior, elegant interior. And only about one-fifth of the price of first growths. Drink 2025-2040.

Xavier Borie consistently makes one of the finest of all Pauillacs here. The track record shows that top vintages such as 1982, 1990, 1996, 2000 and 2005 always produce quite magnificent wines. Frequently GPL is a match for the top names of Pauillac but is usually cheaper en primeur. An extremely reliable property that the canny buyer should consider every year. Much of the fruit is used to make the second wine - Lacoste Borie. This is classic Pauillac made from 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Merlot. A smokey nose of tar and Havana cigars. Gorgeously pure blackcurrent fruit, very precise, very focussed and not over-worked. Fresh acidity combines with ripe, elegant red berry fruit and polished creamy tannins. Classy, under-stated refined and delicious. This is real Pauillac with perfect poise and tannic balance. Xavier Borie says that this is like the 1996 in style but is even better. This is what Bordeaux is all about. Real Claret!

The nose has a rich mix of black fruits at first cassis dominated but behind is black cherry and sloe. There is an attractive spiciness to the fruit mix on the palate just a touch of oak and although the tannins give structure they are ripe and rounded. The back palate has a lovely freshness.

Still rather reserved, but excellent depth of violetty-irony Pauillac fruit and great length and elegance, a fine classic wine that will repay cellaring over a long period. Drink 2017-35.