Pauillac
Welcome to the remarkable world of Pauillac, an appellation that stands as a testament to the grandeur and finesse of Bordeaux wines.
Pauillac is home to some of the most celebrated vineyards in Bordeaux, renowned for their impeccable craftsmanship and the sheer magnificence of their wines. At the pinnacle of this appellation lies the iconic Château Lafite Rothschild, a legendary estate that has captivated wine enthusiasts for centuries. Its wines, characterized by their aristocratic finesse, layers of complexity, and remarkable age-worthiness, have become the benchmark for excellence.
Another exceptional vineyard in Pauillac is Château Latour, revered for its consistency in producing wines of extraordinary depth, intensity, and longevity. With its unrivaled pedigree and unparalleled reputation, Château Latour stands as a symbol of Pauillac's winemaking heritage. Château Mouton Rothschild, known for its opulent and opulent wines, delights with its richness, elegance, and artful blending.
Other distinguished vineyards in Pauillac include Pichon Baron, recognized for its precision and structure, and Pichon Lalande, admired for its finesse and feminine charm. Pontet-Canet, with its biodynamic practices and uncompromising commitment to quality, produces wines of immense power, depth, and complexity.
The terroir of Pauillac, with its gravelly and well-draining soils, coupled with the influence of the Gironde estuary, provides ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon, the dominant grape variety in the region. Pauillac wines exhibit a captivating blend of blackcurrant, cassis, cedar, graphite, and hints of cigar box, framed by firm yet refined tannins and vibrant acidity. They possess a remarkable structure, balance, and potential for long-term aging.
Pauillac
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Jeb Dunnuck (93-96)
The deep, inky-hued 2020 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse has a seriously impressive, balanced, full-bodied, structured style that's going to reward patience. Pure crème de cassis, black raspberry, graphite, lead pencil, and spring flower notes all define the bouquet, and it has plenty of background oak, a dense, chewy mid-palate, lots of tannins, and a great finish. It's going to need to be forgotten for 7-8 years but will evolve for 30 years or more.$384.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (93-96)
The deep, inky-hued 2020 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse has a seriously impressive, balanced, full-bodied, structured style that's going to reward patience. Pure crème de cassis, black raspberry, graphite, lead pencil, and spring flower notes all define the bouquet, and it has plenty of background oak, a dense, chewy mid-palate, lots of tannins, and a great finish. It's going to need to be forgotten for 7-8 years but will evolve for 30 years or more.$254.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (93-96)
The deep, inky-hued 2020 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse has a seriously impressive, balanced, full-bodied, structured style that's going to reward patience. Pure crème de cassis, black raspberry, graphite, lead pencil, and spring flower notes all define the bouquet, and it has plenty of background oak, a dense, chewy mid-palate, lots of tannins, and a great finish. It's going to need to be forgotten for 7-8 years but will evolve for 30 years or more.$204.00 -
James Suckling (96-97)
Beautiful texture here. Tannins are dense and compact but finely polished and silky. Seamless and even with length and succulence. Medium- to full-bodied. Power with elegance. Endless for this. Finally the best ever.$382.00 -
James Suckling (96-97)
Beautiful texture here. Tannins are dense and compact but finely polished and silky. Seamless and even with length and succulence. Medium- to full-bodied. Power with elegance. Endless for this. Finally the best ever.$230.00 -
(12x75cl) 2023Jeb Dunnuck (93-95+)
The 2023 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse is concentrated and inward, with a dense bouquet of smoky black fruit, iron, leafy tobacco, and lead pencil. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated Pauillac that has beautiful overall balance, ripe yet certainly building tannins, ample background oak, and a great finish. I love its overall balance, as well as its purity, but this brilliant Pauillac is going to be for those with a touch of patience. I suspect a solid 7-8 years should put it in the early stages of its drinking window, and it should have at least three decades of overall longevity.$393.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (93-95+)
The 2023 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse is concentrated and inward, with a dense bouquet of smoky black fruit, iron, leafy tobacco, and lead pencil. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated Pauillac that has beautiful overall balance, ripe yet certainly building tannins, ample background oak, and a great finish. I love its overall balance, as well as its purity, but this brilliant Pauillac is going to be for those with a touch of patience. I suspect a solid 7-8 years should put it in the early stages of its drinking window, and it should have at least three decades of overall longevity.$274.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (93-95+)
The 2023 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse is concentrated and inward, with a dense bouquet of smoky black fruit, iron, leafy tobacco, and lead pencil. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated Pauillac that has beautiful overall balance, ripe yet certainly building tannins, ample background oak, and a great finish. I love its overall balance, as well as its purity, but this brilliant Pauillac is going to be for those with a touch of patience. I suspect a solid 7-8 years should put it in the early stages of its drinking window, and it should have at least three decades of overall longevity.$182.00 -
Wine Spectator (91)
Always beautiful, this full-bodied '88 shows terrific fruit character and racy, silky tannins that are wonderfully knit together. Thoroughly satisfying.--1988 Bordeaux horizontal. Best after 2001__. -JS$1,230.00 -
(12x75cl) 1989Jancis Robinson (18)
Virtually identical paleish ruby to the 1990 served alongside. This more delicate, transparent wine went better with the turbot than the richer, heavier 1990. Sweet and delicate and fully evolved, a little dusty on the end. Still very fresh. Unlike the 1990 it does not really taste like the product of a very hot summer. Drinking well now.$2,055.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (95)
The 1990 Grand-Puy-Lacoste just didn't perform on the night of the 1990 dinner in London, but I was fortunate to share another in Stellenbosch a few weeks later. Black fruit, sage and light liquorice scents, with lovely delineation that builds nicely in the glass. Gentle grip, a pinch of white pepper on the finish, still quite backward, this Pauillac has mellowed in recent years to form a quite exquisite GPL. Tasted at Fat Butcher restaurant in Stellenbosch.$314.00 -
(12x75cl) 1996Vintage Tastings (93)
The Grand Puy Lacoste had a great Pauillac nose, classic in style. Minerals, pencil, slate, anise and earth all competed for attention in this hearty and also rugged wine.$2,244.60 -
Wine Advocate (95)
The 2000 Château Grand Puy Lacoste is an exceptional wine from Xavier Borie. It has a brilliant nose of blackberry, crushed stone, graphite and cedar. Putting it to one side for ten to 15 minutes reveals subtle mint-like aromas that whisk you straight to Pauillac. The palate is smooth and silky, cloaking the tannic frame of this GPL so that you barely notice it. But that will stand it in good stead for the long-term, the cornerstone of all great wines from this estate. Then there is that hint of spice on the aftertaste—the show ain't over yet. Served alongside a magnum of Pichon Baron 2000, I would say that at the moment, it does not quite possess the same level of precision. However, it remains a magnificent Pauillac to cherish long-term. Tasted January 2016.$1,600.00 -
This traditional style Pauillac lead the way among non first growth Bordeaux’s to take off in Asia. Full bodied, high in tannin it ages very well. The 2005 is beautifully refined with complex notes of liquorice, mint and black fruit. This is ready to drink.$1,439.60 -
Wine Advocate (91)
Tasted at BI Wine & Spirits' 10-Years-On tasting, the 2007 Grand-Puy-Lacoste has a straight-down-the-line, no frills, pencil lead-infused, black-fruited bouquet with wonderful definition and commendable intensity for the vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with a surprisingly lithe and sensual opening, more red fruit than other vintages of Grand Puy Lacoste with satisfying precision and mineralité on the finish. This is excellent. Tasted February 2017.$766.00 -
Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (91+)
Full red-ruby. Brooding aromas of medicinal blackcurrant, plum, menthol, spices and cocoa powder. Lush and fine-grained but youthfully closed, offering moderate sweetness today but noteworthy breadth for the vintage. Finishes with a fine dusting of tannins and very good length.$723.00 -
(6x150cl) 2008Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (91+)
Full red-ruby. Brooding aromas of medicinal blackcurrant, plum, menthol, spices and cocoa powder. Lush and fine-grained but youthfully closed, offering moderate sweetness today but noteworthy breadth for the vintage. Finishes with a fine dusting of tannins and very good length.$732.00 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (95)
Here we are in classic Pauillac territory, still young even at 15 years old, with a ton of tannic grip, slate and pencil lead, cassis and cocoa bean, channeling tension, freshness and bright fruits. A wonderful example of the vintage, needs a few more years than really being in its drinking window, but this is exceptional quality. 70% new oak for ageing.$1,070.00 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (95)
Here we are in classic Pauillac territory, still young even at 15 years old, with a ton of tannic grip, slate and pencil lead, cassis and cocoa bean, channeling tension, freshness and bright fruits. A wonderful example of the vintage, needs a few more years than really being in its drinking window, but this is exceptional quality. 70% new oak for ageing.$1,970.00 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (95)
Here we are in classic Pauillac territory, still young even at 15 years old, with a ton of tannic grip, slate and pencil lead, cassis and cocoa bean, channeling tension, freshness and bright fruits. A wonderful example of the vintage, needs a few more years than really being in its drinking window, but this is exceptional quality. 70% new oak for ageing.$1,010.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (97)
Two bottles of the 2010 Grand Puy-Lacoste were opened, the first showing just a little oxidation. The second has 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.$1,375.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (97)
Two bottles of the 2010 Grand Puy-Lacoste were opened, the first showing just a little oxidation. The second has 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.$621.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (94)
The 2012 Grand-Puy-Lacoste has an impressive cassis-tinged bouquet with fresh tobacco and graphite infused black fruit that are very well focused and neatly integrated with the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a keen thread of acidity, finely proportioned with a vibrant graphite-infused finish. One of the standout Left Bank wines of the vintage. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.$714.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (94)
The 2012 Grand-Puy-Lacoste has an impressive cassis-tinged bouquet with fresh tobacco and graphite infused black fruit that are very well focused and neatly integrated with the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a keen thread of acidity, finely proportioned with a vibrant graphite-infused finish. One of the standout Left Bank wines of the vintage. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.$106.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90-92+)
The 2013 Grand Puy Lacoste is terrific. Graphite, smoke, tobacco and licorice burst onto the palate, followed by layers of dark, inviting fruit. Supremely classy from start to finish, the 2013 impresses for its energy, balance and pure, mineral-driven cut. The 2013 is by no means a huge wine, but it is super-polished to the core. Tasted twice.$617.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90-92+)
The 2013 Grand Puy Lacoste is terrific. Graphite, smoke, tobacco and licorice burst onto the palate, followed by layers of dark, inviting fruit. Supremely classy from start to finish, the 2013 impresses for its energy, balance and pure, mineral-driven cut. The 2013 is by no means a huge wine, but it is super-polished to the core. Tasted twice.$304.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (95)
The 2014 Grand-Puy Lacoste has a bouquet with blackberry, boysenberry, mint and graphite, well defined and focused. It does not have to try too hard to give so much pleasure. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, very crisp acidity, beautifully proportioned with a veneer of top quality new oak that will need three or four years to be fully subsumed. But the purity and elegance of this Pauillac cannot be denied – a quite brilliant contribution to the 2014 vintage. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.$1,020.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (95)
The 2014 Grand-Puy Lacoste has a bouquet with blackberry, boysenberry, mint and graphite, well defined and focused. It does not have to try too hard to give so much pleasure. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, very crisp acidity, beautifully proportioned with a veneer of top quality new oak that will need three or four years to be fully subsumed. But the purity and elegance of this Pauillac cannot be denied – a quite brilliant contribution to the 2014 vintage. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.$780.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (95)
The 2014 Grand-Puy Lacoste has a bouquet with blackberry, boysenberry, mint and graphite, well defined and focused. It does not have to try too hard to give so much pleasure. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, very crisp acidity, beautifully proportioned with a veneer of top quality new oak that will need three or four years to be fully subsumed. But the purity and elegance of this Pauillac cannot be denied – a quite brilliant contribution to the 2014 vintage. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.$599.00 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (95)
Juicy but understated, with Pauillac scrape and intensity, appellation signature in a glass - cassis bud, cocoa bean, graphite, bilberry, crushed mint, tobacco, saffron. There is enough weight and definition to the tannins to suggest that it will age well from here, but a good carafe will bring it into its drinking window. A definite standout and one to look out for. 75% new oak for ageing.$680.00

