Grand Puy Lacoste 2016 (375ML)

97 JS / 97 VM / 97 JA / 96 WCI / 95 WI / 95 FS / 94 JD / 94 WS / 17.5 JR

A neoclassical edition of Grand-Puy-Lacoste, this has cedar, graphite, deeply integrated cedar and spicy-oak influence and a very fresh array of ripe blackberries, dark cherries and cassis. The palate is so seamless. It builds beautifully and delivers a long, seamless array of perfectly ripe dark fruit, swathed in fine, firm, ascending layers of tannins. As good as we have seen in recent vintages, this is a star of the vintage. Try from 2024. - James Suckling

The 2016 Grand Puy-Lacoste has a clean, precise bouquet with nicely detailed blackberry, briar and tobacco aromas, touches of mint emerging with time, all utterly charming. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity, conveying a sense of symmetry throughout and leading into a deft, quite persistent finish. This is very classy, and it should age with style. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

Inky red in colour, the fruits are concentrated and knitted down and need some coaxing out of the glass to really open up - make sure you carafe this even if leaving for another few years, and enthusiastically swirl to let that oxygen in. As it opens you start to appreciate just how great this wine is - so balanced, so Pauillac, feathered but rich tannins, zero dip through the mid palate, black truffle, graphite and pencil lead set against cassis cassis and a little more cassis. The tertiary flavours won't come in for at least another decade, because everything here is so concentrated. Everything that you love about Grand Puy Lacoste is right here in this glass, and a vintage that shows what truly ripe fruits brings to Cabernet Sauvignon. Harvest September 28 to October 13. 75% new oak. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

Cedar, tobacco leaf, blackberry, currants, leafy herbs, and underbrush aromatics open the wine. Interestingly, at the moment, the wine is better on the palate with its non-stop layers of concentrated, ripe, sweet, powerful fruits. There is a rustic purity to the fruits which linger and expand in the finish. This could be the finest vintage of Grand Puy Lacoste ever produced. This is a steal for a Pauillac Classified Growth of this quality! Drink from 2028-2060-Jeff Leve, Wine Cellar Insider

The 2016 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is deep garnet-purple in color. It springs with vibrant notes of crushed blackcurrants and juicy blackberries, plus suggestions of unsmoked cigars, lilacs, and dusty soil. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound with black fruit and earthy layers, supported by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

Deep, dark ruby with an opaque core, brightening at the rim. Blackberries and cassis are underlaid with oak notes, a hint of spice, and orange zest. Full-bodied and finely-meshed, with pronounced dark berry fruit and well-embedded, ripe tannins. Mineral and persistent. Certain ageing potential.-Falstaff The 2016 Château Grand-Puy Lacoste is closed and needs bottle age but has a beautiful, medium to full-bodied style as well as ripe currants, some smoky tobacco and cedar pencil notes, ripe tannins, terrific fruit, and outstanding length. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age and should evolve gracefully over the following 15+ years-Jeb Dunnuck

A lively style, with lots of briar and tobacco notes out front, backed by punchy plum and black currant paste flavors. Has a shot of sweet tobacco lining the finish, with echoes of savory and hints of iron giving this range and length. Best from 2023 through 2038. 10,000 cases made. - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot. Harvested 28 September to 13 October. 45 hl/ha.Very dark crimson. Very ripe and fresh. Pretty glorious expression of the vintage on the nose. Slightly dry finish but really very energetic and may be a fairly good buy. Slightly dry on the end – very British claret! - Jancis Robinson