Château Grand-Puy Ducasse 2014, Pauillac 5ème Cru Classé

Description

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse 2014 is a refined Fifth Growth (Cinquième Grand Cru Classé) from the historic 1855 Classification, nestled in the prestigious Pauillac appellation on Bordeaux’s Left Bank. The wines are elegant and aromatic with classic cassis, graphite, and liquorice notes.

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse History

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse can trace its history back to the 17th century when Arnaud Ducasse purchased a house on the Gironde estuary in Pauillac. The vineyard came together in the 18th century when lawyer Pierre Ducasse assembled, through purchases and inheritances, prime vineyard parcels neighbouring legendary wine estates including Lafite Rothschild and Mouton Rothschild. Uniquely, the Château, built in the early 19th century, stands in the heart of Pauillac town itself and is located on the quayside, separate from its vineyards, and has vinified there for over 200 years.

The Chateau was acquired in 2004 by Crédit Agricole Grands Crus (CA Grands Crus) and, since then, an improvement strategy has been successfully implemented. The construction of a new vat room and new cellars will complete this major plan known as the “Renaissance” project. This will significantly improve and optimise parcel selection and wine quality. The credo of Château Grand-Puy Ducasse and its team, led by Anne Le Naour and Benjamin Cassoulet, is “To push standards ever higher.”

Pauillac Wine-Growing Appellation

Pauillac, in the heart of the Médoc North-East of Bordeaux, is one of the best-known appellations of the Bordeaux region, situated between Saint-Estèphe to the North and Saint-Julien to the south. The vineyard, which lies on either side of the town of Pauillac itself, is mostly concentrated along the banks of the river Gironde.

Estate Vineyards

The estate’s 40 hectares of vineyards are divided between three main plots which lie on sandy Garonne gravel within the Pauillac appellation. The vines border on those of Mouton, Lafite and Pontet-Canet to the north. With an average age of 25 years. The current grape variety composition consists of Cabernet Sauvignon (59%), Merlot (36%), and Petit Verdot (5%). Average yields are 45 hectolitres per hectare.

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse Winemaking

• At harvest, all bunches are fully de-stemmed and lightly crushed.
• The grapes then undergo fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks.
• After blending, the wine matures for 18 to 24 months in French oak barrels.
• Each year, 30–40% of the barrels are new.
• Annual production varies between 100,000 and 120,000 bottles, depending on the vintage.
• The 2017 is a blend of 57% Cabernet and 43% Merlot.