Grand Puy Lacoste - Pauillac 2003

Vinous

91

byNeal Martinthe8/9/2024

The 2003 Grand Puy Lacoste initially shows a little mustiness on the nose. It's tertiary, with gravel and vestiges of black fruit. A second bottle is much fresher and more vibrant, a success considering the vintage. White pepper and clove notes are pretty grippy, with touches of cooked meat becoming spicier towards the finish. A little untamed, which is unusual for this Pauillac, but then again, why not once in a while? Tasted at the château.

Wine Spectator

92

byJames Sucklingthe7/31/2006

Blackberry and licorice aromas, with full body, very fine tannins and a long finish. Very silky. So much for jammy wines in 2003. Very fresh and refined. Best after 2008. 15,555 cases made.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

90

byStephen Tanzerthe6/30/2006

Good red-ruby color. Very ripe aromas of redcurrant and smoke. Dense and sweet but a tad rustic, with flavors of roasted dark fruits, chocolate and menthol. Offers a smooth texture, ripe acidity and sneaky length, but could use more precision of flavor and thrust.

Wine Advocate

88

byRobert Parkerthe4/24/2006

An atypically superficial effort from one of my favorite Pauillacs, the 2003 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is very good, but it does not stand up to some of the finest northern Medoc offerings. A deep ruby/purple-tinged color is followed by a moderately intense bouquet of black currants and underbrush. It hits the palate with good fruit and medium body, but tails off in the finish. It is an elegant, lighter-styled example of this generally high-class performer. It can be consumed over the next 10-12 years.

Wine Advocate

88-91

byRobert Parkerthe4/29/2005

Not showing as well as it did last year, this effort seems to be lighter and less concentrated than I initially thought. Dark ruby/purple-tinged with notes of pure cassis, tobacco leaf, spice box, and some background mineral characteristics, the wine is medium-bodied, revealing good ripeness, sweetness, and overall fine balance with relatively low acidity and ripe tannin. Less-full-bodied and multi-layered than I thought, it may be going through an awkward evolutionary stage. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2017.

Wine Advocate

91-94

byRobert Parkerthe4/29/2004

Reminiscent of the 1990, this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc possesses low acidity, good ripeness (but not over-ripe), and Grand-Puy-Lacoste’s classic creme de cassis character well-displayed. Medium to full-bodied with noticeable tannin in the finish, it is a heady, rich, beautifully made Pauillac that should be drinkable within 3-4 years. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2018.