Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste   Grand Puy Lacoste

2003 Grand Puy Lacoste

By Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste

2003 Grand Puy Lacoste from Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste, Pauillac, Bordeaux

The 2003 Grand Puy Lacoste from Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste stands as a testament to the resilience and flexibility of great Bordeaux vines under extreme meteorological whims. The season in question bore witness to a searingly hot summer, offering formidable challenges yet yielding a harvest of surprisingly robust grapes that transcended the climatic adversity.

 

Finding Balance in the Face of Heat

The beguiling narrative of the 2003 vintage in Bordeaux pivots on rarity and survival; it’s a tale whose chapters are graced with tales of turbulent weather patterns. The footprint of this extraordinary climate is deeply etched into the 2003 Grand Puy Lacoste, with ripe fruit characteristics boldly stepping forward in this wine's profile.

Yet, behind this forward fruit lies a poised balance. The wine’s fine tannins weave through a luxurious texture like silk, an enigmatic counterpoint to the concentrated dark berry and cassis notes that dominate the initial taste. Touches of licorice and smoky spice add depth and hint at the complexity that only true Pauillac terroir can expressively showcase.

 

A Vintage for the Astute Investor

For wine investors seeking truly distinct expressions that define an era, 2003 is a cornerstone among modern narratives. The vigour shown by Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste during such an unprecedented year reveals resilience that only serves to bolster its desirability as an asset with compelling provenance.

The 2003 Grand Puy Lacoste encapsulates a unique moment in viniculture where nature’s untamed forces confronted human patience and expertise. Its story is actively sought out by investors who recognise both its singularity and capacity for long-term maturation.

 

In Summary: A Resilient Rarity

To encapsulate the exquisite paradox that is the 2003 Grand Puy Lacoste from Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste – it is a wine carved from a furnace-like summer, matured into elegance. This bottling remains one of the most intriguing chapters in Bordeaux's prestigious lineage, providing insight into how exceptional wine can emerge from challenging vintages, enhancing its allure for collectors and connoisseurs alike. Its investment value retains tenacity akin to its vineyards' resolve through '03 - complex, bold, and admirably enduring over time.

Current market price

£520.00

12x75cl

Highest score

91

POP score

47.27

Scores and tasting notes

91

Very ripe and intense on the nose with a stewed strawberry and cherry character. Full bodied, with a very jammy palate but so much fruit going on here. Ripe fruit dominates this. Pull the cork after 2013.

James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, March 14th 2011

88

An atypically superficial effort from one of my favorite Pauillacs, the 2003 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is very good, but it does not stand up to some of the finest northern Medoc offerings. A deep ruby/purple-tinged color is followed by a moderately intense bouquet of black currants and underbrush. It hits the palate with good fruit and medium body, but tails off in the finish. It is an elegant, lighter-styled example of this generally high-class performer. It can be consumed over the next 10-12 years.

Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 23 April 2006

87

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's "10-Year On" tasting in London. Even compared to the Haut-Batailley, the Grand Puy Lacoste does not have the same degree of vigour or delineation. Muffled graphite and earthy scents try to offer some glimmer of life, but it seems very subdued. The palate is medium-bodied with a gamey entry. The acidity is quite low and there is a touch of brettanomyces that become more evident towards the finish and this seems to inhibit the fruit. This is one of the very few vintages where I prefer the Haut-Batailley to GPL. Tasted March 2013.

Neal Martin - Wine Journal May 2013

Vintage performance