Château GRAND-PUY-LACOSTE 2009
In Pauillac, Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste occupies a historic terroir of deep gravel soils that is among the most characteristic of the appellation. Fifth Grand Cru Classé in 1855, the estate has belonged to the Borie family since 1978 and is today managed with a spirit of great stylistic continuity. The vineyard rests on gravelly hills particularly favorable to Cabernet Sauvignon, the grape variety that gives the wine its uprightness, depth, and remarkable aging potential. Merlot adds more flesh and suppleness, while Cabernet Franc traditionally completes the blend in more modest proportions. Grand-Puy-Lacoste is renowned for a classic Pauillac expression, based on blackcurrant, graphite, cedar, and a precise tannic structure. The warm and generous 2009 vintage allowed for remarkable grape ripeness while retaining enough freshness to preserve balance. After more than fifteen years of evolution, the wine begins to reveal an attractive tertiary complexity while maintaining a beautiful reserve of fruit.
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2009 blends 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. The high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon imparts a deep and persistent framework, while Merlot brings more roundness to the mid-palate. Cabernet Franc plays a discreet role but contributes to the aromatic finesse and freshness of the whole. The grapes are vinified parcel by parcel to preserve the personality of the different vineyard sectors before the final blending. Aging in French oak barrels gradually refines the structure and allows the tannins to integrate without masking the precision of the fruit. The sunny character of the vintage is expressed by generous material and great ripeness, but the balance remains deeply Médocain. The 2009 thus has a still solid architecture, capable of continuing its evolution for many years.
The color shows a deep garnet with ruby reflections that begin to reveal slight evolution. The nose combines blackcurrant, blackberry, and black plum with nuances of cedar, graphite, and blond tobacco. Aeration gradually reveals cocoa, licorice, sweet spices, and fine notes of undergrowth. The palate is ample and structured, with now more polished tannins that give the wine a velvety texture without erasing its depth. Cabernet Sauvignon brings length and freshness, while Merlot maintains a fleshier sensation in the mid-palate. The finish is long, precise, and persistent, on black fruits, graphite, tobacco, and a slight smoky dimension. Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2009 will accompany a roasted rack of lamb, a beef fillet with porcini mushrooms, pigeon, duck breast, or refined cuisine around black truffle.
Grape varieties: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc
