2022 BORDEAUX WINE ENTHUSIASTS WILLIAM "STEFAN" JOHNSON WINE OF THE YEAR: 2016 CHATEAU GRAND PUY LACOSTE

[JimHow]

2022 Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts William “Stefan” Johnson Wine of the Year

2016 Château Grand Puy Lacoste

We have always wanted to love Grand Puy Lacoste, even when it has underperformed. I have told the story several times how Nicola and I were at MacArthur’s one afternoon a few years back, in the Bordeaux section. We ran into Phil Bernstein and a discussion ensued about Grand Puy Lacoste. I think it was the 2016 vintage that was on the shelf at that time. Phil made a statement that I felt was spot on: “Grand Puy Lacoste was finally realizing the potential of its terroir.” It had been vastly underperforming its Pauillac pedigree for decades. As I understand it, a daughter took over the winemaking sometime around 2014. I don’t know whether she was involved in the wines that were produced in that great vintage, but it was the first GPL I have enjoyed since the 1995/96 vintages. I don’t think I’ve tried the 2015 vintage but by all accounts it was successful for GPL. Ian recently bought a six pack. And he ranked GPL at the top of his QPR list. I had hoped to try the 2019 vintage but it hasn't hit the shelves up here yet.

I uncorked the 2016 Grand Puy Lacoste during a Zoom dinner a few months ago with the Levys and the Johnsons. It was stunning. Beautiful, classic, just a personification of the rarefied heights that Bordeaux in general and Pauillac in particular achieved during that extraordinary vintage. 2016 is just about everything that a lot of us look for in Bordeaux: Classy, ripe tannins, structure combined with elegance. In the case of GPL from 2016, it was just a personification of classic, structured Pauillac. And the nose was to die for. The color was a deep, rich Pauillac purple… Mouton/Lynch Bages-like. I think I rated it 95 points.

As everyone knows, I have been very hard on Grand Puy Lacoste over the years: Not because I am just being gratuitously mean, but more so out of frustration because we have known the potential that this well-situated Pauillac estate has had, but has seldom realized. I have no agendas. If I think a wine sucks I will say so, if I think it is great I will say so. To me, when it is on, Pauillac is my favorite appellation. And in 2016, Grand Puy Lacoste was “on,” firing on all cylinders. As Phil Bernstein said, “Grand Puy Lacoste is finally reaching its potential.” And that is a good thing for us who love and are so passionate about great northern Medoc Bordeaux.

This selection also celebrates yet again the greatness of the 2016 vintage in general, a truly extraordinary year in Bordeaux.

Welcome home, GPL. Welcome home, old friend.

And so…. In my capacity as the kind and benevolent dictator of Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts – the best wine website on the internet – I hereby declare the 2016 Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste as the recipient of the 2022 Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts William “Stefan” Johnson Wine of the Year Award. We welcome it into the pantheon of greatness that comprises our list of past wines of the year.

BWE WINE OF THE YEAR

2000: 1996 Sociando-Mallet
2001: 1989 Lynch-Bages
2002: 1995 d'Yquem
2003: 1999 Haut Brion Blanc
2004: 2000 Pichon Baron and 2000 du Tertre
2005: 2000 Margaux
2006: 2003 Pontet-Canet
2007: 2002 Leoville Poyferre
2008: 2005 Burgundy vintage (protest vote)
2009: 1989 Lafite Rothschild
2010: 2005 Cantemerle
2011: 2008 Leoville Poyferre
2012: 2009 Giscours
2013: 2004 Smith Haut Lafitte
2014: 2010 Chasse Spleen
2015: 2012 Leoville Las Cases
2016: 2012 Barde-Haut
2017: 2014 Calon Segur
2018: 2015 Brane Cantenac
2019: 2016 Tour Saint Christophe
2020: 2016 Leoville Barton and 2008 Dom Perignon
2021: 2014 La Conseillante
2022: 2016 Grand Puy Lacoste

[Chateau Vin]

Whoa....

I didn’t see that coming...

[sisler]

Amen.
Good choice, which means Montrose 2016 will make it then next year!

[Chateau Vin]

Now we have 3 WOTYs from 2016...

Greatest vintage of all time??

[Comte Flaneur]

A noble choice, especially because Jim has been so critical of GPL down the years, but is now prepared to acknowledge how this estate has turned the corner in recent vintages. A very well deserved accolade - the 2014 or 2015 GPLs would also be deserving - now watch the price of 2016 GPL soar!

[Racer Chris]

I found some for $100 within half an hour driving time. I'll see if I can secure a couple bottles before the word spreads.

[JimHow]

Yes that's about what I paid for it in NH Chris.

[stefan]

This is a surprise!

[JimHow]

Nicola texted me yesterday, he guessed it.

[JCNorthway]

Kudos to 2016 GPL. It must be deserving given our BD's opinion over the years. Now to see if I can find some before the price goes up!

[stefan]

I can get it in Texas for $90, Jon, but I don't want any more wine for drinking there.

[Blanquito]

Great choice, Jim.

New year will be a Pichon Lalande for sure!

[DavidG]

Great choice, really surprised me!

[jckba]

While maybe not my 1st choice for an estate not already on the board, it is a selection I can fully get behind.

[JoelD]

Great choice, Jim. My bet is that we get at least one more 2016, if not two by the end of the decade. Do we get a 2019?

[Blanquito]

Great choice, really surprised me!

Yeah, seriously. GPL of all wines. What's next, the BD nominates a Burgundy! (oh wait).

[JoelD]

Great choice, really surprised me!

Yeah, seriously. GPL of all wines. What's next, the BD nominates a Burgundy! (oh wait).

A younger Lynch Bages is next...

[jckba]

Great choice, Jim. My bet is that we get at least one more 2016, if not two by the end of the decade. Do we get a 2019?

Only if they show up in NH

[Nicklasss]

Very good choice Jim. I'm happy i found it one day ahead!

2016 and Grand-Puy Lacoste sound good to me, and yes i remember that guy at Mc Arthur's beverages was talking about the renewal of GPL and now working to the potential of it's terroir.

I never found the link to stefan, but i agree that it is surely an honor. But thev1982 Latour would have been good too!

Congratulations to The 1996 GPL, now a confirmed star in BWE firmament!

[JimHow]

Latour + 1980s decade, Nicola, I have never connected.
To me there are many wines from that decade that rank ahead of Latour.
Indeed, a question:
Was the 1980s decade the weakest vintage for Latour, relative to other Bordeaux, since 1900?

[s*d*r]

Latour + 1980s decade, Nicola, I have never connected.
To me there are many wines from that decade that rank ahead of Latour.
Indeed, a question:
Was the 1980s decade the weakest vintage for Latour, relative to other Bordeaux, since 1900?

Latour mostly took a walkabout in the eighties but the ‘82 made up for it. Probably WOTV. Even you liked it . . .

[AKR]

Michael Broadbent is nodding somewhere.

[JimHow]

I seem to recall 1982 Latour being great, I wonder if I liked it better than the Mouton, which would really be saying something.
One wine that I don't think I've ever quite "gotten" is the 1990 Latour.

[stefan]

IIRC, the group preferred the '82 Latour to the '82 Mouton in Fort Lauderdale. Both were great.

[Comte Flaneur]

You mean the 82 Latour stefan?

[JimHow]

Yes, he means 82. Although, as I’ve said here before, the 91 Latour was one of my favorite Latours.

[Racer Chris]

I found some for $100 within half an hour driving time. I'll see if I can secure a couple bottles before the word spreads.

Yesterday I made my first trip to Table & Vine in W. Springfield and purchased 3x 2016 GPL @ $90 ea, plus 1x '18 Comtesse Reserve @ $45 and 2x '18 Lanessan @ $18 in order to get the 10% discount.
I think I 'll include one WOTY in my holiday lineup.

[JimHow]

Well done, RC. Very well done indeed!

[robert goulet]

Just now seeing this!!

Luv the 1995 GPL and the 2010 had a strong showing en premier

Funny because I was bidding on 2 '04 GPL prior to seeing this.


Congrats GPL!


One day I'd luv to see a 1998 bordeaux earn a spot

[Ianjaig]

Had a 1990 GPL last night which was quite something:

Cork completely crumbled upon opening which had me worried, but I needn't have as this was quite beautiful. First glass was all cigar box, red currants, milk chocolate with a finish that lasted several minutes or more. Decanted the rest of the bottle and this became fuller bodied, tannic, and yet so elegant and wonderfully balanced. This is an old school, classic that still has plenty of time on its side, but which is drinking wonderfully now. Pure joy.