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1996 Grand Puy Lacoste
By Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste
1996 Grand Puy Lacoste from Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste, Pauillac, Bordeaux
The 1996 vintage in Bordeaux was a felicitous fusion of favourable climatic conditions, rendering the harvest one to remember, notably in Pauillac. In this distinguished milieu, the 1996 Grand Puy Lacoste stands as a compelling testament to the terroir's prowess and Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste's meticulous craftsmanship.
A Vintage of Vigour and Vibrancy
The climatic nuances of '96 endowed vineyards across Bordeaux with a generous serving of sunshine and an apt quota of rain, caressing the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blends with profound character and structure. The resulting yield of grapes, rich with potential, found their zenith in bottles such as the 1996 Grand Puy Lacoste. Aromatic complexity flirts with the nose, suffusing scents of ripe blackcurrant, cedarwood, and a whisper of tobacco – a noble bouquet befitting its storied Pauillac heritage.
Investing in Promise and Prestige
For fine wine investors, this particular vintage from Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste presents an attractive proposition. Well-cellared bottles continue to evolve, displaying remarkable balance between intensity and finesse—a symphony of mature tannins aligning with a refreshing acidity that signals the wine's ongoing longevity and investment allure.
This vintage is highly regarded for both its immediate approachability in its salad days and its capacity to refine enchantingly within the bottle. The palate will delight in the harmonious union of dark fruits with undercurrents of savory spices and an elegant oaky frame that confirms the exalted status of the '96 harvest.
Enthralling Elixir: A Connoisseur’s Chronicle Continues
A glass of 1996 Grand Puy Lacoste regales one with an evocative narrative—of vineyard, vigneron, and vintage convergence. It encapsulates the quintessence of Pauillac's gravely splendour and is, without a doubt, a rich channel through which one may explore the exceptional '96 Bordeaux story. This vintage represents a facet within the gem-laden journey for enthusiasts seeking pivotal wines to elevate their collections' diversity and distinction.
An exemplar among its contemporaries, the 1996 Grand Puy Lacoste from Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste is an epitomic effusion from a harvest that has etched itself into viticultural lore. Poised gracefully on the palates that appreciate it and resolute in the cellars that protect it, this scarcely paragon wine merits keen consideration within any serious investment portfolio.
Market price (CAD)
$2,360.00
12x75cl
Highest score
93
POP score
109.23
Scores and tasting notes
Tasted at The Ledbury at the Grand Puy Lacoste dinner. This bottle is much more unevolved and closed than others that I have tried. It has very good intensity on the nose with blackberry, iodine, cassis and a touch of violets that must have been picked down in Margaux. The palate has a real sappy texture matched with good acidity, but it is very backward and sultry towards the fiish. Bold, dense and introspective, leave this for another 4- years. Tasted September 2011.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jan 2012
This is unquestionably a profound Grand-Puy-Lacoste, but it is excruciatingly backward. It reveals an essence of creme de cassis character which sets it apart from other Pauillacs. The wine is displaying plenty of tannin, huge body, and sweet black currant fruit intermixed with minerals and subtle oak. Massive, extremely structured, and with 25-30 or more years of longevity, this immensely-styled Grand-Puy-Lacoste will require 7-8 years of patience, perhaps longer. A superb, classic Pauillac. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #122 April 1999
The 1996 Grand-Puy-Lacoste, now at 20 years old, has a very typical bouquet for this estate: correct, linear, well defined, conservative but intense, with pencil shavings, cedar and a subtle balsam aroma. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm structure and well-judged acidity that lends this 1996 impressive focus. It is totally and unashamedly classic in style, austere compared to other Pauillacs from this vintage, the kind of gentleman's claret that should grace a dinner table. I have actually encountered slightly better bottles than this one, tasted at the property. It remains a very fine Pauillac that should drink well for 20-odd years ... just expect a little austerity and aloofness. Tasted July 2016.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 28 October 2016