CHATEAU GRAND-PUY DUCASSE 2018, Pauillac

This wine surprised me with how much weight and texture it had despite not being the biggest Pauillac of the year. The Cabernet-Merlot blend gives it a really nice balance of intensity and smoothness. I’m already looking forward to the next bottle.

Opened this with some skepticism for a Pauillac, but the texture is incredibly plush and the weight on the palate is exactly what I look for in a Bordeaux. That 48% Merlot really rounds out the Cabernet bite without losing any concentration.

The 52/48 Cabernet-Merlot split gives this a really plush texture that coats your mouth without being heavy. I let it breathe for two hours and the concentration came through beautifully with some grilled steak.