1995 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Pauillac Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

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1995
92
Firm, crisp and bright red fruits with a stoic nature create the backbone of the wine. Very classic in nature, the wine is firm, tannic, full-bodied and crunchy with a tannic bite. With its tobacco, cedar, cigar box, forest floor, herb and red berry perfume, the wine is more interesting on the nose than the palate. Giving this a few hours of air will help, but the nature of 1995 vintage is strong here.

Firm, crisp and bright red fruits with a stoic nature create the backbone of the wine. Very classic in nature, the wine is firm, tannic, full-bodied and crunchy with a tannic bite. With its tobacco, cedar, cigar box, forest floor, herb and red berry perfume, the wine is more interesting on the nose than the palate. Giving this a few hours of air will help, but the nature of 1995 vintage is strong here.

5,247 Views   Tasted
Still showing a youthful color, with cassis, cedar and tobacco opening up the perfume. The wine combines old school, rustic charm with some of the softness found in the modern age, ending on a note of crunchy cassis. Still young, it's fun to drink now, but will be better with time.

Still showing a youthful color, with cassis, cedar and tobacco opening up the perfume. The wine combines old school, rustic charm with some of the softness found in the modern age, ending on a note of crunchy cassis. Still young, it's fun to drink now, but will be better with time.

5,456 Views   Tasted
Fresh, crisp, with perhaps a bit too much brightness in the fruit, as the cranberries are running over the darker berries. Tannic, earthy and crunchy, give this time and it might flesh out. But at close to 20 years of age, it is probably what it is when it comes to style and personality...

Fresh, crisp, with perhaps a bit too much brightness in the fruit, as the cranberries are running over the darker berries. Tannic, earthy and crunchy, give this time and it might flesh out. But at close to 20 years of age, it is probably what it is when it comes to style and personality...

5,398 Views   Tasted
Almost opaque in color with a perfume reminiscent of cassis, tobacco, cedar and spice. Tannic, concentrated and young. There is a hard spine to this Bordeaux that will hopefully fade with time.

Almost opaque in color with a perfume reminiscent of cassis, tobacco, cedar and spice. Tannic, concentrated and young. There is a hard spine to this Bordeaux that will hopefully fade with time.

4,594 Views   Tasted

When to Drink Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste needs time in the cellar before it is ready to drink. Young vintages can be decanted for at least 2-4 hours, give or take. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume.

Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste is usually better with at least 12-20 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste should offer its best drinking and reach peak maturity between 12-35 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste with Wine and Food Pairings

Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, pasta and a myriad of hard and soft cheeses.

Grand Puy Lacoste is a classic, age-worthy, style of Pauillac. It's a full-bodied, tannic, concentrated Bordeaux wine that ages well. This Bordeaux wine offers cassis, cedar, tobacco, and truffle scents and a juicy mouth full of flavor

Interestingly, the wine became one of the first popular, non First Growth Bordeaux brands to sell in China and in other countries in Asia as well.

In part, their initial success in China had to do with the last word for the name of the chateau, Lacoste. The name Lacoste gave a memorable nickname to Grand Puy Lacoste, which was soon called the alligator wine in China, due to the name being the same as the famous sports clothing designer, with the crocodile logo.

The wine of Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste has not always been consistent. But clearly, in some vintages, like 1982 and 1990, the wine can be as good as the Super Seconds. However, the estate has really been on a roll starting with the 2000 vintage. 2009, followed by an even better 2010 Grand Puy Lacoste are really great wines. In fact, those 2 years could be the two best vintages ever produced at Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste!

If you ever get the chance to visit this beautiful property do not miss the stunning gardens, a lake with swans, and greenery behind the house. And be sure to ask about the 2 full-sized, plastic cows near the lake.

www.grand-puy-lacoste.fr