2016 Ch Grand-Puy-Lacoste 5eme Cru, Pauillac

Firm, tight, and vibrant with aromas of blackberries and herbs. Vivid and expressive on the palate, with a thread of dark fruit framed by polished, refined tannins. Focused and contained. Good concentration with a long finish. Drink or hold. 10 Years On retrospective.

97 points Jacobo García Andrade for James Suckling Feb 2026

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.

96 points Jeff Leve for The Wine Cellar Insider

Among Pauillac's finest classified growths, Château Grand Puy Lacoste has earned an enviable reputation for producing wines of remarkable consistency, purity and longevity. Family owned by the Borie family since 1978, the estate has remained true to a classical style that places Cabernet Sauvignon and exceptional vineyard expression at the forefront. It is widely regarded as one of Bordeaux's greatest value Fifth Growths, regularly performing well above its classification.

The exceptional 2016 vintage ranks among the greatest of the modern era, producing Cabernet Sauvignon of outstanding concentration, freshness and precision. The estate's deep gravel soils encouraged slow, even ripening, resulting in fruit of extraordinary balance and structure. Meticulous vineyard selection and traditional élevage have created a Pauillac of impressive depth that is destined for a long and graceful life in the cellar.

Deep garnet with youthful ruby highlights, the bouquet unfolds with aromas of cassis, blackberry and black cherry layered with cedar, graphite and cigar box. As the wine opens, notes of violets, pencil shavings, tobacco leaf and subtle spice emerge, revealing the unmistakable character of great Pauillac. The palate is powerful yet beautifully proportioned, combining concentrated black fruits with finely woven tannins, vibrant acidity and a precise mineral backbone. Long, refined and effortlessly balanced, the finish lingers with savoury complexity, cedar and exceptional persistence.

A magnificent companion for Chateaubriand, roast lamb, venison loin, duck with truffle or mature Comté. Already superb with extended decanting, this outstanding Pauillac has the pedigree and structure to evolve magnificently over the coming decades.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2055.