Grand Puy Lacoste 2006

Pauillac, Fifth Growth

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Tasting Notes
I raved about the 2006 Château Grand Puy-Lacoste when I tasted it from barrel ten years ago. It has evolved a really quite beautiful, very classic Pauillac bouquet with vivacious blackberry, raspberry and wild mint aromas that deftly absorb the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, perhaps a more forward "GPL" than other vintages, but there is genuine fineness to the tannin and that backward finish has great precision. There is the substance to suggest that it will be a long-term Left Bank and you could probably broach it after another 3-4 years. Score: 94 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2019-2038 30 April 2016
Tasted at the château. The nose is rather subdued at first with blackberry, graphite and a touch of tar. Very tight. Further swirling reveals a touch of black coffee. The palate has good intensity of fruit, a certain coolness and reserve about it. Wonderful balance and definition, very pure, again a "no frills" Cabernet which is not problem because there is no need for any "extras" on this wine. Elegant slightly peppery finish. Reminds me a little of the 1996, but with a little more purity and expression. Sublime. Tasted April 2007. Score: 94 - 96 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 19 April 2007
While not at the level of the phenomenal 2005, Grand-Puy-Lacoste has produced another classic wine with the creme de cassis fruit that I often find in both Mouton Rothschild and Pontet-Canet, yet both of those vineyards are closer to the Gironde River. This wine has a pure personality, with the aforementioned classic creme de cassis notes, medium to full body, beautiful density, purity, texture, and length. If anything, this recalls a hypothetical blend of their brilliant 1995 and 1996. Tannins are elevated, so patience will be required. This was Xavier Borie’s first vintage in his new state-of-the-art winemaking facility. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2027. Score: 92 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2014-2027 01 February 2009
While not at the level of this estate’s blockbuster 2005, the 2006 exhibits a deep purple color as well as classic aromas of cassis and blueberries, ripe tannin, medium body, a distinctive minerality, and a long finish. It recalls the brilliant 1995 and 1996 made here. Fashioned from yields of 47 hectoliters per hectare, the final blend is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Score: 90 - 92 Robert Parker, - 01 January 1900
A clean young wine, with fine, silky tannins, good focused fruit and a medium-to-long finish. Caressing and refined. Score: 89 - 91 James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2007
Xavier Borie has recently been making excellent wines at this reliable Classed Growth with vintages such as 1995, 2000 and 2005 still providing great value for money. The 2006 is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Xavier Borie believes that it is better than 2004 and not far behind 2005. Aromatic and pure with bramble fruit, liquorice and tar - very classic. Excellent concentration of precise Cabernet fruit with complicating hints of spice and mocha. The texture is very polished and defined with well-integrated tannins. Wonderful balance, no tricks and very well made. Score: 92 - 94 Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2007
Picking began relatively early, on 21 September. The terroir is warm and tends to ripen early. Xavier Borie likens it to 2000 and 2001. This is the final assemblage. No darker than Haut-Batailley. Thick and opulent on the nose. Very sweet and engaging, with lots of fine tannins - something reminiscent of port about this! The tannins are not at all green - very mouth-cleaning, This wine rinses the mouth. Really complete. Very gentle extraction. Much rounder tannins than most other similar wines. Totally charming. Not big but great balance and vivacity, Bravo! Score: 18 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2013-2020 01 April 2007

Tasting Notes

I raved about the 2006 Château Grand Puy-Lacoste when I tasted it from barrel ten years ago. It has evolved a really quite beautiful, very classic Pauillac bouquet with vivacious blackberry, raspberry and wild mint aromas that deftly absorb the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, perhaps a more forward "GPL" than other vintages, but there is genuine fineness to the tannin and that backward finish has great precision. There is the substance to suggest that it will be a long-term Left Bank and you could probably broach it after another 3-4 years.

Score: 94

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2019-2038 30 April 2016

Tasted at the château. The nose is rather subdued at first with blackberry, graphite and a touch of tar. Very tight. Further swirling reveals a touch of black coffee. The palate has good intensity of fruit, a certain coolness and reserve about it. Wonderful balance and definition, very pure, again a "no frills" Cabernet which is not problem because there is no need for any "extras" on this wine. Elegant slightly peppery finish. Reminds me a little of the 1996, but with a little more purity and expression. Sublime. Tasted April 2007.

Score: 94 - 96

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 19 April 2007

While not at the level of the phenomenal 2005, Grand-Puy-Lacoste has produced another classic wine with the creme de cassis fruit that I often find in both Mouton Rothschild and Pontet-Canet, yet both of those vineyards are closer to the Gironde River. This wine has a pure personality, with the aforementioned classic creme de cassis notes, medium to full body, beautiful density, purity, texture, and length. If anything, this recalls a hypothetical blend of their brilliant 1995 and 1996. Tannins are elevated, so patience will be required. This was Xavier Borie’s first vintage in his new state-of-the-art winemaking facility. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2027.

Score: 92

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2014-2027 01 February 2009

While not at the level of this estate’s blockbuster 2005, the 2006 exhibits a deep purple color as well as classic aromas of cassis and blueberries, ripe tannin, medium body, a distinctive minerality, and a long finish. It recalls the brilliant 1995 and 1996 made here. Fashioned from yields of 47 hectoliters per hectare, the final blend is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc.

Score: 90 - 92

Robert Parker, - 01 January 1900

A clean young wine, with fine, silky tannins, good focused fruit and a medium-to-long finish. Caressing and refined.

Score: 89 - 91

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2007

Xavier Borie has recently been making excellent wines at this reliable Classed Growth with vintages such as 1995, 2000 and 2005 still providing great value for money. The 2006 is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Xavier Borie believes that it is better than 2004 and not far behind 2005. Aromatic and pure with bramble fruit, liquorice and tar - very classic. Excellent concentration of precise Cabernet fruit with complicating hints of spice and mocha. The texture is very polished and defined with well-integrated tannins. Wonderful balance, no tricks and very well made.

Score: 92 - 94

Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2007

Picking began relatively early, on 21 September. The terroir is warm and tends to ripen early. Xavier Borie likens it to 2000 and 2001. This is the final assemblage. No darker than Haut-Batailley. Thick and opulent on the nose. Very sweet and engaging, with lots of fine tannins - something reminiscent of port about this! The tannins are not at all green - very mouth-cleaning, This wine rinses the mouth. Really complete. Very gentle extraction. Much rounder tannins than most other similar wines. Totally charming. Not big but great balance and vivacity, Bravo!

Score: 18

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2013-2020 01 April 2007

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