Jean-Eugène Borie


Jean-Eugène Borie was a born winemaker, passionate about his work, who knew how to transmit that passion to his children and grandchildren.


Jean-Eugène Borie (1921-1998) learned much from his father, Francis, who died in 1953. He dedicated himself to Château Ducru-Beaucaillou and also managed his sister's property, Château Haut-Batailley. Demanding and meticulous, he reinforced the quality and reputation of both these classed growths.

François-Xavier Borie


François-Xavier Borie has guided Grand-Puy-Lacoste's fortunes, working to restore its glory and remain faithful to its spirit.


François-Xavier Borie has directed the estate since its acquisition in 1978, benefitting greatly from the experience of working beside his father. As determined, demanding and diligent as Jean-Eugène, François-Xavier has raised Grand-Puy-Lacoste to the level of a "great Pauillac” and ensures that it maintains that status.

Raymond Dupin


A key figure who contributed greatly to the reputation of Grand-Puy-Lacoste.


After the First World War, winemaking families in Bordeaux were living through difficult times. Elie and Edouard de Saint Légier d'Orignac, grandchildren of Pierre-Frédéric Lacoste, were destitute and had to sell the estate, ending almost five centuries of family ownership. On July 28, 1920, following the death of their mother, Jeanne Joséphine Lacoste, they ceded the property to two associates, Messrs. Hervieu and Neel, who in turn were forced to sell it in 1932.

Jean-Eugène Borie

François-Xavier Borie

Raymond Dupin

Jean-Eugène Borie was a born winemaker, passionate about his work, who knew how to transmit that passion to his children and grandchildren.


Jean-Eugène Borie (1921-1998) learned much from his father, Francis, who died in 1953. He dedicated himself to Château Ducru-Beaucaillou and also managed his sister's property, Château Haut-Batailley. Demanding and meticulous, he reinforced the quality and reputation of both these classed growths.


Jean-Eugène Borie loved wine and the land which produced it. The famous critic Robert Parker praised him in these terms: "His passion for his wine, his obsessional search for quality, his numerous foreign travels on behalf of Bordeaux, and his remarkable modesty made him one of the region's most respected personalities.”


A warm relationship developed between Borie and Raymond Dupin, owner of Grand-Puy-Lacoste since 1932, which led Dupin to sell him the domain in 1978. They shared the same passion, the same love for life.


Jean-Eugène Borie soon gave his eldest son, François-Xavier, full control of Grand-Puy-Lacoste. They worked together until 1992, when François-Xavier's father named him to lead the company which managed Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Ducru-Beaucaillou and Haut-Batailley. In 2003, following the company's division, François-Xavier Borie created "Domaines François-Xavier Borie”, owner of Grand-Puy-Lacoste and manager of the vineyards at Haut-Batailley.

François-Xavier Borie has guided Grand-Puy-Lacoste's fortunes, working to restore its glory and remain faithful to its spirit.


François-Xavier Borie has directed the estate since its acquisition in 1978, benefitting greatly from the experience of working beside his father. As determined, demanding and diligent as Jean-Eugène, François-Xavier has raised Grand-Puy-Lacoste to the level of a "great Pauillac" and ensures that it maintains that status.


With his wife Marie-Hélène he lives at the château, a rather rare occurrence in the Médoc. There they entertain guests in a spirit of refined conviviality. On the grounds, three statues of cranes represent their three children, the next generation who will manage the property. These large birds face the horizon, a symbol of the future and the property's timelessness. This symbol is reflected in the cellars with the statues of the "three guardians".


Family values


François-Xavier Borie grew up at Ducru-Beaucaillou with his parents, his brother and his sister. In the vineyard he learned to understand nature and its rhythms. Like his brother and sister, he went to the local school, then was sent to boarding school in Bordeaux "to work".


He studied business and oenology, with apprenticeships outside of France with négociants and the international sales department at Christie's auction house. Since his childhood, François-Xavier has been motivated by "an intellectual curiosity, the enthusiasm and love of work well done, and the constant search for improvement by putting everything to the test."


He was present in 1978 at the deed signing for Grand-Puy-Lacoste, when his father immediately gave him full responsibility for the domain. François-Xavier set to work and proved himself capable of managing this great estate at a young age.


Today, he has made his father's experience and passion his own, and takes great satisfaction in guiding Grand-Puy-Lacoste successfully along its path to excellence. The praise his work garners from wine lovers around the world is warmly felt.


A philosophy of excellence.

Above all, François-Xavier Borie strives for a consistently high level of quality.


"I do what I love, what I believe in. We want to build Grand-Puy-Lacoste's renown on consistent quality rather than showy effects. I'm suspicious of wines made for competitions; I prefer that Grand-Puy-Lacoste create a reputation based on the long term, vintage after vintage. Pretentiousness, fleeting fashion and short-term media attention is not what we do."


"Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a classic Pauillac, that is to say, characterized by class, allure, harmony. We are fortunate to have one of the finest terroirs in Pauillac and our wines display what may be called a French taste: aromatic, with body and a great sense of balance."


"These wines are structured, with a fine attack, great presence in the mouth and a remarkable length. Each stage of tasting gives harmonious pleasure. The tannins are never aggressive, an expression of elegance is always present."


"Our wines have a great capacity for ageing; their complexity becomes more pronounced with time. The range of flavors grows and becomes more intense, its profile becomes more refined."


"And because it's important to 'stay reasonable', wine drinkers have greatly appreciated Grand-Puy-Lacoste's desire to remain affordable."


"God is in the details"

In this constant pursuit of quality, everything counts.


To give new life to Grand-Puy-Lacoste major investments were needed, but it was also important for methods and practices to evolve in a carefully managed way.


The key word is "precision": in caring for the vines, in observing the grapes' maturity, in deciding when to pick each parcel, in the sorting, the vinification...


Winemaking science has progressed over the last few decades, and an increased knowledge of how vines grow has made it possible to compensate more successfully for shortcomings in the weather and allow nature's voice to be increasingly "heard".


Year after year François-Xavier Borie seeks the terroir's finest possible expression to satisfy informed consumers and demanding connoisseurs, whose understanding of wine has never been greater. Grand-Puy-Lacoste's signature is always present, with each vintage adding its own particular "flourish". The discovery of this makes each year's futures tastings at the Château a great occasion for shared pleasure.


For François-Xavier Borie wine is a universal language, greater than mere words, which speaks to the emotions and culture in us all.


Teamwork

François-Xavier Borie has carefully assembled a team which shares his passion and diligence.


The vines and their care are under the responsibility of Antonio FLores, Vineyard Master at Grand-Puy-Lacoste.


Eric Boissenot is the consulting oenologists for the Château. No decision on methods, no assemblage is done without his active collaboration. This oenologist family's association with the property began in 1978 with Eric's father, Jacques, when they succeeded Emile Peynaud, one of Bordeaux's great professionals.


Christel Spinner, a student of the Bossenots and a trained oenologist, has been a talented member of the chateau's team since July 2012, overseeing research and development at the property. Her previous experience makes her ideally suited to aid François-Xavier and his children in achieving the perfection and excellence they seek for their wines.


The vinification and aging of the wines is under the authority of Philippe Gouze, Cellar Master since 1981.


At the heart of the village, and its region


For François-Xavier Borie, active participation in the regional decisions concerning Bordeaux wine is an important part of his work. He is a member of the Médoc Wine Federation, a board member of the CIVB (Bordeaux Wine Council), and the Council of Great Classed Growths.


In addition, he has always taken a keen interest in local life, serving as a deputy mayor, and the president of the Union of Saint-Julien Winemakers in the neighboring commune.


Under his direction, Grand-Puy-Lacoste has supported numerous sporting events: partnering with the regional football team (the Girondins de Bordeaux), and local sports organizations (tennis, golf, rugby, and others).


The Château has sponsored the Médoc Marathon since its creation in 1983.

A key figure who contributed greatly to the reputation of Grand-Puy-Lacoste.


After the First World War, winemaking families in Bordeaux were living through difficult times. Elie and Edouard de Saint Légier d'Orignac, grandchildren of Pierre-Frédéric Lacoste, were destitute and had to sell the estate, ending almost five centuries of family ownership. On July 28, 1920, following the death of their mother, Jeanne Joséphine Lacoste, they ceded the property to two associates, Messrs. Hervieu and Neel, who in turn were forced to sell it in 1932.


The purchaser was Raymond Dupin, a well-known figure in Bordeaux society. He was a rich négociant, from a family of notaries in the Landes region owning vast pine forests south of Bordeaux. With a passion for vines and wines Dupin presided over the Council of the Médoc Great Classed Growths, and brought a very personal touch to Grand-Puy-Lacoste.


Raymond Dupin was described as a colorful character, an epicure, a gastronome and a great connoisseur of wines, "one of Bordeaux's greatest gourmets of all time”. He was a man who loved lavish entertaining.


François-Xavier Borie still remembers the superb dinners he attended where the speciality was Pauillac lamb from Dupin's own flocks, accompanied by old, rare vintages.


Time and trouble...


After acquiring the property, Raymond Dupin experienced disastrous years in 1931, 1932 and 1933 when it is said he gave his cellar master vegetables, chickens, and wines in lieu of payment. He preferred to live in his Bordeaux house rather than at the château.


But things improved after the war and Dupin's return from captivity in 1945, and in the 1950s Grand-Puy-Lacoste enjoyed a growing reputation.


Raymond Dupin had no direct descendants. In 1978 at 83 years of age he decided to sell the domain, but he wanted to choose his own successor: a "real Médocain”, a professional with children interested in winemaking who would continue working the property. Dupin knew and admired Jean-Eugène Borie; the two men reached an agreement and the transaction was soon made.


After selling Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Raymond Dupin became close friends with François-Xavier and his wife Marie-Hélène, visiting the château frequently. He remained a welcome visitor up to his death in 1980.

François-Xavier Borie


François-Xavier Borie has guided Grand-Puy-Lacoste's fortunes, working to restore its glory and remain faithful to its spirit.


François-Xavier Borie has directed the estate since its acquisition in 1978, benefitting greatly from the experience of working beside his father. As determined, demanding and diligent as Jean-Eugène, François-Xavier has raised Grand-Puy-Lacoste to the level of a "great Pauillac” and ensures that it maintains that status.

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François-Xavier Borie

François-Xavier Borie has guided Grand-Puy-Lacoste's fortunes, working to restore its glory and remain faithful to its spirit.


François-Xavier Borie has directed the estate since its acquisition in 1978, benefitting greatly from the experience of working beside his father. As determined, demanding and diligent as Jean-Eugène, François-Xavier has raised Grand-Puy-Lacoste to the level of a "great Pauillac" and ensures that it maintains that status.


With his wife Marie-Hélène he lives at the château, a rather rare occurrence in the Médoc. There they entertain guests in a spirit of refined conviviality. On the grounds, three statues of cranes represent their three children, the next generation who will manage the property. These large birds face the horizon, a symbol of the future and the property's timelessness. This symbol is reflected in the cellars with the statues of the "three guardians".


Family values


François-Xavier Borie grew up at Ducru-Beaucaillou with his parents, his brother and his sister. In the vineyard he learned to understand nature and its rhythms. Like his brother and sister, he went to the local school, then was sent to boarding school in Bordeaux "to work".


He studied business and oenology, with apprenticeships outside of France with négociants and the international sales department at Christie's auction house. Since his childhood, François-Xavier has been motivated by "an intellectual curiosity, the enthusiasm and love of work well done, and the constant search for improvement by putting everything to the test."


He was present in 1978 at the deed signing for Grand-Puy-Lacoste, when his father immediately gave him full responsibility for the domain. François-Xavier set to work and proved himself capable of managing this great estate at a young age.


Today, he has made his father's experience and passion his own, and takes great satisfaction in guiding Grand-Puy-Lacoste successfully along its path to excellence. The praise his work garners from wine lovers around the world is warmly felt.


A philosophy of excellence.

Above all, François-Xavier Borie strives for a consistently high level of quality.


"I do what I love, what I believe in. We want to build Grand-Puy-Lacoste's renown on consistent quality rather than showy effects. I'm suspicious of wines made for competitions; I prefer that Grand-Puy-Lacoste create a reputation based on the long term, vintage after vintage. Pretentiousness, fleeting fashion and short-term media attention is not what we do."


"Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a classic Pauillac, that is to say, characterized by class, allure, harmony. We are fortunate to have one of the finest terroirs in Pauillac and our wines display what may be called a French taste: aromatic, with body and a great sense of balance."


"These wines are structured, with a fine attack, great presence in the mouth and a remarkable length. Each stage of tasting gives harmonious pleasure. The tannins are never aggressive, an expression of elegance is always present."


"Our wines have a great capacity for ageing; their complexity becomes more pronounced with time. The range of flavors grows and becomes more intense, its profile becomes more refined."


"And because it's important to 'stay reasonable', wine drinkers have greatly appreciated Grand-Puy-Lacoste's desire to remain affordable."


"God is in the details"

In this constant pursuit of quality, everything counts.


To give new life to Grand-Puy-Lacoste major investments were needed, but it was also important for methods and practices to evolve in a carefully managed way.


The key word is "precision": in caring for the vines, in observing the grapes' maturity, in deciding when to pick each parcel, in the sorting, the vinification...


Winemaking science has progressed over the last few decades, and an increased knowledge of how vines grow has made it possible to compensate more successfully for shortcomings in the weather and allow nature's voice to be increasingly "heard".


Year after year François-Xavier Borie seeks the terroir's finest possible expression to satisfy informed consumers and demanding connoisseurs, whose understanding of wine has never been greater. Grand-Puy-Lacoste's signature is always present, with each vintage adding its own particular "flourish". The discovery of this makes each year's futures tastings at the Château a great occasion for shared pleasure.


For François-Xavier Borie wine is a universal language, greater than mere words, which speaks to the emotions and culture in us all.


Teamwork

François-Xavier Borie has carefully assembled a team which shares his passion and diligence.


The vines and their care are under the responsibility of Antonio FLores, Vineyard Master at Grand-Puy-Lacoste.


Eric Boissenot is the consulting oenologists for the Château. No decision on methods, no assemblage is done without his active collaboration. This oenologist family's association with the property began in 1978 with Eric's father, Jacques, when they succeeded Emile Peynaud, one of Bordeaux's great professionals.


Christel Spinner, a student of the Bossenots and a trained oenologist, has been a talented member of the chateau's team since July 2012, overseeing research and development at the property. Her previous experience makes her ideally suited to aid François-Xavier and his children in achieving the perfection and excellence they seek for their wines.


The vinification and aging of the wines is under the authority of Philippe Gouze, Cellar Master since 1981.


At the heart of the village, and its region


For François-Xavier Borie, active participation in the regional decisions concerning Bordeaux wine is an important part of his work. He is a member of the Médoc Wine Federation, a board member of the CIVB (Bordeaux Wine Council), and the Council of Great Classed Growths.


In addition, he has always taken a keen interest in local life, serving as a deputy mayor, and the president of the Union of Saint-Julien Winemakers in the neighboring commune.


Under his direction, Grand-Puy-Lacoste has supported numerous sporting events: partnering with the regional football team (the Girondins de Bordeaux), and local sports organizations (tennis, golf, rugby, and others).


The Château has sponsored the Médoc Marathon since its creation in 1983.

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Domaines F-Xavier Borie SAS

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

BP 82 - 33250 Pauillac

N° SIRET: 40170997700011

Tel +33 5 56 59 06 66 - Fax +33 5 56 59 22 27

dfxb@domainesfxborie.com


Directeur de la publication et

responsable de la rédaction

Emeline Borie


Hébergeur

SA Vinium Informatique

3, rue des Corton

21420 Aloxe-Corton

contact@vinium.com

www.vinium.com


Crédits Photos

Serge Chapuis

www.chapuis-photo.com

Crédits Visites Virtuelles

Patrick Durand

www.patrickdurand.com

Domaines F-Xavier Borie SAS

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

BP 82 - 33250 Pauillac

N° SIRET: 40170997700011

Tel +33 5 56 59 06 66 - Fax +33 5 56 59 22 27

dfxb@domainesfxborie.com


Directeur de la publication et

responsable de la rédaction

Emeline Borie


Hébergeur

SA Vinium Informatique

3, rue des Corton

21420 Aloxe-Corton

contact@vinium.com

www.vinium.com


Crédits Photos

Serge Chapuis

www.chapuis-photo.com

Crédits Visites Virtuelles

Patrick Durand

www.patrickdurand.com