Did you know City Cellars is home to a few hidden treasures, namely some wines with a few years behind them? In this blog series, we feature a special vintage wine that we have in store, with information about the wine, the vintage, the producer and the cost.
2005 Grand-Puy Lacoste
Pauillac, Médoc, Bordeaux, France
Producer
Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a family saga going back to the 16th century, and is one of the oldest properties in the Médoc. The name “Grand-Puy” comes from the Middle Ages, Puy being an ancient word for “hillock” or “small height”. True to the name, the vineyard sits on outcrops similar to Médoc’s first growths. The “Lacoste” name is for the family who ran the winery from the start of the 18th century to the 19th century. The Chateau was passed down from generation to generation since the 16th century, until the current owners, the Borie’s, bought it in the 1920s. François-Xavier Borie is the current owner and winemaker at the estate, a role he took over in 2003.
The 55 hectare vineyard of Grand Puy Lacoste is planted to 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. On average, the vines are 38 years old, but the estate has old vines as well that date back to 1947. The vineyard remains unchanged since Médoc’s classification in 1855. The terroir is filled with gravel, large pebbles and stones in the soil over a bed of limestone.
Fun fact — this was one of the first non-first growth Bordeaux brands to gain popularity in China. This was partially due to the Lacoste name, shared with the sports clothing brand and alligator logo, and thus it gained the nickname of “alligator wine”!
Vintage characteristics
2005 was an exceptional vintage for this producer, with many wine reviewers believing it rivals earlier premium years such as 1996 or 1990.
Winemaking
78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot
Long period of maceration (3 weeks)
Malolactic fermentation in barrel
Aged in 70% new, French oak barrels for an average of 16 to 18 months before bottling
Taste profile
Deep ruby colour
Aromas: Dark berry, currants, cedar, cassis, cocoa, tobacco, violet, and mint. Classic Pauillac pencil-lead notes as well.
Palate: Smooth and focused, with everything in place. Full bodied, tannic and extremely fine textured, with a long lasting finish.
This wine is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius. The almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.
It pairs well with all kinds of classic meat dishes, mushrooms, pasta or rich fish courses such as tuna steak.
Aging
Grand Puy Lacoste is a classic, age-worthy style of Pauillac. At 16 years old this wine is drinking well now, but will continue to soften and improve through 2030. This patience is rewarded with complex aromas of dried fruit, Havana tobacco and cedar wood, smooth tannins and an exceptionally long, aromatic finish"It may need a bit of decanting to remove any sediment. Fortunately, City Cellars has done some of the aging for you!
Price
We price this wine at $169.98.