François-Xavier Borie
A philosophy of excellence
In 1979, François-Xavier and his wife, Marie-Hélène Borie, took over the management of Grand-Puy-Lacoste. The Château had been elevated to the status of a "great" Pauillac thanks to François-Xavier Borie's father, but it required extensive renovations. François-Xavier Borie's aim was to preserve all the work done by his father, striving for consistent quality, orchestrating the estate's renewal, and revitalizing it while preserving its soul. He thus invested heavily in numerous projects: a new winery (1995), a new barrel cellar (2003), and a vibrating grape sorting table equipped with the latest technology (2006).
Across three generations of the Borie family, their attachment to Médoc wines has always remained strong. Over the years, they have forged strong values that are uniquely their own:
- humility in the face of nature's gifts,
- the pursuit of harmony in every detail,
- the meaning of sharing,
- a generous conviviality.
1855 Classification
The "elite" of Bordeaux wines
Grand-Puy-Lacoste has a long-standing reputation, and the 1855 classification officially recognized its renown. Grand-Puy-Lacoste was awarded the distinction of "fifth growth." Since this classification, the Château has never altered the size of its vineyard, maintaining the same high quality on the same plots since 1855. Grand-Puy-Lacoste is an exceptional estate, rich in history and tradition since its inception.
Currently, the Grand-Puy-Lacoste estate covers 90 hectares, with 58 hectares of planted vineyards harmoniously surrounding the Château. Since the Borie family acquired the Château in 1979, a balance between younger and older vines has been established. The vines are on average 38 years old. The grape varieties, 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, form the backbone of the Grand-Puy-Lacoste wines. To add nuance to the blends, the estate also cultivates 20% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Sustainable farming practices have been employed at the estate for twenty years, with no insecticides or herbicides used.
