2010 Chateau Grand-Puy Ducasse 5eme Cru Classe, Pauillac

A wine with blueberry and chocolate with hints of hazelnut. Full body, with velvety tannins and a polished finish. This is intense yet very fine. Very pretty young Bordeaux. Try after 2016.
-www.jamessuckling.com, 'Tasting Report: 2010's Greatness Across The Board in Bordeaux', 17 Feb 2013

This blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot is an up-front, seductively styled Pauillac (one of the more forward and evolved wines from this appellation in 2010). Deep purple, with exceptionally subtle texture and oodles of cassis fruit as well as hints of mocha and white chocolate, it is an elegant wine, but the overall impression is one of considerable flesh, fat and succulence. It will be hard to resist now, but can be cellared for another 15+ years.
-Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013

(92-94 pts)
2010: The recent resurrection and impressive quality emerging from Grand-Puy-Ducasse is obvious in their prodigious 2010. An inky/blue/purple color is followed by abundant notes of graphite, cassis and blueberry liqueur offered in an opaque, full-bodied, layered, structured wine. This prodigious Pauillac may be the finest wine ever produced at this estate, and is undeniably a sleeper of the vintage as it remains one of the finest values for a classified growth Pauillac. Give it 5-7 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25+ years. Bravo!

Mouthfilling, with lots of fleshy crushed plum, blackberry and currant fruit pushed by dark tobacco and roasted vanilla notes. Muscular, but rounded and showing good integration already. —J.M.

Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London. The Grand Puy Ducasse has a light tertiary bouquet with graphite and sous-bois aromas gently wafting from the glass. The palate is a little angular and slightly muffled towards the finish, missing the poise and tension that I was hoping it would show. The length is commendable, but it needs to show more verve. Tasted November 2012.

(90-92 pts)
A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, the Grand Puy Ducasse has a ripe, raspberry, redcurrant and wild strawberry bouquet, quite showy for a Pauillac but not close to the delineation of Grand Puy Lacoste (for example.) The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, nicely balanced, not complex but a lot of fruité towards the supple finish. This is a very fine Grand Puy Ducasse for medium rather than long-term drinking. Tasted April 2011.

Good red-ruby. Cassis and licorice aromas are complicated by herbs and black pepper. Sweet and fresh, but with slightly jammy flavors of dark fruits and licorice showing a faint alcoholic warmth. Rather easygoing wine owing to its ripeness but has plenty of ripe tannins for support.

(a 60/40 blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot) Deep red. Restrained aromas of cassis, red apple, licorice and black pepper, lifted by an intriguing citrus note. Then juicy and easygoing in the mouth, with light flavors of raspberry and red licorice. Finishes simple and with only average length, but I like this wine's polite style and early-drinking appeal. The tannins turn slightly astringent at the back (from the merlot?), but overall this is a successful Grand-Puy-Ducasse.

Tasted blind. Deep garnet and its colour more mature than many on the left bank in this vintage. Complex and spiced on the nose with still a surprising amount of black fruit. Very attractive. Lively, elegant, brisk and finely balanced, tannins just a little chalky on the finish. (JH)