As you’d expect in a vintage like 2016 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste hasn’t put a foot wrong [except perhaps its 25% price rise in euro terms – significantly more in sterling]. I think it is certainly the best Grand-Puy-Lacoste since the 2009 and 2010. There is great depth and length to the wine. The balance is terrific. Despite the upward trajectory of price here, this is a property which remains a continual over-achiever, though back vintages from 2009, 2010 and 2014 look more interesting value to me. Second wine Lacoste Borie looks well worth considering in 2016. This is one of the best I’ve tasted in recent years. It has plenty of ripe, fresh blackcurrant fruit. Spot on Pauillac.

François-Xavier Borie reports a wet spring followed by a homogeneous flowering period in 2016. There was considerable temperature variation in the month of June [minimum temperatures dropped as low as 7C but went as high as 36C]. The dry conditions that characterised the vintage settled in by the end of June and lasted, as elsewhere, until mid September. Despite the drought the vines didn’t get blocked, though they were stressed. Doubtless the rain on September 13 would have helped final ripening. Good weather continued after. Nights were significantly cooler which allowed for the grapes to retain aromatic freshness in the run up to harvest. The property began harvesting Merlot on September 28 and finished with the Cabernet Sauvignon on October 13. The good conditions meant that the harvest was unhurried.

The following wines were tasted at Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste on 3^rd April 2017. Qualitatively these are very exciting wines.

Lacoste Borie, Pauillac, 2016

Mid depth; earthy purple at edge; bright polished fruit; blackcurrant notes; vivid; attractive; some graphite; nicely produced; blackcurrant notes on the palate; lovely bright acidity; enveloping wine; nicely composed. Fresh finish. Exciting for Lacoste Borie. Length. [61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 50hl/ha]. Tasted 3/4/17. Drink 2021-2030. 90-91+

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Grand Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2016

Deep and attractive; tight to the edge; earthy purple at edge; lovely purity; beautiful blackcurrant notes; very mannered and correct; typically youthful GPL – perfumed and pretty; really lovely fruit on the palate; great entry; beautiful purity as ever; really nice texture here; well integrated acidity and very ripe, succulent tannins. This has lovely delicacy. Length impressive. Very long indeed. Potentially very interesting indeed. A beauty! [79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 75% new oak, 45hl/ha]. Tasted 3/4/17. Drink 2021-2030. 95-97+