While the quality of Grand-Puy-Lacoste is familiar to all wine enthusiasts,
it is the allure of this Grand Cru Classé domain that leaves the most enduring impression on its visitors.

The Château 1 / The story of
perfect harmony

The beauty of the Château, nestled in the heart of its natural surroundings, instantly captivates those who encounter it for the first time. Yet, the enchanting essence of the domain derives its richness from a fusion of other invaluable elements: vines deeply rooted in a splendid terroir and an exceptionally meticulous know-how to elevate each grape to its fullest potential. A unique alchemy.

The property

Grand-Puy-Lacoste
was a “sleeping beauty”

The property 2 / A vibrant Château

In harmony with the rhythm of each of its residents, the edifice at the centre of the "Grand-Puy" terroir has frequently undergone transformations over the centuries.

While the echoes of this storied past continue to resonate within the walls of the Château today, it is firmly anchored in the present day. It remains vibrant with the ups and downs of the vine, the events of the Borie family, and the hospitable reception of its guests. François-Xavier and Marie-Hélène, the current inhabitants, are the guardians of this lifestyle which has become increasingly rare in the Médoc. It comes alive with the cycle of the vine, the events of the Borie family and the warm welcome of its visitors.

View more the "Grand-Puy" terroir

A vibrant Château

The Château through the centuries

1737
The very first structure was erected on the "Grand-Puy" domain, as evidenced by historical records and certain architectural elements.

1855
The Château assumed its present form under the guidance of its owner, Pierre-Frédéric Lacoste. He made a deliberate choice to use slate from Touraine, a material more esteemed than the commonly used tile at that time. Pierre-Frédéric and his successors lived in the residence until 1926, when the Lacoste family was forced to sell it.

1932
Raymond Dupin, the new proprietor of the domain, primarily resided in Bordeaux. The Château entered a phase of decline during this period.

1979
When François-Xavier Borie and his wife Marie-Hélène moved in, they confronted a significant restoration project as the building was in a dilapidated condition. Marie-Hélène assumed responsibility for the interior design, infusing it with an elegant and warm style.

A beautiful renaissance

Now completely restored, the Château has regained its former splendour while incorporating a subtle touch of modernity. By enhancing its surroundings, François-Xavier and Marie-Hélène Borie have successfully recreated a harmonious and tranquil environment, ideal for strolling around.

The residence's classic French-style architecture blends the luminosity of Bordeaux stone with the rich grey tones of its refined, Renaissance-inspired slate roof. The modest façade is adorned on the right by a singular square tower, introducing an original and graceful asymmetry. Inside this tower lies the chapel where François-Xavier and Marie-Hélène baptised three children and three of their grandchildren - the future generation of the domain.
Currently, the Château serves as a showcase for wine tasting, warmly welcoming customers and wine enthusiasts from across the globe to unite in their shared passion for wine.

The terroir 3 / A remarkable natural setting
in the heart of the Médoc

Nestled in a rich layer of gravel and embraced by the benevolent influence of the estuary, the vines surrounding Grand-Puy-Lacoste are inherently dedicated to producing exceptional wines.

The Château's name is not without meaning: "Grand-Puy" originates from the ancient term "puy," referring to a "hill or small elevation." Its terroir has stood out since the Middle Ages, marked by a ridge of land situated twenty meters above sea level, right in the heart of the hills where the Médoc's first vintages would soon spring up...

View more The expertise

A remarkable natural setting in the heart of the Médoc

A unique vineyard

One of the finest terroirs in Pauillac

The Grand-Puy plateau rises to the west of the village of Pauillac, one of the six communal appellations of the Médoc, on the left bank of the Gironde estuary.
It is here, around the Château, that the ninety hectares of land of Grand-Puy-Lacoste stretch out harmoniously and without discontinuity, sixty-four of which are planted with vines. Unusually in the history of the Grands Crus Classés of 1855, the plots have remained identical to the land register of the time.
Since the Borie family assumed control of the domain in 1978, the vineyard has undergone systematic planting, achieving a harmonious balance between young and old vines, with an average age of thirty-eight years. Maintaining a vigilant focus on quality, the planting density reaches ten thousand vines per hectare, equating to one vine per square metre.
Cabernet Sauvignon, the preeminent noble grape variety that serves as the backbone of the domain's wines, accounts for the majority (75%). Merlot (20%) and Cabernet Franc (5%) add nuances to the blends and enhance the distinctive character of the wine.

Exceptional soil

Deep gravel with multiple virtues

These alluvial pebbles, two million years old, serve as geological evidence of the Quaternary period. Carried by the Garonne from the Pyrenees, these stones were gradually deposited along the banks of the Gironde estuary, forming layers of varying thickness over time.
Today, these layers, combined with sand and a touch of clay, constitute the "croups of gravel." These extensive and numerous hills in the Pauillac terroir create an ideal environment for high-quality viticulture.
The gravel, by retaining and gradually releasing heat to the vines, mitigates extreme temperature fluctuations and promotes a more harmonious ripening of the grapes. Additionally, it ensures excellent water drainage. The deep, gravelly soil of Grand-Puy-Lacoste compels the plants to extend their roots in search of the necessary water and nutrients for growth. This effort strengthens the plant, making it more resilient and yielding generous grape clusters with a fine balance between sugar and acidity. The late-ripening grape variety, Cabernet Sauvignon, particularly benefits from these myriad advantages.

A mild microclimate

The ocean and the estuary, discreet protectors

Situated on either side of the 45th parallel, Grand-Puy-Lacoste benefits from a highly balanced climate characterised by abundant sunshine, hot summers, and mild winters.
However, its terroir is mainly influenced by the proximity of the Gironde and the Atlantic. The strong winds from the ocean, tempered by the pine forests through which they pass, intersect with those from the wide estuary in this region. This unique blend of winds maintains a specific humidity in the atmosphere and further moderates temperatures.
At every stage in the vine’s development, from bud break to harvest, variations in climate shape the profile of the harvest: the most memorable vintages in Pauillac have always been the result of hot, dry summers, followed by a fine late season.

A requirement handed
down over the centuries

One of the most beautiful terroirs
from Pauillac

Know-how 4 / A requirement handed
down over the centuries

The key word at Grand-Puy-Lacoste is precision. In the care of the plants, the observation of the ripeness of the grapes, the order of harvesting between plots, the sorting, the conduct of the vinification...

From the vine to the wine, the Borie family and their team relentlessly pursue the same goal: consistent quality reflecting all the richness of the Pauillac terroir. To go ever further in this quest for perfection, they never hesitate to challenge themselves and to give nature the last word.

A requirement handed down over the centuries

Renaissance

Reviving know-how

When François-Xavier Borie took over the domain in 1978, he set about upgrading the vineyard: planting where necessary, improving drainage, changing trellising methods...
At the same time, he decided to invest heavily in restoring the Château to its former glory:
• 1981 : creation of a new vat room
• 1991 : construction of a new harvest reception area
• 1997 : renewal of the wine-making cellar
• 2003 : inauguration of a new barrel cellar and air conditioning of all the buildings
• 2006 : installation of a new harvest reception area, including the acquisition of vibrating sorting tables
• 2016 : expansion of the vat room with the addition of 15 new vats of smaller capacity (72 and 97 hectolitres)
• 2018 : new extension to the vat room, with the addition of 9 new vats (97 and 110 hectolitres)
• 2024 : start of construction of a new gravity-fed vat room, with completion scheduled for the 2025 harvest
In this manner, over the course of more than forty years, the operational tools have been systematically revamped with a singular objective: to attain increased control, quality, and consistency, providing an increasingly precise representation of the terroir in each vintage.

Viticulture

Revealing the finest grapes

Grand-Puy-Lacoste fervently practices sustainable winegrowing: over the past twenty years, treatments have been reduced by half, and no insecticides have been used in the last decade. The soil has consistently been worked solely by machinery.
Depending on the vintage, an initial green harvest (prior to ripening) and leaf thinning are conducted to restrict yields and guarantee optimal berry quality. The harvest date is meticulously chosen to achieve the best possible ripeness. The grapes are carefully hand-harvested, preserving their integrity until they reach the vat room. An initial visual sorting in the vineyards is crucial, followed by additional sorting in the winery on two vibrating sorting tables, both before and after de-stemming.
For nearly fifty years, the Château has relied on a dedicated team of experienced grape-pickers from the village of Valdepeñas de Jaén in Andalusia. These pickers share the family's values, and they are accommodated and provided for on the domain. Their invaluable expertise is transmitted and refined through the interaction of generations.

Vinification

Respecting the character of each plot

For the Borie family, technical mastery is only meaningful if it enhances the expression of the terroir. The aim is to work in harmony with nature, closely observing and adapting to each vintage, fine-tuning the Château's signature to perfection.
Inside the winery, forty-three temperature-controlled vats of different capacities facilitate precise and meticulous work. The grapes undergo the initial fermentation phase for eight to ten days. Emphasising gentle extractions, the temperature is maintained at twenty-eight degrees, and daily pump-overs are performed. Maceration continues for approximately ten days to complete the extractions, with temperature adjusted to each vat according to the grape potential. Malolactic fermentation then helps to stabilise the wine, imparting suppleness and roundness.
Yet, behind all these techniques, the guiding spirit remains the repeated tastings, serving as Grand-Puy-Lacoste's ultimate compass in the winemaking process.

Blending

Finding the perfect balance

A crucial stage in crafting each vintage, the December blending process engages the collective expertise of the entire Borie family, research and development director and oenologist Christel Spinner, cellar master Benoît Estassy, vineyard manager Antonio Flores, and oenological consultant Éric Boissenot.
This meticulous and nuanced task relies on taste memory, sensitivity, and intuition to anticipate the wines' aging. The final blend must express the terroir, embody the Château's style, and mirror the harvest nuances—a commitment to excellence upheld by the family for over forty years. The wines not used to make Grand-Puy-Lacoste are blended into a cuvée that is more accessible when young: Lacoste-Borie.
To perpetuate the domain's intricate character, the complementary typicity of its three grape varieties is invaluable. Cabernet Sauvignon contributes vigour, firmness, and black fruit aromas, complemented by the roundness, finesse, and generosity of Merlot. Cabernet Franc, on the other hand, imparts great elegance to the wines.

Maturation

Allowing time to work its magic

Once blended, the wines are transferred to barrels and placed in the ageing cellar where they are kept at a constant temperature and humidity level.
The fine-grained French oak barrels, carefully selected by the Château from various partner coopers, impart delicate, subtle tannins. Two-thirds of the barrels are new, while the remaining third is one year old.
The wine is aged for sixteen to eighteen months, undergoing gravity-fed racking every three or four months, following the traditions employed in the crafting of exceptional Médoc wines. Until bottling, Grand-Puy-Lacoste meticulously monitors every step of this mysterious alchemy between wine and wood.

Distribution

Promoting Outstanding Wines

To share its wines with wine lovers and connoisseurs from all over the world, Grand-Puy-Lacoste trusts the wine merchants of Bordeaux to find the leading importers in each export country. Each vintage's bottles are sold exclusively to Bordeaux en primeur (futures).

Next chapter Our wines

The Château 1 / The story of perfect harmony