The 2020 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse is a brilliant, powerful, age-worthy Pauillac that will reward bottle age. Blackcurrants, tobacco, cedar pencil, and chocolate are just some of its nuances, and this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a dense, mouth-filling texture, plenty of ripe tannins, and outstanding length. It's not the most elegant Pauillac out there, but it has quintessential aromatics, structure, and density, and is beautifully done, as well as incredibly satisfying. It will probably take a decade of bottle age to hit maturity, and it should have 30-40 years of overall longevity. Tasted three times.

(93-95 points) Barrel Sample. This wine is seriously structured, contrasting the dry core with juicy, fresh and fruity black currant flavors. The elements are all in place and open to view, promising a wine of longevity with balanced freshness and richness. ROGER VOSS

One of the best vintages of Grand Puy Ducasse ever produced is packed with multiple-layers of ripe, fresh, creamy, salt-infused, blackberries, currants, spearmint, cigar box, cedar and lead pencil. There is volume, balance, freshness, length and a fruit-filled finish that holds your focus. This is a top vintage for Grand Puy Ducasse that will age for 2-3 decades. Drink from 2025-2050.

The 2020 Grand Puy Ducasse is elegant, polished and sophisticated, just as it was en primeur. Dark cherry, mocha, licorice and crushed rose petals are some of the many notes that open up. Medium in body, with terrific energy and tons of class, Grand Puy Ducasse is very pretty and especially refined in 2020. -- Antonio Galloni

Flows wonderfully from the start, with an already accessible feel to the mix of cassis and dark blackberry notes inlaid with singed alder, warm paving stone, tobacco leaf and graphite accents that then carry the finish. In the end, there's no rush at all here. A pretty gorgeous Pauillac. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2025 through 2038. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. — J.M.

Milk chocolate laced black fruits on the nose - smells deep and inviting. Smooth, round and full, clearly powerful and concentrated from the get go. The structure is quite tight, tannins are pronounced and grippy though plush not severe or edgy. They support the very ripe fruit - a sense of heat and high alcohol abounds but it manages to stay just the right side of too much giving a hefty wine with backbone, structure and lots of potential for ageing. Acidity is there underneath but you don't feel it so much above the ripe fruit and firm tannins. A massive and characterful wine here.

Sweet berry fruit, damson, blackberry and spiced vanilla oak. Expressive, with firm tannins and clear depth of flavour and personality. Good quality, and an affordable 1855 Pauillac, that rare beast. Harvest September 15 to October 1. An upscore from En Primeur.