2023 Grand Puy Ducasse
Buying options
Tasting Notes
The 2023 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse is concentrated and inward, with a dense bouquet of smoky black fruit, iron, leafy tobacco, and lead pencil. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated Pauillac that has beautiful overall balance, ripe yet certainly building tannins, ample background oak, and a great finish. I love its overall balance, as well as its purity, but this brilliant Pauillac is going to be for those with a touch of patience. I suspect a solid 7-8 years should put it in the early stages of its drinking window, and it should have at least three decades of overall longevity.
Critic Scores
Average Score
James Suckling
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Espresso, mint, incense, flowers, currants, and licorice form the core the wine. On the palate, the fruits are fresh, chewy, and energetic, with a brightness to the finish, that's made even more refreshing with its sprig of mint. This should age for at least 2 decades with ease.
The 2023 Grand-Puy Ducasse has a deep garnet-purple color. The nose opens with cedar and pencil lead notes, before giving way to a core of fresh blackberries, Bing cherries, and raspberries, plus an undercurrent of dried Provence herbs. The medium-bodied palate delivers a good amount of savory-laced black berry flavors, with lightly chewy tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing on a woody note.
Creamy and round tannins that are tight and polished, with a juicy character. Blackcurrant, chocolate and spice. Medium body. Chewy and polished.
About the producer
The 40 hectares of this Pauillac Fifth Growth are spread across three sites, pieced together in the 18th century by Pierre Ducasse. Today owned by France’s Crédit Agricole bank, they have some very fine vineyard land, with their northernmost plot neighbouring Mouton and Lafite.