1995 Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac 1x750ml

Robert Parker 92

Tasted at The Ledbury at the Grand Puy Lacoste dinner. Contrasting the 1995 against the 1996, the delicious 1995 is probably drinking sooner. The nose is delightful with fine delineation: crisp red berried fruit, raspberry and wild strawberry interlaced with cedar and mint. The palate is well defined with a great sense of tension and vigour. Very fine, crisp tannins married with lively red fruits that want to leap out of the glass. There are hints of tobacco and cedar towards the finish that shows fine persistency, if not the complexity of other vintages. Simply delicious to drink. Tasted September 2011. [Neal Martin, 01/09/2011]

Vinous 91+

Dark ruby-red. Ripe, expressive nose combines cassis, roasted plum and coconut. Supple, very concentrated and large-scaled; actually rather backward today even if the terrific ripeness is clear to see. Quintessential firm Pauillac backbone is covered by flesh. Will rely more on its tongue-dusting tannins than its acidity to age in bottle. This wine firmed up noticeably during its second year in barrel. [Stephen Tanzer, 05/01/1998]