92

Neal Martin

Vinous

The 2005 Grand-Puy-Lacoste has a punchy bouquet of red and black fruit with light touches of wild mint and sage. This is actually a little Right Bank in style so it lacks a bit of typicité. The palate is medium-bodied with smooth tannins on the entry, slightly savoury red berry fruit and hints of iodine and sage. The 2005 is quite a medicinal G.P.L., with an open finish to suggest that bottles can be drunk now and over the next 15 to 20 years. Tasted at the château. 06/2025

93

Stephen Tanzer

Vinous

Medium red. Very ripe aromas of plum and musky brown spices; redder in character and less precise than the 2006. Then big, sweet and plump on the palate, with full, mellow flavors of red berries, tobacco and mocha, plus a light smoked meat note. Finishes with sweet tannins and lingering, fully ripe fruit. This is showing its lush side today and is hiding its underlying structure. 05/2008

92

Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

Pure crème de cassis, licorice and spice are all present in this wine from Xavier Borie. Medium to full-bodied and ripe, with sweet tannin and a nicely textured mouthfeel, this is a beauty that should continue to drink well for another 15 or so years. 06/2015

96

William Kelley

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

This estate's finest wine of the decade is the 2005 Grand-Puy-Lacoste, a fleshy, sumptuous wine evocative of cassis, sweet red berries and cigar box, framed by a touch of creamy new oak that integrates with opening. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with an enveloping core of fruit, rich tannins and a seamless but authoritative profile, it concludes with a long, resonant finish. Just entering early maturity, it will continue to develop for several decades. 12/2023

98

Zekun Shuai

James Suckling

A stunning wine! This shows exceptional depth, with precision and richness beautifully knit together. Aromas of graphite and something darker (think Chinese ink) make your nose want to go deeper. Subtle touches of savoriness and cigars shows evolution. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, with firm and fine tannins and an extremely long finish. 78% cabernet sauvignon and 22% merlot. Complex and already approachable, but it will easily keep well for 20 years. Drink or hold. From a vertical tasting at the winery. 08/2025