Château Grand-Puy Ducasse

Identity

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse is a winegrowing estate located in Pauillac, in the Médoc. It was classified as a Cinquième Grand Cru in the 1855 Classification. The estate is owned by CA Grands Crus (Crédit Agricole Grands Crus), with Anne Le Naour serving as Managing Director. Benjamin Cassoulet is the cellar master.

History and philosophy

The estate traces its origins back to 1675. In 1750, Pierre Ducasse purchased several plots, establishing the vineyard. In 1797, he bequeathed the property to his son. The current château and its cellars have stood on the quays of Pauillac, facing the estuary, since 1820. In 1822, the marriage of Pamela Ducasse and Édouard Duroy de Suduiraut marked a significant period for the estate, incorporating the Suduiraut family coat of arms. In the 1855 Classification, the estate was recorded under the name Artigues-Arnaud and achieved the rank of Cinquième Grand Cru Classé. The Société Civile Grand-Puy Ducasse was established in 1932, and the estate was subsequently acquired by Mestrezat in 1971. Château Grand-Puy Ducasse is committed to organic certification with AB / EUROFEUILLE. The estate was shortlisted for the 2022 Trophées Bordeaux Vignoble Engagé in the "Vivre ensemble" category. A project to build a new vat house and two new ageing cellars is currently underway, alongside the creation of a visitor tour.

Appellations

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse produces wines under the Pauillac appellation.

Flagship wines

The estate produces a grand vin, Château Grand-Puy Ducasse, as well as a second wine named Prélude à Grand-Puy Ducasse. The grand vin is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 40% of which are new. In 2023, the vintage was vinified in the estate’s new gravity-fed vat house, delivering an elegant and balanced profile with notes of lilac, dark berries, and liquorice, distinguished by a fine texture and powdery tannins.

Practical information

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse is located at 4 Quai Antoine Ferchaud in Pauillac. The estate offers fee-paying tours and tastings. Languages spoken are French and English. Groups are welcome (maximum 20 people). The estate has an on-site boutique. Direct sales at the property and mail orders are available. Opening hours for the tasting room vary depending on the season: from 1 January to 30 May, Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:30; from 1 June to 31 October, Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:30; from 2 November to 30 December, Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:30. For information or reservations, the estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 6 85 75 51 26 or by email at visites@grandpuyducasse.fr. Accepted payment methods are bank cards and cash.

Find out more

The vineyard (terroir)

The vineyard of Château Grand-Puy Ducasse spans 40 hectares. The soils are predominantly clay-gravel to sandy-clay. The average age of the vines is approximately 40 years. The estate’s plot layout is characterised by its diversity, offering a mosaic of terroirs truly representative of the appellation. The grape varieties planted consist of Cabernet Sauvignon (59%), Merlot (36%), and Petit Verdot (5%). Harvesting is carried out by hand.

Vinification and ageing

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse uses a new gravity-fed vat house for vinification. The grand vin undergoes 18 months of ageing in French oak barrels, 40% of which are new.