Harvest dates: Manual, from September 11 to 28, 2023
Aging: In French oak barrels (fine grain), 75% of which are new
This 2023 vintage could be described as "2 in 1"! It's a vintage of contrasts and complexity: both in terms of the weather during the year, which may have given the winemakers a few cold sweats, and in terms of the results in the glass, because thanks to meticulous work in the vines, we've obtained wines with a lot of power combined with a beautiful elegance! If we say "2 in 1", it's because we had the impression that the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon didn't grow in the same seasons!
Indeed, at the blending tastings, the Merlot wines resembled those of a very hot, very Sec vintage, with very high concentration, while the Cabernet Sauvignon wines showed a "classic" vintage style, with good ripeness and more freshness. The precise choice of grape variety percentages in the blend resulted in a harmonious marriage with a promising future.
It all started with a rather arRosé winter, as the famous Réserves in soil water replenished well, while temperatures remained within the seasonal averages. Then everything accelerated at the beginning of March! This was marked by a particularly warm start to the month for the period, leading to a very rapid start to vegetation and an early budburst, as early as March 31, the same date as in 2022. Flowering also got off to an early start, with the first blossoms appearing in late May - early June.
Spring and its alternating weather (hot and humid!) required the utmost precision and vigilance on the part of the winegrower, as all the conditions were ripe for disease to attack the vines. Thanks to our prudence, the care we took in the vineyard and our precise knowledge of our plots, the risk was kept at bay. The first green berries were observed as early as July 15, and mid-veraison at the end of July arrived 15 days later, at an unaccustomed speed. Year after year, veraison occurs earlier and earlier, and our vines have adapted surprisingly well to these climatic conditions. For example, the Merlot vines, which were 100% ripe by July 31, coped very well with the heat wave of August 18, having already reached a stage of almost complete ripeness. The summer was once again marked by drought. August brought no precipitation and high temperatures, but the pattern was different from that of 2022. The rain began to fall on September 21, but fortunately the first pruning of the Merlot vines had taken place before then, as we had started harvesting on September 11. The Merlot vats are very concentrated and rich.
The "grands" Cabernet Sauvignons that go into the grand vin blend were also harvested before September 21, at what we considered optimal ripeness for our terroir. They are more classic, very elegant with notes of blackcurrant and pepper, and plenty of freshness. The originality of this vintage perfectly illustrates the magic of blending, a harmonious combination of grape varieties, plots and the experience of our entire team.
As is often the case, Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2023 is composed of a large majority of Cabernet Sauvignon (77%), which gives it a beautiful, harmonious, dense structure, once again demonstrating the expression and potential of its terroir. The wine's deep purple-red color is intense and brilliant. The bouquet reveals aromas of blackcurrant, spices, particularly pepper and black fruit. The ensemble is completed by a lovely mineral freshness and a hint of graphite. On the palate, the attack is precise and straightforward. This 2023 has excellent balance and freshness, with a long finish underpinned by powerful, mellow tannins. Once again, this fine vintage expresses the great terroir of Grand-Puy-Lacoste in all its richness, complexity and elegance. It will undoubtedly be one of the great successes of this estate, renowned for the consistent quality of its wines from vintage to vintage
