Grand Puy Ducasse

History of Château Grand-Puy Ducasse

The history of Château Grand-Puy Ducasse began in 1675 when Arnaud Ducasse acquired a house on the riverbank in Pauillac. Unbeknownst to him, he was laying the foundations for what would become one of the most emblematic wine estates in the Médoc. It was under the direction of Pierre Ducasse, a lawyer passionate about wine, that the property truly took off. Pierre expanded the lands across three parishes (Pauillac, Saint-Lambert, and Saint-Sauveur) and three seigneuries (Lafite, Latour, and Beychevelle), thus creating a vast vineyard.

In 1820, his son modernised the estate by constructing innovative technical facilities facing the Gironde estuary, a bold choice that gave Grand-Puy Ducasse a unique feature: it became the only château to vinify its wines in the heart of the town of Pauillac. This strategic position on the quays marked the beginning of a tradition that continues to this day.

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse gained international recognition during the prestigious 1855 Grand Cru classification, where it was named Fifth Grand Cru under the denomination "Artigues-Arnaud". This classification was a consecration for the estate, solidifying its status among the best Bordeaux wines.

Despite the crises in the Bordeaux vineyards, notably the phylloxera epidemic at the end of the 19th century, the estate managed to overcome difficulties thanks to the ingenuity of its owners, Alfred and Édouard Duroy de Suduiraut. They brought new life to the estate's management and propelled Grand-Puy Ducasse wines onto the international stage.

In 2005, CA Grands Crus, a subsidiary of Crédit Agricole, purchased the property. An ambitious vineyard restructuring project, named "Renaissance", was launched to optimise production and further improve the quality of Château wines. This project included modernising the cellars, vinification techniques, and a strong commitment to sustainable viticulture, placing Château Grand-Puy Ducasse at the forefront of viticultural innovation.

Terroirs and Vines of Château Grand-Puy Ducasse

The vineyard of Château Grand-Puy Ducasse spans 40 hectares on the left bank, divided into three distinct large zones in the heart of the Pauillac appellation, each presenting unique characteristics.

In the north of the appellation, the plots rest on gravelly soils with a marl-limestone base. These well-draining lands are ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon, which finds perfect conditions to express all its power.

In the centre, on the locality called Grand-Puy, gravelly-sandy soils on a clay base benefit from ideal exposure. These soils store heat during the day and release it at night, favouring slow and regular ripening of the Cabernets.

In the southeast, young Cabernet vines are planted on sandy-gravelly soils, offering development potential for future vintages of the estate.

To the west, the area called "Artigues" (referring to the estate's denomination in 1855) is composed of sandy soils on a clay-gravel subsoil. This region is ideal for growing Merlot, which develops all its roundness there.

In the southwest, podzolised soils on a clay subsoil bring freshness and fruitiness to the Merlots and Petit Verdot.

The vineyard's grape variety composition perfectly reflects this diversity of terroirs, with 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. The vines, averaging 25 years old, are pruned in double Guyot, ensuring balanced and high-quality production.

Since 2014, Château Grand-Puy Ducasse has initiated a transition towards organic farming. Initially applied to 13% of the vineyard's surface, this approach now extends to over 60% of the plots, with the goal of reaching 100% by 2025.

Vinification at Château Grand-Puy Ducasse

The vinification process at Château Grand-Puy Ducasse combines tradition and cutting-edge technology to ensure wines of great precision. Since 2024, a new ultra-modern vat room has been created, allowing for even finer plot-by-plot vinification. Each plot is vinified separately in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, offering optimal temperature control and gentle tannin extraction.

Malolactic fermentation mostly takes place in vats, but a percentage of the production benefits from fermentation in barrels, bringing roundness and complexity to the wine. Ageing, lasting 18 to 24 months, is done in French oak barrels, of which 30 to 40% are new, giving the wine a subtle balance between fruit and wood.

Respect for sustainable practices is at the heart of the estate's concerns. Certified High Environmental Value (HVE 3) since 2016, Château Grand-Puy Ducasse is committed to respecting ecosystems and reducing its environmental impact. Harvesting is done by hand, with rigorous sorting of the grapes from harvest and a second sorting upon arrival at the winery, thus ensuring a meticulous selection of the best grapes.

The cuvées of Château Grand-Puy Ducasse

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse produces two distinct wines, each reflecting the expertise and excellence of the estate:

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse - Grand Vin

This wine, predominantly composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, is a model of structure and elegance. It presents a marked aromatic intensity with notes of black fruits, sweet spices, and liquorice. On the palate, it reveals itself as full-bodied, with well-structured tannins and a persistent finish. This wine for ageing can mature for several decades, revealing its full potential after 10 to 15 years in the cellar.

Prélude à Grand-Puy Ducasse - Second Wine

The estate's second wine, produced from young vines, is more accessible in its youth. It offers a beautiful roundness on the palate, silky tannins, and a generous aromatic palette dominated by red and black fruits. It's a pleasure wine, ready to be enjoyed after a few years of ageing.

Pauillac, one of the most prestigious appellations in the Médoc, ranks among the great Bordeaux wines, with remarkable vintages that have made history. Among the finest vintages are those from 1975, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989 and 1990, renowned for their complexity and longevity. The years 1995, 1996, 2000, 2003 and 2005 also stand out for their richness and power. More recently, the vintages 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 have confirmed Pauillac's exceptional potential, offering wines that are both elegant and powerful, perfect for long-term cellaring.

The Fifth Classified Growths offer a beautiful diversity of properties in the Médoc, testifying to Bordeaux's winemaking expertise. In Pauillac, one finds renowned estates such as Château d'Armailhac, Château Batailley, Château Clerc Milon, Château Croizet-Bages, Château Grand-Puy Ducasse, Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Château Haut-Bages Libéral, Château Haut-Batailley, Château Lynch-Bages, Château Lynch-Moussas, Château Pedesclaux, and Château Pontet-Canet. In the Haut-Médoc, Château Camensac and Château Cantemerle stand out with their own characteristics. In Margaux, Château Dauzac and Château du Tertre bring a touch of elegance, while Château Cos Labory from Saint-Estèphe completes this prestigious selection. Each of these estates reflects a unique facet of the Bordeaux terroir.

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse perfectly embodies the balance between tradition and modernity in the world of Pauillac Classified Grands Crus. With its complex, expressive wines tailored for ageing, the estate continues to evolve while preserving the essence of its unique terroir. Thanks to its technical innovations and commitment to sustainable viticulture, Château Grand-Puy Ducasse is more than ever a safe bet for lovers of great Bordeaux wines.