Chateau Grand-Puy Ducasse 2019

Blend: 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot

Wine Spectator: 93
Well-packed, showing black currant and blackberry fruit flavors, which are marked by bramble and savory accents and carried by fresh acidity through a finish that's scored by humus, tobacco and iron. A textbook, austere, driven and age-worthy Pauillac. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2024.

Wine Advocate: 90
The 2019 Grand-Puy-Ducasse exhibits aromas of raspberries, currants and fruit liqueur mingled with subtle hints of loamy soil and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and demonstrative, with an ample core of fruit, ripe tannins and lively acids and a finish subtly marked by alcoholic warmth, this is more elegant than its muscular, powerful 2018 predecessor; but it's held back by that touch of alcoholic heat. The new ambition that's animating this historically lackluster estate, however, is more than evident, and there are surely great things to come from this address. Best after 2025.

Wine Advocate: 90

The 2019 Grand-Puy-Ducasse exhibits aromas of raspberries, currants and fruit liqueur mingled with subtle hints of loamy soil and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and demonstrative, with an ample core of fruit, ripe tannins and lively acids and a finish subtly marked by alcoholic warmth, this is more elegant than its muscular, powerful 2018 predecessor; but it's held back by that touch of alcoholic heat. The new ambition that's animating this historically lackluster estate, however, is more than evident, and there are surely great things to come from this address. Best after 2025.

Decanter: 92
Lovely deep purple color gives this an attractive Pauillac strength both visually and on the firm cassis-led attack. This is attractive, with well-worked but plentiful tannins and touches of austerity in the way you hope for in a young Pauillac. This is well balanced with firm cassis fruits and has a chewiness to the tannins that becomes more apparent on the finish. Spice and fresh mint leaf add interest and typicity. Tasted twice three weeks apart.

Decanter: 92

Lovely deep purple color gives this an attractive Pauillac strength both visually and on the firm cassis-led attack. This is attractive, with well-worked but plentiful tannins and touches of austerity in the way you hope for in a young Pauillac. This is well balanced with firm cassis fruits and has a chewiness to the tannins that becomes more apparent on the finish. Spice and fresh mint leaf add interest and typicity. Tasted twice three weeks apart.

Wine Enthusiast: 96
From one of the lesser-known Pauillac crus classés, this wine shows plenty of fine structure as well as ripe black currant fruits from the Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. It is also the succulent fruitiness that shines, lending to a good future.

Vinous: 94
The 2019 Grand Puy Ducasse has a clean, delineated, quite pure bouquet with perfumed blackcurrants, raspberries, cedar and pencil box aromas that would just benefit from a tad more intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannins, a fine bead of acidity, cohesive and harmonious with a lovely saline/briny note that surfaces towards the unusually (for this estate) finish. This is one of the best Grand Puy Ducasse wines that I have encountered from barrel. Excellent. Tasted twice with consistent notes.

Vinous: 94

The 2019 Grand Puy Ducasse has a clean, delineated, quite pure bouquet with perfumed blackcurrants, raspberries, cedar and pencil box aromas that would just benefit from a tad more intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannins, a fine bead of acidity, cohesive and harmonious with a lovely saline/briny note that surfaces towards the unusually (for this estate) finish. This is one of the best Grand Puy Ducasse wines that I have encountered from barrel. Excellent. Tasted twice with consistent notes.

James Suckling: 95
Blackcurrants and walnuts with sweet berry and cherry undertones. Full-bodied with chewy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Linear and intense tannins run the length of the wine with intensity and persistence. Best after 2026.

Jeb Dunnuck: 93
The 2019 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse is terrific and might just surpass the 2015, 2016, and 2017. Lots of beautiful blackcurrant, cedary incense, lead pencil, and a touch of damp earth all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a wonderful sense of balance and purity, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's a gorgeous looking Pauillac.