Appellations

Larcis Ducasse 2021

St Emilion, Grand Cru Classé

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Tasting Notes

A ton of spice on the opening beats, focused on cloves, black pepper, Sichuan pepper, raspberry leaf, oyster shell and crushed rocks. A little austere, still closed down at this stage, but with exceptional verticality and careful architecture on display. 34hl/h yield, 65% 1st wine a little less than usual, 50% new oak. Harvest September 29 to October 11.

Score: 94 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2026-2041 Date: 26 March 2024

The 2021 Larcis Ducasse has turned out better than I expected. It is a shy, introverted Larcis built along super-classic lines—the sort of Saint-Émilion that will emerge only with a number of years in bottle. Spice, tobacco, cedar, menthol, licorice and dried herbs all build effortlessly in the glass. This is such a classy, elegant wine. Tasted three times.

Score: 94 Antonio Galloni, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2023-2046 Date: 27 February 2024

The 2021 Larcis Ducasse has a more restrained bouquet compared to recent vintages, showing black plum, blackcurrant, vanilla pod and violet scents. There's opulence here, but it's compressed. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins, a bit angular at first with cola and brown spices. Linear toward the finish with fine sustain, it doesn't quite have the caliber of say, the La Gaffelière and its ilk, but it should give 15+ years of drinking pleasure.

Score: 91 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2028-2048 Date: 22 February 2024

86% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Deep crimson to the rim. Aromatically discreet but fresh. Lovely texture of tannin, the fruit gently seductive. Less punch than some years but charm and finesse. Clean, if a little dry on the finish. (JL)

Score: 16 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2027-2038 Date: 13 May 2022

This is medium-to full-bodied with firm, silky tannins. Already has an expressive nose of blackcurrants, blackberries, white pepper, cloves and black licorice. Salty minerality. Fresh and fine. Spicy finish. Lengthy, too. 86% merlot and 14% cabernet franc.

Score: 94 - 95 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 01 May 2022

A blend of 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Larcis Ducasse wafts from the glass with aromas of cherries, blackberries, violets, warm spices and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, deep and attractively layered, with lively acids and a chalky, saline finish, this is a terrific effort. Nicolas Thienpont and his team were extremely selective this year, and the grand vin derives almost entirely from the slope, without much contribution from the plateau above.

Score: 92 - 94 William Kelley, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 29 April 2022

I think one of the undeniable successes in the vintage is the 2021 Château Larcis Ducasse, which hails from a magical terroir on the south-facing hillside just outside of Saint-Emilion. There's slightly more clay here, so Larcis-Ducasse always shows a ample density and power. A blend of 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc from healthy yields of 34 hectoliters per hectare, harvest started September 29, extending to October 11 for the Cabernet Franc. The estate favors whole berry fermentations in cement tanks, and the élevage occurs in 50% new French oak, with the balance in second- and third-fill oak. Sporting a dense purple hue as well as powerful aromatics of darker currants, chocolate, tobacco, and damp earth, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, admirable concentration, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Tasted on numerous occasions, it never failed to impress, and this is one to seek out.

Score: 93 - 95 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 06 February 2022