2022 Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse En Primeur
Following yesterday's excellent release of Ormes de Pez (93-95 points), we can now offer another huge over-achiever in the form of 5th growth Pauillac, 2022 Grand-Puy-Ducasse. Whilst this divides the critics' opinions, with mere solid scores from William Kelley and Jane Anson, it gets a resounding 'best ever' and 96-97 points from James Suckling, for him putting it above near-namesake Grand Puy Lacoste!
We found Pauillac was one of the most complex communes to taste and assess this year, with its different terroirs producing wines with many distinct styles. We tasted many great 2022s, all with dark fruit, concentration and a powerful structure, but for some it was hard to gauge the absolute quality level, the difference of a point or two at the very top of the scale. Possibly some of these wines will only reveal themselves fully with time.
Grand-Puy-Ducasse has long made reliable and very likable wines, but the quality level seen at estates like Lynch-Bages and Pontet-Canet has eluded it, hence Suckling's ejaculation of "Finally"! At £378 per dozen (potentially, a third of the price of Lynch and Pontet-Canet) this has to be one of the 'must buys' of the vintage.
Offered en primeur, landing spring 2025.
Magnums available with £15 ex-VAT bottling surcharge, please enquire for other formats.
Bordeaux En Primeur, Landing in spring 2025.
Limited availability. To order, e-mail us at sales@richardkihl.ltd.uk
Producer Profile
Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse, Pauillac
Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse is a Cinquième Cru Classé in Pauillac. The estate came into being when Arnaud Ducasse bought the land in the mid-17th century. It remained in the same family hands until the purchase to Credit Agricoles Grands Cru, who also own Meyney, Blaignan and Rayne Vigneau in Sauternes.
The vineyard's 40 hectares are divided between three main plots which lie on sandy Garonne gravel within the Pauillac appellation. The vines border Mouton, Lafite and Pontet-Canet to the North. The average vine age is 25 years. 62% of the vines are Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot. Average yields are 40 hectolitres per hectare.
| RED | 2022 | Château Grand Puy Ducasse | 75cl | £378 per case of 12 | Château Grand Puy Ducasse 2022 / / 75cl £378 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Grand-Puy-Ducasse exhibits notes of sweet plums and cherries mingled with licorice and spices. Medium to full-boded, taut and chalky, with a sweet, concentrated core of fruit and a penetrating finish, it's a youthfully structured effort that concludes with a somewhat drying finish. 89-92 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"Inky colour, this is impressively structured right from the start, has a ton of dark chocolate, cassis, mint leaf, slate, has structure and character with a fresh cushion of acidity under the fruit. One of the more impressive vintages of this wine, worth looking out for, and should be good value. Hubert de Boüard consultant. 93 points." Jane Anson------"The 2022 Grand Puy Ducasse has an airy nose, well-defined with potpourri, even lavender infusing the black fruit. Pencil box hints emerge with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins. Tightly-coiled black fruit laced with cracked black pepper and tobacco. The finish is tannic, but one can appreciate the focus and length on the aftertaste. Very fine. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"I loved the 2022 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse, another Pauillac that shines for its purity and length. Offering lots of red and black fruits, graphite, tobacco, and spicy oak, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, nicely integrated, ripe, fine-grained tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It shows the richer style of the vintage yet has a solid spine of freshness that keeps it light on its feet. 93-95+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Beautiful texture here. Tannins are dense and compact but finely polished and silky. Seamless and even with length and succulence. Medium- to full-bodied. Power with elegance. Endless for this. Finally the best ever. 96-97 points." James Suckling |
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