Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

The history of the estate

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste's history began in 1737, when the very first residence was built on the estate. The château as we see it today was built in 1855 by Pierre-Frédéric Lacoste, who had been at the head of the estate since 1844. The château left the Lacoste family in 1920. In the 1930s, its new owner decided to spend most of his time in Bordeaux, gradually abandoning the estate.

In 1978, the Borie family bought the property and decided to breathe new life into it by reviving the château's soul. In the winegrowing tradition, the Borie family has been active in the vineyards for centuries (for example, Domaine Ducru-Beaucaillou and Château Batailley).

François-Xavier and Marie-Hélène Borie set about renovating the vat room and cellar, and the vines were restored so that they could once again produce exceptional wines.

The terroir

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is located right in the middle of the Pauillac appellation terroir, on the banks of the Gironde. The estate's parcels are located to the west of the village, 20 meters below sea level. These lands see the convergence of major assets such as the quality of the soils, a favorable climate and the regional heritage of demanding know-how.

The estate is planted on gravel soils, alluvial pebbles that ensure excellent water drainage. Geological evidence of the Quaternary era, these gravelly soils are original and very rich. These soils, composed of gravel mixed with sand and clay, are layers of varying depths that are highly conducive to high-quality viticulture. These soils retain heat and release it to the vines, thus eliminating temperature variations and facilitating the ripening of the grapes.

The climate is predominantly oceanic, strongly influenced by the region's proximity to the ocean and the Gironde estuary. The region's climate is well-balanced, with hot summers and mild winters. In addition, the mixing of winds from the ocean and the estuary creates a favorable microclimate.

In terms of grape varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon dominates (70%), bringing structure and power to the wines. Merlot (25%) adds roundness to the wines. Finally, Cabernet Franc (5%) brings a touch of floral and vegetal notes to the wines.

The wines

Cuvée Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is the estate's first wine, a grand cru classified in 1855. The color is ruby red, and can turn purple/oil-red with age. On the nose, aromas of ripe fruit, spices and empyreumatic notes are very present. On the palate, the wine is well-structured, with mellow tannins. This is a wine for laying down.

Cuvée Lacoste Borie is the estate's second wine. It can be enjoyed earlier than the estate's first wine. On the nose and palate, we find the same attributes as its big brother, but with more minerality, less substance and complexity however.