Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste: A lesson in precision

When you think of Pauillac, you think of ageing potential. These reds are generally made with the highest proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon of anywhere in the Médoc, and Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is achieving some of the finest expressions of this full-bodied blend.

Run by the François-Xavier Borie family since 1978, the estate dates back to the official classification of Bordeaux wine in 1855. In their hands, these exceptional vineyards have gone from strength to strength. Last year, the family unveiled a new high-tech vat room – enabling them to produce wine with even greater finesse.

Details matter

Blending seamlessly into the estate’s historic architecture, the vat room is a masterclass in precision winemaking. The vats are partially underground, so grapes can be fed in by gravity alone – protecting the fruit. Then, with 24 stainless steel tanks sized specifically for each parcel and adapted for temperature control, the team vinifies the grapes from individual plots separately, coaxing out their unique personality.

The estate’s selection is led by the Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Grand Vin – a timeless wine with a silky texture, refined tannins and potential to develop in bottle for decades. To celebrate the inauguration of the new vat room and the fresh winemaking approach this represents, this year the estate has also released the wine in bottles with special screenprinted labels.

Not to be missed, though, is Lacoste Borie, a more approachable blend featuring a touch of Cabernet Franc along with the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The vines used to craft this easy-drinking wine are surrounded by trees, hedges and grass that is grazed by sheep in winter, an example of the estate’s commitment to nurturing biodiversity.

An unmissable way to experience Pauillac

For a unique way to appreciate the remarkable ageing potential of both of these wines, the estate is once again releasing its highly sought-after ‘Variation Case’. Instead of the usual 12 bottles, this case celebrates a single vintage in three formats: a double magnum, two magnums and four standard sized bottles – along with an invitation to the château for four people.

The Variation Case lets you witness how the wine matures at varying speeds, whether opening the double magnum at a milestone gathering or sharing a bottle with a special someone. If you’re celebrating a birth, a wedding, or simply love the finest Bordeaux, this unique case is the ideal choice.

Learn more about Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

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