Chateau Grand-Puy Ducasse Pauillac 2015 Methuselah (6L)

A Methuselah (6 litre bottle) of Chateau Grand-Puy Ducasse 2015 Pauillac, in a wooden gift case

Country: France  Region: Pauillac, Bordeaux

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon 60% Merlot 40%

Vintage: 2015 Colour: Red Style: Dry

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 potential.

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, the around 25-year-old vines rest on Garonne gravel with silica-gravelly soil.

The vintage

The climatic conditions in 2014 were ideal until August, when a drought was recorded, causing water stress. Rainy spells in the last three weeks of August boosted the ripening phase.

Vinification and ageing

Once the grapes have been harvested by hand and rigorously selected by manual and optical sorting, vinification is carried out in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Some of the batches undergo malolactic fermentation in new barrels. The wine is aged in French oak barrels, 35% of which are new.

94 points Wine Enthusiast

 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.  

92 points James Suckling

 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. 

90-92 points Wine Advocate

 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.   

91 points Jeb Dunnuck

 The 2015 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse is certainly impressive, and while it’s not a massive wine (possible from the harvest rains), it shines for its elegance, purity, and nuance. Its deep ruby/purple tinged color is followed by a perfumed bouquet of currants, cherries, white flowers and truffle. With medium-bodied richness, fine tannin, and beautiful balance, it should keep for 15+ years.  

91 points Vinous

 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.  

Tasting Notes

Nose

Subtle and fresh, the nose exudes delicious fragrances of black fruit (blackcurrant, blackberry, black cherry), liquorice and spices with notes of mocha and cedar.

Palate

Smooth, the palate is seduced by this wine’s powerful tannins and its seductive persistence.