Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2007

Extract-rich, dense, full-bodied and long, with only a slightly austere, fiery finish.

Mulberry and dark cherry aromas follow through to a medium body, with fine tannins and a delicate finish. Very ready. Drink now. 12,915 cases made.

Again this is totally drinkable, with graphite notes and layers of juicy damson and black cherry fruits playing off the silky tannins. This perhaps gives a clue as to why the Bordelais were stubborn on their pricing of the 2007s. Genuinely good drinking today, and should be enjoyed.

72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot. 41 hl/ha.Red with a lighter rim. Leafy and herbaceous on both the nose and palate. Some sweetness to the fruit but little complexity. Lighter, luncheon claret. Correct but little excitement. Short finish. Drink now. (JL)

The wine looks a little advanced for its age. On the palate, the medium-bodied wine is more about the secondary notes, with its tobacco, olive, cigar box, pipe tobacco and garden herb perfume, than its attack or mid-palate. If you have a bottle there is no reason to wait to pop the cork.

Deep garnet with purplish highlights. A finely scented bouquet of black plums, a hint of blackcurrant, fresh and layered. On the palate, delicate, medium-bodied, with fine, slightly firm tannins that give this rather slender wine, right through to the finish, a peppery, well-suited verve.

Dark garnet with light lilac highlights. Finely scented bouquet with black plum and a hint of cassis, coming across as fresh and multi-layered. On the palate, delicate, with a medium-bodied frame and fine, slightly firm tannins that lend this wine—remaining rather slender through to the finish—a peppery, well-suited edge and pedigree.

Extremely fragrant, this confims what I am finding with many 2007s right now - that this is a great moment to drink them. This has gorgeous swirling smoke aromatics, black tea, tar, eucaplyptus, mint, beautifully sweet plum, black cherry and blackberry fruits, just the most perfect moment to drink this wine and punching way above expectations. That is phenomenally elegant, juicy, mouthwatering with tension and fine tannins that you can feel stretching out. The surprise of the vertical for me. If you are going to pick one to open now, this is the one. Harvest September 24 to October 8.

Very smooth and round, with plenty of charm and delicious fruit. The tannins are silky and elegant. Lovely length.

Dark, intense, evolved colour. The nose offers a rather complex bouquet that is difficult to define. Light, aromatic palate, more interesting on the finish than on the attack and mid-palate. Medium length. Drink soon. Blend: 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot.

Bright ruby-red. Black cherry, licorice, leather and minerals on the nose. Sweet and pliant but slightly funky, with flavors of dark fruits, leather, tobacco leaf and herbs. With its rather silky texture, good breadth and restrained sweetness, this should drink well relatively early.