Lacoste Borie 2016

The 2016 Lacoste-Borie has a gentle bouquet of blackberry, briar and a light marine-like scent. The palate is medium-bodied with gritty tannin and a little rustic in style within the context of the vintage, leading to an energetic, slightly peppery finish. It just needs more substance. Drink 2020-2027.

This is a beautifully fresh wine with lovely, juicy black cassis flavours. The day-night temperature changes of up to 20 degrees centigrade made a huge difference to the quality of the tannins, and GPL has some of the steepest slopes and best draining soils in Pauillac to cope with the wet early season (although this also meant some blockage of young vines during the drought). Overall they have produced a plush, easy drinking wine that offers great pleasure. 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, with a yield of 50hl/ha.

The nose has a fragrant floral charm spring violets and the start of the palate is light and fresh. There is mid sweetness ripe black fruits fleshy and rich with fine tannins supple. It is lighter and fresher at the back the finish bright with bramble and bilberry. 2024-35

In a year when Grand-Puy-Lacoste has made one of its greatest ever Grands Vins, it’s no surprise that this, its second wine, is so fine. Showing classic cedar wood, blackcurrant and lead pencil aromas, flavours of berry fruit, orange zest and fresh herbs and plenty of underlying structure. 2020-28