With history building an ownership of three main shareholders, an estate of vineyards split into three distinct plots across Pauillac and the Chateau itself unusually sited in the town docks, Ducasse prospers. Possibly despite the complicated nature of the enterprise. Those three vineyard plots are of fine and homogeneous terroir, all brilliantly sited on deep gravel mounds with some really old vines as well as some more recent replantings as part of the large and ongoing investments. Overshadowed by Grand-Puy Lacoste (a puy is another word for a hill), Grand-Puy Ducasse is a cru classe property that definitely flies under the radar. But with our old friend Jacques Merlaut as one of the shareholders and Denis Dubourdieu as consultant, it might not have the status of relative unknown for long. 2009 shows the wine in archetypal Pauillac shape, full bodied and muscular but with crunchy fresh fruit and great structure. (CW 07/06/10)