| Producer | Prelude a Grand-Puy-Ducasse |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Subregion | Pauillac |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
| Vintage | 2015 |
| Sku | 210000002156 |
| Size | 750ml |
 |
Prelude a Grand-Puy-Ducasse Pauillac 2015
Served @ DB's "2nd Label Bordeaux" Tasting
Arnaud Ducasse purchased a small house along the Gironde estuary from Jacques de Ségur, Lord of Lafite, in the mid-17th century. He could not have known that this would become the heart of a large estate that would stay in his family for nearly three centuries.
The estate's true "inventor" was Pierre Ducasse, a lawyer who was passionately interested in wine. He bought land in the city of Pauillac and a part of the "bordieu de Grand-Puy", which spread out over three parishes (Pauillac, Saint Lambert and Beycheville). Pierre Ducasse's son built the current chateau on the site of his ancestors' house in the early 19th century.
This chateau is highly unusual in that it is located in the heart of Pauillac. Included in the famous 1855 classification, and benefiting from the rich diversity of some of the finest vineyard land in Pauillac, Grand-Puy Ducasse is one of the leaders of this appellation. This great wine is made with the utmost care and the most up-to-date technological methods.
This generous, ripe wine is filled with fine tannins as well as juicy black-currant fruits. It is approachable in the sense that the fruit is so delicious. However, watch for those tannins that are firm and dense and will allow the wine to age. Best to wait until 2024.
Big, black and bold, this is a serious Pauillac with the typical acidity of 2015. With a bit more charm and bright fruit, this would rate more highly. Better from 2019.
The 2015 Grand-Puy Ducasse is a powerful, dense wine. Plump and juicy, with tremendous depth, the 2015 offers tons of palate intensity, but far less in the way of finesse. This is an especially potent, extracted style. The blackberry jam, licorice, fruit, smoke and lavender notes are supported by a healthy dollop of new oak. It is hard to understand where the estate and this wine are going. Consulting winemaker Hubert de Boüard told me he hoped in the future to pick this fruit later than the norm today. As it stands, Grand-Puy Ducasse is one of the most extroverted wines readers will come across in Pauillac. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. (AG)
This has a frankly toast frame around a solid core of plum and blackberry fruit. A toasty edge keeps the finish clamped down, but the stuffing is there.
The 2015 Grand-Puy-Ducasse has a classic pencil lead and cedar-scented bouquet that feels just a little foursquare at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with a dash of spice on the entry. This is underpinned by quite robust tannin, but fortunately this Pauillac forages finesse towards the finish that is well balanced and offers attractive persistence. While not as showy out of barrel, I suspect it may coalesce and turn into one of the better wines from this estate in recent years. My banded score based upon that optimism. (NM)
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