1990 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Pauillac Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note
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1990
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste (Pauillac)
Powerful, full-bodied, rustic, but in a good way, the austerity in the currants with all the tobacco leaf, cigar box, green leafy, spicy herbs, and bright red, crisp fruits are everything you want in a classic Pauillac. About an hour of air will help the experience. 3,354 Views Tasted Nov 17, 2021A beautiful example of a classic Pauillac in its prime time drinking window. The cedar, tobacco leaf, cassis, blackberry, herb and earthy nose is compelling. Full-bodied, concentrated and fully developed, the tannins are soft and fully integrated, leaving you with fresh, roasted, ripe, round, red fruits and cigar wrapper in the long finish. Perfectly balanced between classic and refined, there is no reason to age this any longer. Splash decanted, this is completely ready to go. 3,460 Views Tasted May 10, 2020If you're looking for that blend of tobacco and cassis, with cedar, lead pencil, a bit of green pepper and crushed rocks, you came to the right place. Firm, full-bodied, concentrated and with a depth of flavor, the smoky cassis on the palate hits the spot. There is a touch of bitter chocolate on top of the cassis in the finish. This is drinking just great today. It was good out of the bottle, so do not over decant. 30 minutes of air is fine. 5,124 Views Tasted May 11, 2018Tobacco, Cuban cigar, forest floor, cassis and blackberries pop from the glass. Powerful, classic and refined, in a masculine sense. An hour of air added a lot to the wine. Really coming along nicely, this is now a bit better than th 1982. 5,146 Views Tasted Sep 24, 2014Tobacco, cigar box, earth, cassis, blackberry and forest floor scents are all over the place. Concentrated, powerful, and stuffed with ripe, chewy cassis, this classic, Pauillac wine is still young and will continue getting better for the next few decades. The $20 price on release continues paying dividends. 8,364 Views Tasted Jun 23, 201390 Grand Puy Lacoste expresses truffle, cassis, tobacco, cedar, leather and forest floor scents. Still young, this powerful, concentrated, masculine wine offers a big, beefy, juicy mouthful of ripe cabernet fruit. Some tannin remains that needs to be resolved. The wine finishes with cassis and a of hint green pepper which detracted from the otherwise sublime experience. I've had other bottles that did not display green notes that earned a higher score. Still, this is an outstanding example of a traditionally made Pauillac. 94 Pts 10,315 Views Tasted Sep 27, 2012Truffles, tobacco, blackberry, cassis, earth, molasses and forest floor scents make up the complex perfume. Ful bodied and intense, this young wine is stuffed with ripe cassis, smoke and fresh black cherry. In select vintages, Grand Puy Lacoste produces stunning Bordeaux wine. 1990 is well worth seeking out. 8,914 Views Tasted Jun 16, 2011Truffles, soy, smoke, tobacco, dark plums and jammy berries with forest scents pop up the moment the cork leaves the bottle, gaining in intensity as the wine slams into the glass. Rich, full bodied and intense, with long powerful, spice and ripe berry, with hints of jammy plums finish. This will age for at least 2 more decades. 10,160 Views Tasted Jun 28, 2010I don't care how cheap it used to be. Those days are gone and even at today's prices, for a wine of this quality, it's worth the bucks. To me, when you get down to it, that is the best descriptor you can read. Would you buy more? I would. The rich, ripe, beautiful cassis laden wine is incredibly concentrated. Big, and broad shouldered, this is very well balanced and while not yet fully mature, can be enjoyed today. If you have only a few bottles, you can wait. It's not going anywhere. In fact, I expect it will drink well for at least another 25-30 years if well stored. 4,999 Views Tasted Feb 10, 2008Cassis, wood and spice components add to the massive, classy, full bodied wine. But, don’t be fooled by it size, it maintains perfect balance. 4,442 Views Tasted Jun 15, 2005 |
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.