Updated: Jul 27, 2023
Deep ruby core with a medium rim. Very elegant and refined on the nose-ripe, concentrated dark fruit aromas with notes of "cigar-box" & pencil shavings (cedar & graphite)- cedar-wood and graphite. Drinking well now, natural and with just the right amount of mellowed grip with lifted- acidity. Fine tannins, feminine, supple, beautifully poised on the finish. Lovely. Of course, everyone knows Duhart, which is still valuable. Under the shadow of 1995, 1996 and 2000, 2001 is an understated vintage, hence the great deal—medium finish and alcohol, but still structured with some mileage. Probably only Bob Campell MW awarded it 95 points recently; most old-school writers awarded it at the level of 89. Deep ruby with a tight rim, 2007 opens up and gives a strong fragrance of cedar and tobacco with a touch of black fruits. Very structured and balanced. A touch austere and leafy in the finish. Falstaff 92, DD95.
Parker writes that this property, which has benefitted enormously from huge investments from the Rothschild family that owns Lafite, has turned out a dense purple-coloured Pauillac offering broad, expansive, supple and silky tannin as well as loads of Asian plum sauce, blackcurrants, and sweet cherries.
Old-school style- no high extraction, little wood spice and sweet vanilla, no toasty oak, and few hints of cigar box and mint- instead, the medium to deep garnet-coloured Lascombes 2009 reveal notes of stewed plums, baked blackberries and dried mulberries with touches of sweaty leather, raisin cake. With a rugged, chewy frame, the mid-palate gives a good core of earth-laced fruit, finishing a little rustic, mineral with ample and resolved tannins. Bodied.
The scores are impressive, though. Awarded 97 points, GG wrote, 'Beautiful dense red, still in its youth. The oak presence and lovely intense ripe red fruit still mark the expressive nose. On the palate, a rich, silky, full wine starts to deliver it powerfully. Poised for a great future.' Edited. Since this tasting note was from 2014, and based on that, it seems that Lascombes 2009 has evolved a lot and will continue to grow. The rest of the scores are 93(Larsson, VertdeVIn)and a host of 92s(WE, WS, JCL, JL etc.). So, the quality is still stable in the eyes of the commentators.
Updated: Aug 25, 2024
Chateau Lascombes, the mighty modern Margaux Cru known for balanced and delicate wines, has a beautiful deep ruby colour with a narrow and light pink rim. This 2016 has violet notes of ripe red fruits and vanilla oak on the still-raw nose. The highly extracted palate is spice, sweet vanilla from the toasty oak, black cherry fruit, and a hint of cigar box, mint and spice. Inky, medium on the palate with intensity and concentration of fresh ripe fruit. The blend in 2016, 50% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot, from a yield of 45hl/ha, contributes to the wine's unique character and flavour profile.
Tannic and woody, it recalls elements of 2015 I tasted: the structure is dense and firm and will age nicely for another decade. However, judging from the tastings, it has less potential than 2015 and is undoubtedly more enjoyable in the immediate (within the next 2-3 years) and intermediate terms (within the next 5-7 years).
The scores speak for themselves: JS95, RP94+. Compared to 2015, this 2016 vintage exudes a more natural and age-worthy essence. Anson has even hailed it as a worthy successor to the 2015, with an added layer of deep black pepper and cinnamon spicing. While the tannins may be tight, the clear oak structure instils confidence in its potential for ageing. However, JR's critique of its modernity, with its sweet oak and concentrated fruit, is worth noting.
