Winemaker Notes
Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2024 is characterized by a very high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%), which once again defines the identity of the terroir and the finesse of its expression. This 2024 vintage embodies the elegance of the year, with excellent fruit maturity and remarkable freshness. Its garnet color precedes an expressive nose of ripe black fruits, complemented by subtle hints of violets. On the palate, the attack is broad and enveloping, the texture is silky, and the tannins are fine. The overall balance offers a harmonious blend of structure, velvety texture, and vibrancy. True to the estate’s style, this refined wine will be accessible in its youth while having great aging potential.
Blend: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot
This wine does not include the blanket 10% tariff imposed in April 2025. When the wines are shippable in fall of 2027, customers will have the option to pay any tariff in place at the time or to keep their wines stored in a temperature-controlled facility free of charge in France.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A very classic Grand-Puy-Lacoste that’s really clear, firm and linear. Mineral, delicate, perfumed and bright, it shows scented red berries and a touch of white pepper. The medium body is rounded by fine, dusty tannins and a long, very juicy finish. 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot.
Barrel Sample: 95-96 -
Decanter
Grippy and cool, this has presence and focus in the mouth. Structured and chiselled with a cooling minty fresh acidity that drives the wine. Excellently displayed and presented, not rich but there's ripeness to the blackcurrant and plum fruit as well as purity and accents of smoke and cedar. Acidity is high giving extra tension but this isn't too sour or sharp. Needs some more time in oak to soften the edges but this has elegance. 70% new oak.
Barrel Sample: 93 -
Jeb Dunnuck
As to the Grand Vin, the 2024 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot, resting in 70% new barrels. It's a classy, elegant Pauillac with ample red and black currant fruit as well as lead pencil, graphite, and some floral, spicy nuances. It's medium-bodied, balanced, has fine tannins, and tons of soul and charm. It will be a classic Pauillac, and I'd be happy to have bottles in my cellar.
Barrel Sample: 91-93 -
Vinous
Plump and juicy, the 2024 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is pure charm. This is an especially soft, fruity Grand-Puy-Lacoste with good aromatic presence and fine freshness, if not quite the depth or complexity of the very best years. Floral overtones lift the finish effortlessly. This is a delicate, understated Pauillac that will drink well with minimal cellaring. The balance between the 13% alcohol and 70% new oak is sublime. I won't be surprised if the 2024 turns out to be even better from bottle, especially if it gains a bit of mid-palate pliancy in barrel. –Antonio Galloni
Barrel Sample: 91-93
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
The leader on the Left Bank in number of first growth classified producers within its boundaries, Pauillac has more than any of the other appellations, at three of the five. Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Mouton Rothschild border St. Estephe on its northern end and Chateau Latour is at Pauillac’s southern end, bordering St. Julien.
While the first growths are certainly some of the better producers of the Left Bank, today they often compete with some of the “lower ranked” producers (second, third, fourth, fifth growth) in quality and value. The Left Bank of Bordeaux subscribes to an arguably outdated method of classification that goes back to 1855. The finest chateaux in that year were judged on the basis of reputation and trading price; changes in rank since then have been miniscule at best. Today producers such as Chateau Pontet-Canet, Chateau Grand Puy-Lacoste, Chateau Lynch-Bages, among others (all fifth growth) offer some of the most outstanding wines in all of Bordeaux.
Defining characteristics of fine wines from Pauillac (i.e. Cabernet-based Bordeaux Blends) include inky and juicy blackcurrant, cedar or cigar box and plush or chalky tannins.
Layers of gravel in the Pauillac region are key to its wines’ character and quality. The layers offer excellent drainage in the relatively flat topography of the region allowing water to run off into “jalles” or streams, which subsequently flow off into the Gironde.