Château Grand Puy Lacoste

The Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is located on the Médoc peninsula near the village of Pauillac. Due to its proximity to the city of Bordeaux, this area is one of the most famous wine-growing regions in France. The classification as Cinquième Cru Classé from 1855 in the official wine classification of the Bordeaux region does not do justice to the class of these wines; they are therefore regarded by winegrowers and connoisseurs as an insider tip with high potential for appreciation.

Grand-Puy-Lacoste - a castle with a lot of tradition and history

The first residence was built on the estate in 1737 under the name of Grand-Puy. The namesake of today's winery, Pierre-Fréderic Lacoste, inherited the property in 1844. Under his leadership, the castle was built in its current appearance in 1855: the classic architecture of the building made of light Bordeaux limestone in combination with the intensive gray tones of the slate roof is impressive.

Much to the chagrin of the Lacoste family, the property had to be sold in 1920 and handed over to someone else. As a result, the castle fell into a kind of slumber due to a vacancy. In 1979, François-Xavier Borie and his wife Marie-Hélène discovered the manorial building and over the years have turned it into a unique gem. Today the winery and its winemakers produce high-quality wines of excellent quality.

The winery and its winemakers

François-Xavier Borie, the current owner of the Grand-Puy-Lacoste, reduced the vineyard's acreage from the original 55 hectares to 36 hectares. Both the castle and the buildings for the winery were completely renovated under his direction and a new barrel house with temperature-controlled tanks was built. The investments paid off just four years later, because the 1982 vintage was the first top-class wine under new direction.

The vineyard was not only thinned out in terms of area. New vines, suited to the growing area, replaced old plants and the entire drainage system was renewed and improved at the same time. Today, state-of-the-art technology and innovative methods determine wine production, which can now enjoy a high reputation worldwide. In addition to air conditioning for all buildings, a specially developed vibrating table ensures that the best grapes are carefully selected after the harvest.

Soils and grape varieties in a growing area of ​​the highest quality

The area around Bordeaux is one of the best growing areas for wine in France. The soil of the winery consists of deep gravel on a limestone base, which means that rainwater can run off optimally and no waterlogging forms on the vines. In addition, the floors are exclusively cultivated by hand in an ecologically sustainable manner, no herbicides are used. This rewards the winemaker and owner with excellent quality grapes.

At Grand-Puy-Lacoste Castle, the grape variety Cabernet Sauvignon determines what is happening with a share of 75 percent. In addition, 20 percent Merlot grapes grow in the vineyard and five percent of the acreage produces Cabernet Franc grapes.

After the harvest, the grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks, the temperature of which is precisely controlled at all times. The aging process then begins in classic barrique barrels, which lasts at least 18 months. Only now does the wine develop its unique taste.

What makes the vintner's wine a special experience?

It is the balanced taste experience of black and red berries that makes the wine unique. Delicate notes of rose and violet accompany the otherwise racy fruity indulgence of plum, currant and cassis aromas. In the glass, the wine produces violet reflections mixed with a bold red to the eye.