Tasting Notes
Neal Martin 95
The 1990 Grand-Puy-Lacoste just didn’t perform on the night of the 1990 dinner in London, but I was fortunate to share another in Stellenbosch a few weeks later. Black fruit, sage and light liquorice scents, with lovely delineation that builds nicely in the glass. Gentle grip, a pinch of white pepper on the finish, still quite backward, this Pauillac has mellowed in recent years to form a quite exquisite GPL. Tasted at Fat Butcher restaurant in Stellenbosch.
Anticipated maturity: 2025-2050
Wine Advocate 95
The 1990 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a wine that I had not tasted for a number of years. For a long time it was stubborn and tannic, uncommon attributes in what was such a comely vintage. Now at 26 years of age, this bottle served by Xavier Borie suggests that finally the 1990 has come round. Deep in color, it has a gorgeous bouquet of black fruit, potpourri, graphite and melted tar. There is warmth here, but it does not impede upon the articulation of its origins in Pauillac. The palate has clearly melted in recent years, and maintains superb balance and weight. Sure, as Robert Parker himself remarked, it is evolving at a glacial pace-slower than the 1998 tasted alongside. That means its pleasure is going to be prolonged over many, many years. Tasted July 2016.
Anticipated maturity: 2016-2040
