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Grand Puy Lacoste 2005

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

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Tasting Notes

The Château Grand Puy Lacoste 2005 has a brilliant, classic pencil-lead nose that is Pauillac through and through. There is no messin' about here. The palate is very well defined with wonderful acidity, great depth of black fruit with an astonishingly precise finish that just takes your breath away. Is it the best 2005 of the vintage? Not quite, but it belongs in the top tier. And factor in value for money, I would be happy sitting on a big pile of this in my cellar to drink over the rest of my lifetime and the afterlife if that exists too. Drink 2020 - 2060.

97
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, February 2015

Pure crème de cassis, licorice and spice are all present in this wine from Xavier Borie. Medium to full-bodied and ripe, with sweet tannin and a nicely textured mouthfeel, this is a beauty that should continue to drink well for another 15 or so years. Drink 2015-2030.

92
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (219), June 2015

This estate's finest wine of the decade is the 2005 Grand-Puy-Lacoste, a fleshy, sumptuous wine evocative of cassis, sweet red berries and cigar box, framed by a touch of creamy new oak that integrates with opening. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with an enveloping core of fruit, rich tannins and a seamless but authoritative profile, it concludes with a long, resonant finish. Just entering early maturity, it will continue to develop for several decades. 2020-2050

96
William Kelley, Wine Advocate, December 2023

A fabulous GPL. Perhaps better than the legendary 1982? It shows laser-guide precision on the palate with aromas of currants, cedar, mint, flowers and chocolate. Full-bodied and extremely finely textured on the palate, lasting for minutes. A joy to drink now. Get some.

97
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, October 2015

One of the 2005s that I have drunk most regularly, and it always delivers. Still on top form for this tasting, dark ruby in colour, primary in its fruit expression. Tightrope balance of fruit and tannins, just emerging into its drinking window. Pencil lead, smoked earth, sandalwood, spice, eucalyptus, mint, pencil lead, cassis. A 40 year wine from this point on. Appellation signature in a glass. Needs carafing to fully open up, and then it's game on. Harvest September 22 to October 5, 70% new oak.

97
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, September 2022

Tasted blind. Lustrous dark crimson. Not much nose. Thick and sweet, with the tannins well melded. Pungent, cordite quality. A good mid-term stage reached in its evolution whereby it’s drinkable but has lots left to give.
Drink 2016-2040

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, March 2017

Medium red. Very ripe aromas of plum and musky brown spices; redder in character and less precise than the 2006. Then big, sweet and plump on the palate, with full, mellow flavors of red berries, tobacco and mocha, plus a light smoked meat note. Finishes with sweet tannins and lingering, fully ripe fruit. This is showing its lush side today and is hiding its underlying structure.

93
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, June 2008

Deep colour, big smoky nose, really fine expression of Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon, floral, even a little understated, but great length and balance is there. Drink 2012-35.

18
Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2006

Polished, scented with wonderful purity of fruit. Just about perfect balance. Pure essence of classy fruit. Nothing in excess. Drink from 2020. Awarded 5 stars.

18.5+
Decanter.com, Decanter.com, July 2008

Came 23rd out of 184 wines

17.3
-, Southwold Bordeaux Tasting, January 2009
Read more tasting notes...

Tasted single blind at Farr's 2005 dinner in Hong Kong. Was I being mean when I garlanded Xavier Borie's Pauillac with a paltry 97-points? This is an exceptional Pauillac: strict and correct on the nose with graphite, cedar and crushed stone, masculine and stoic but with the clarity of a First Growth. The palate has a beguiling sense of symmetry, lazer-like precision with touches of pencil-lead on the profound finish. I rest my case and given the price, unbeatable value.

97
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, January 2012

The brilliant 2005 Grand-Puy-Lacoste exhibits classic Pauillac aromas and flavors of creme de cassis along with stony/floral notes. Proprietor Xavier Borie has created a wine that should rival the brilliant 1982, 1990, 1996, and 2000. Full-bodied with sweet tannin and superb length (a 40+ second finish), the purity of this beauty’s black currant fruit is something to behold. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2030

95
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (176), April 2008

Perhaps even better than this estate’s 2000 or 1996, one may have to go back to the monumental 1990 to find a Grand-Puy-Lacoste this classic and well-endowed. It is a beautiful, dense purple-tinged effort displaying a sweet, pure perfume of creme de cassis, flowers, and wet stones, fabulous ripeness, a full-bodied, fleshy attack, mid-palate, and finish, and gorgeous length as well as richness. There is not a coarse, hard edge to be found in this well-endowed, tannic beauty. A fabulous value in the scheme of 2005 Bordeaux prices, it should be at its peak between 2014-2030+.

93/95
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (170), April 2007

Following a period of mixed performances, Grand-Puy-Lacoste’s 2005 is their finest effort since 2000 and 1996. It offers a deep ruby/purple color in addition to a beautiful, pure bouquet of creme de cassis, full body, moderately high tannin, and good precision, freshness, weight, and richness. Like many of the classified growths, it is a candidate to shut down after bottling. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025.

92/94
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (164), April 2006
93
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, February 2008

Aromas of berries and spices follow through to a full body, fine tannins and a chewy finish. Tight and reserved but shows lovely potential. Layered and refined. Very beautiful. Perhaps better than 2000.

92/94
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, March 2006

Mid crimson. Rather sweet - even simple - Cabernet nose. Racy and sleek. Devil-may-care wine made by the vineyard rather than with an eye to what the market wants. 13%
Drink 2020-2040

17.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2015

Exotic nose of spice and minerals. Very four square and intensely purple fruited. Still needs to calm down and develop in bottle but there are lots of ingredients to play with here.

17.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2009

Very lively with lots of refreshing acidity on the nose. Very rich and powerful and sweet on the front palate. Winning texture - reminds me a bit of the Giscours in its modern idiom. Should please many people but lacks real savoury depth. Very chewy finish. Quite heavy oaking - lacks real refreshment value. Drink 2014-22

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2006
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.