Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2018

Grand-Puy-Lacoste sits on one of Pauillac's most elevated gravel plateaux, a single unbroken block of vines that Xavier Borie's father François acquired in 1978 — a deliberate bet on terroir continuity over fragmented parcels. That decision to keep the estate

intact means every bottle draws from the same deep Günzian gravel beds over clay subsoil, a drainage regime that forces Cabernet Sauvignon roots deep and concentrates phenolic intensity without irrigation assistance.

The plateau's elevation and south-facing aspect accelerate ripening while cool Atlantic airflow preserves acidity. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the blend, typically above 75%, with Merlot filling the remainder — a ratio that leans harder into Pauillac's structural archetype than many peers.

Fermentation proceeds in temperature-controlled vats, followed by 18 months in French oak barriques, a proportion of which are new, imparting cedar and graphite integration without overwhelming the fruit.

What separates Grand-Puy-Lacoste from neighbouring 5èmes is its compact, single-estate footprint — no satellite vineyards diluting the plateau signature. The 2018 vintage in Pauillac delivered exceptional ripeness from a warm, dry summer with timely September rain, producing dense cassis and tobacco-leaf depth with the structural backbone to reward cellaring well into the 2030s.