Appellations

Grand Puy Ducasse 2018

Pauillac, Fifth Growth

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Tasting Notes

I still harbor some reservations about the 2018 Grand Puy Ducasse, principally because the oak needs to be slightly more assimilated on the nose, where it continues to occlude the fruit profile. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and plenty of freshness; here, this Pauillac seems more settled. The harmonious, pencil lead and marine-tinged finish fans out gently. I guess another 2–3 years should ensure that the oak becomes fully subsumed, and if so, this should evolve into a respectable Grand Puy Ducasse.

Score: 91 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2023 - 2038 Date: 21 August 2021

The 2018 Grand Puy Ducasse is a wine that I was looking forward to tasting, given recent improvements and the talents of Anne La Noar. The bouquet felt a little static, the oak coming across a bit too strongly for my liking. The palate is medium-bodied with a creamy entry and fine acidity. I am sensing more winemaking than wine at the moment, but this Pauillac should improve once in bottle. I may well have met it during a difficult phase of its barrel maturation.

Score: 90 - 92 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Date: 01 November 2019

The 2018 Grand-Puy-Ducasse is deep garnet-purple in color and has quite a lot of cedar/oak on the nose to begin, opening out to a core of warm black and red currants, stewed plums and mulberries with touches of pencil shavings, fried herbs, lavender and tapenade. Medium to full-bodied, the palate gives a firm, grainy frame with some chew from the oak and fresh, crunchy red and black fruit, finishing savory.

Score: 91 - 93 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 23 April 2019

For the last few years this estate has been hovering of the edge of really delivering the brilliant Pauillac wine it’s surely capable of. The 2018 is impressive with toasted smoky caramel notes and clear gourmet edging to it. The tannins get a little bulky through the mid-palate taking away some of the nuance but there is complexity here and ageing potential. Malolactic fermentation was partly carried out in barrel.

Score: 92 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2027-2040 Date: 16 April 2019

This is really solid with a dense and deep palate of ripe fruit and chewy tannins. Muscular for this cru. Full-bodied yet energetic and intense.

Score: 93 - 94 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 11 April 2019

The 2018 Grand Puy Ducasse is gorgeous. In fact, the 2018 is one of the most polished and refined recent vintages I can remember tasting for a wine that up until recently was much darker and more extracted in style. The purity of the fruit is simply striking, while the explosive energy in the glass is a thing of beauty. It will be fascinating to see where the 2018 goes, but there is little question that this style towards more elegance driven by Technical Director Anne Le Naour and consulting oenologist Hubert de Bouärd is hugely appealing. The 2018 is 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot. Tasted two times.

Score: 92 - 95 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 April 2019

Lovely, featuring a beautiful beam of pure cassis, lined with iron, savory and tobacco notes. The long finish really glistens.

Score: 92 - 95 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 01 April 2019