Grand Puy Ducasse - Pauillac 2020

Vinous

0

byNeal Martinthe2/28/2025

The 2020 Grand-Puy Ducasse has a comparatively opulent bouquet with black cherries, cassis and figgy aromas. Perhaps it was picked a little late. The palate is medium-bodied with an almost Rhône-like entry. A bit animally and spicy, there's impressive weight and concentration, with just a bit of warmth on the finish. Again, this is another bottle that feels unrepresentative, and I will attribute a score. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Wine Advocate

89

byWilliam Kelleythe4/6/2023

If its stablemate Meyney is a real success this year, the 2020 Grand-Puy-Ducasse exhibits a firmer, more extracted profile. Offering up attractive aromas of cherries, cassis, pencil shavings and violets, it's medium to full-bodied, framed by chalky tannins that assert themselves on the chewy finish.

Wine Spectator

94

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2023

Flows wonderfully from the start, with an already accessible feel to the mix of cassis and dark blackberry notes inlaid with singed alder, warm paving stone, tobacco leaf and graphite accents that then carry the finish. In the end, there's no rush at all here. A pretty gorgeous Pauillac. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2025 through 2038. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 10,733 cases made, 338 cases imported.

Jeb DUNNUCK

95

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/30/2023

The 2020 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse is a brilliant, powerful, age-worthy Pauillac that will reward bottle age. Blackcurrants, tobacco, cedar pencil, and chocolate are just some of its nuances, and this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a dense, mouth-filling texture, plenty of ripe tannins, and outstanding length. It's not the most elegant Pauillac out there, but it has quintessential aromatics, structure, and density, and is beautifully done, as well as incredibly satisfying. It will probably take a decade of bottle age to hit maturity, and it should have 30-40 years of overall longevity. Tasted three times.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94

byJeff Levethe3/22/2023

One of the best vintages of Grand Puy Ducasse ever produced is packed with multiple-layers of ripe, fresh, creamy, salt-infused, blackberries, currants, spearmint, cigar box, cedar and lead pencil. There is volume, balance, freshness, length and a fruit-filled finish that holds your focus. This is a top vintage for Grand Puy Ducasse that will age for 2-3 decades. Drink from 2025-2050.

Wines Critic

93

byRaffaele Vecchionethe3/10/2023

Solid and decidedly fascinating in the glass showing notes of red prunes, strawberries, orange peel, cumin, coriander and guaranà . Full bodied, very smooth tannins and a finale with optimum tension. Better from 2026.

Vinous

94

byAntonio Gallonithe2/24/2023

The 2020 Grand Puy Ducasse is elegant, polished and sophisticated, just as it was en primeur. Dark cherry, mocha, licorice and crushed rose petals are some of the many notes that open up. Medium in body, with terrific energy and tons of class, Grand Puy Ducasse is very pretty and especially refined in 2020.

Vinous

93

byNeal Martinthe2/15/2023

The 2020 Grand Puy Ducasse has finally stepped up a gear since I tasted it from barrel. In bottle, it is undoubtedly very concentrated with copious blackberry and boysenberry fruit, touches of incense and graphite developing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, well balanced and with much better backbone than recent vintages; certainly no herbaceousness or underripeness evident. It is quite precise on the finish, completing a very commendable GPD.

Jamessuckling.com

96

byJames Sucklingthe1/16/2023

A transparent and clear young Pauillac with blackcurrant, mushroom, chocolate, and wet earth. Full-bodied, layered and flavorful with fine, velvety tannins. Plenty of graphite and blue fruit at the end. Drink after 2027.

Wine Enthusiast

93-95

byRoger Vossthe9/27/2021

This wine is seriously structured, contrasting the dry core with juicy, fresh and fruity black currant flavors. The elements are all in place and open to view, promising a wine of longevity with balanced freshness and richness.

TASTED

92

byAndreas Larssonthe7/6/2021

Generous oak, fruit on the darker side with a classic dense core, rather tannic but well rounded with ample fruit, toasted notes and a fine length.

Vinous

92-94

byAntonio Gallonithe6/1/2021

The 2020 Grand Puy Ducasse is another fabulous wine from a château that has been on an impressive streak over the last few years. Red fruit, graphite, mint, dried herbs and blood orange. The interplay of richness and energy is compelling. Even as a very young barrel sample, the oak is so well integrated. The 2020 is a striking wine loaded with potential. The long, seamless finish is a thing of beauty. Tasted two times. I very much like the energy here.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-96

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/28/2021

The deep, inky-hued 2020 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse has a seriously impressive, balanced, full-bodied, structured style that's going to reward patience. Pure crème de cassis, black raspberry, graphite, lead pencil, and spring flower notes all define the bouquet, and it has plenty of background oak, a dense, chewy mid-palate, lots of tannins, and a great finish. It's going to need to be forgotten for 7-8 years but will evolve for 30 years or more.

Vinous

92-94

byNeal Martinthe5/27/2021

The 2020 Grand Puy Ducasse is a wonderful effort from this Pauillac that has always threatened to pulls its socks up. The nose is crisp and focused, featuring vivacious black fruit, cedar and light minty aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and very well-judged acidity, taut at first but fanning out in a sophisticated fashion that I have not noticed on a Grand Puy Ducasse before. This might well be the dark horse of Pauillac. Chapeau! Tasted three times with consistent notes.

Decanter.com

90

byJane Ansonthe5/25/2021

Some grilled smoke edges to the aromatics on the first nose. This is extremely tight in its tannins, pretty austere and you need to take a beat to allow this to settle. Cassis and blueberry fruit notes help bring some juice among the tight muscular structure. The oak is a little evident overall, but this is carefully made with promise. Harvest September 15 to October 1.

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-94

byJeff Levethe5/21/2021

Dark in color with a nose that quickly displays its cedar, tobacco leaf, thyme, smoke and black currant character, the wine is full-bodied and fleshy with salty tannins and a finish loaded with savory creme de cassis and a touch of chocolate. The wine is rich, supple, long, fresh and delivers a serious depth of flavor and character. This is a top vintage for Grand Puy Ducasse that will age for 3 decades with ease. 92-94

Wine Advocate

87-89

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/20/2021

The 2020 Grand-Puy-Ducasse reveals a deep purple-black color and notes of crème de cassis, blackberry pie, espresso and black olives, giving way to nuances of cedar chest, graphite and wild sage, with a suggestion of Sichuan pepper. The palate is medium-bodied with a sturdy frame of chewy tannins and just enough freshness, taking a bit of a flavor-dip in the mid-palate, finishing a little short and firm.

Anthocyanes

93-94

byYohan Castaingthe5/11/2021

Graphite, fumé, légèrement austère, menthol, fruits noirs bien murs. En bouche, une belle construction d'ensemble, fraicheur mentholée, trame tannique imposante même si le cru montre des signes d'évolution stylistique. Belle bouteille en devenir.

Falstaff

92-94

byPeter Moserthe5/10/2021

Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, breitere Randaufhellung. Mit einem Hauch von Nougat und Edelholz unterlegte dunkle Kirschenfrucht, feine tabakige Nuancen, zart nach Kardamom. Saftig, süße Frucht, reife Pflaumen, schokoladiger Touch, reife Tannine, bleibt gut haften, mineralisch im Nachhall, gutes Entwicklungspotenzial.

My Bettane + Desseauve

89-90

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/7/2021

Jamessuckling.com

94-95

byJames Sucklingthe4/25/2021

Beautiful richness and depth, offering plums, berries and redcurrants with some walnut and hazelnut undertones. It’s full-bodied and layered. Flavorful finish. One of the best ever.

Jamessuckling.com

93-94

byJames Sucklingthe4/23/2021

Lots of blackberry and blueberry character with impressive tannins that are polished and very powerful, yet they show focus and polish. Chewy and intense. Well done.