Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 2010

The 2010 Grand Puy-Lacoste has a wonderful bouquet with vibrant blackberry, sous-bois, mint and rose petal aromas that soar from the glass as if there is not tomorrow. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, pure blackberry and raspberry fruit laced with cedar, tobacco and a touch of mint. This has always been one of the great modern-day Grand Puy-Lacostes and it will continue to drink for many many years. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting.

Lovely aromas already, with currants and blackberries. Full body, with very fine, yet dense tannins and a rich finish. Reserved and sophisticated. Noble tannins.

Intense and closed off at first, full of espresso and bitter black chocolate. I have tasted this a few times over the past few years, and it is still not budging. There is plenty of loganberry and blackcurrant fruit here but it continues to be dominated by tannins, spiced turmeric, cloves and crushed rocks. Needs more time and you have to hope you catch it at the right moment - or really ensure a long carafe.

An absolutely magnificent wine from this very popular estate, which sits well off the Route du Vin, just to the southwest of the town of Pauillac, its classic creme de cassis and floral notes are well-displayed. The wine possesses supple tannin, a full body, voluptuous character and a layered, impressively textured mouthfeel. This is a brilliant effort from Grand Puy Lacoste that can be drunk in 4-5 years or cellared for three decades or more.

The greatest Grand Puy Lacoste since the 2005, 2000 and 1990, the fabulous 2010 reveals all the hallmarks of this estate. It boasts a dense purple color along with classic notes of creme de cassis, blueberries, blackberries, crushed rocks and flowers, sweet tannin and an exceptionally full-bodied and multilayered mouthfeel as well as a boatload of tannin. Cellar it for a decade and drink it over the following three decades. Proprietor Xavier Borie’s 2010 recalls the 2005.

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a little subdued to begin, opening out to reveal notes of black cherries, stewed plums and blackberry preserves with hints of bouquet garni, tapenade and dried lavender. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a firm, chewy texture and lively acidity, slightly over-shadowing the delicate, fading fruit, finishing on a stewed tea note.

Bright red-ruby. Vibrant aromas and flavors of blackberry, cassis, licorice and mocha, with mineral and sexy oak notes adding complexity. Intensely flavored and sharply focused, with a restrained sweetness and lovely purity to its dark fruit flavors. Very rich and deep but not jammy, this superb Pauillac's depth of fruit is partly hidden today by its serious tannic structure. Hardly austere but this will be much better for several years of aging and should go on for two or three decades.

(83% cabernet sauvignon and 17% merlot; 13.6% alcohol) Saturated ruby. Very-ripe-verging-on-overripe nose dominated by strawberry liqueur, black fruits and faded flowers. Creamy and sweet but with very good acidity giving shape to the middle palate, this shows distinct hints of surmaturite to its sweet, creamy red and black fruit flavors. Finishes with mounting, slightly dry tannins, but there's so much fruit here that I'm confident that time in bottle will bring more volume and flesh.