The estate
With a vineyard located on the finest Pauillac terroirs, Château Grand-Puy Ducasse is one of the most beautiful estates in this prestigious appellation, located on the left bank of Bordeaux. Founded in 1675, this 5th Cru Classé stands out due to its Pauillac wines, which offer a precise definition of this exceptional terroir through their structure and incredible ageing potentiel.
The vineyard
Patiently built up and assembled by the lawyer Pierre Ducasse in the 18th century, Château Grand-Puy Ducasse’s vineyard spreads across three large plots of land. Comprising 40 hectares of vines, they rest on Garonne gravel and silica-gravelly soil.
The vintage
Although the year 2014 was marked by a very rainy spring as well as dull climatic conditions during the summer season, the exceptional Indian summer until the end of October saved the vineyard. The grapes harvested at optimum ripeness are high quality.
The vinification and ageing
The hand-picked grapes are rigorously sorted in the vineyards and optically sorted upon arrival at the estate. Vinification in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Some of the batches undergo malolactic fermentation in new barrels. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels, 30% of which are new.
The blend
Cabernet Sauvignon (62%)
Merlot (38%).
The tasting
Colour
The colour is intense.
Nose
The nose gives off delicious spicy fragrances.
Palate
The palate is seduced by this wine’s elegant and silky tannins. The finish is persistent and powerful.
The 2014 Grand-Puy-Ducasse has a conservative, rather backward and tertiary nose that needs to demonstrate more fruit intensity. Pleasant enough, but not as memorable as its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, more weight than it demonstrated from barrel, although the second half is very linear and refuses to fan out. It cuts away a little short. Not bad, but there is still room for improvement.