Grand Puy Lacoste 2018 1500ml

96 POINTS

Wine Spectator

This captures the style of the vintage to a T, with vividly ripe cassis and plum fruit, carried by solidly built but fine-grained structure. Lots of graphite and tobacco accents hang in the background for now. A firmly grounded wine. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Score range: 95-98

96 POINTS

Peter Moser - Falstaff

Deep dark ruby, violet tints, delicate bright rim. Fine black berry fruit, a breath of candied violets, fine noble wood savouriness, fresh cherries, very attractive bouquet. Juicy, elegant, mineral and light-footed, perfectly integrated tannins, fine nougat on the finish lasting for minutes, safe ageing potential.

96 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

The 2018 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is fabulous, just as it was from barrel. Strong Cabernet inflections soar out of the glass, giving the wine a compelling aromatic profile laced with the essence of graphite, dried herbs, menthol and dark fruit. One of the most classic (for lack of a better word) wines in the Left Bank in 2018, Grand-Puy-Lacoste is super-impressive right out of the gate. Grand-Puy-Lacoste is ultimately a wine of tremendous class that remains restrained and aristocratic in breeding. Don't miss it.

95 POINTS

Wine Spectator

Juicy and compact now, with dark currant, blackberry and fig notes at the core, surrounded by lots of warm earth, singed alder and tobacco leaf notes. Cast iron note helps extend the finish, with the fruit and earth notes keeping pace. Has a slight throwback feel, so if you like old school, ageworthy Pauillac, this is your wine. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

95 POINTS

Peter Moser - Falstaff

Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle brightening at the rim. Blackberry, delicate cassis, some nougat, fine new oak nuances, a hint of cedar, multi-faceted bouquet. Juicy, pronounced fruit, ripe sweet cherry, integrated tannins, fresh acidity, mineral finish, shows good length and secure development with definite ageing potential. (2025-2045).

95 POINTS

Neal Martin - Vinous

The 2018 Grand Puy Lacoste has a quintessential Pauillac nose of intense black fruit infused with graphite scents, pencil shavings and a very discreet marine influence. It is beautifully defined, less opulent than the 2018 Lynch Bages tasted alongside, yet maybe more complex. The palate is medium-bodied and taut, offering sappy black fruit, gritty tannins and a lot of crushed stone. The focused, graphite-driven finish could only come from this appellation. Superb. A wine to correct those bemoaning that Bordeaux no longer makes "proper Claret."

95 POINTS

Jane Anson - Decanter

Another success from Grand-Puy-Lacoste – it’s bright and full of juice, prioritising vibrancy over power. As such, it has a touch less Pauillac typicity than in the absolutely brilliant 2016 vintage at this estate, although as it unfurls through the palate you do get the menthol, cassis and smoked cedar that is just such a beautiful sign of ripe Cabernet up in this corner of the world.They were extremely careful with extraction because of the high alcohols, so grapes underwent the shortest maceration to date with no pumping over just an infusion during the extraction process.Harvest took place between 21 September and 5 October. 12% press wine. 75% new oak used. A yield of 40hl/ha.