Appellations

Lascombes 2023

Margaux, Second Growth

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Tasting Notes

All eyes on this estate for its first full vintage with Axel Heinz. It's clear that the build and construction is more serious than in the past, but most impressive is the juicy pleasure to be found in the layers of inky, nuanced, textured fruits, with sculpted tannins and well-judged grilled cedar oak. Inky, savoury, black fruits, savoury and lifted. Tasted twice, thoroughly enjoyable both times.

Score: 94 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2030-2045 Date: 02 May 2024

The 2023 Lascombes marks a new direction for the Chateau. Dark and virile, with real intensity, the 2023 marries richness and energy. Black cherry, lavender, spice, menthol and licorice emerge from the glass. This fleshes out beautifully on the finish, showing terrific breadth and nuance. The 2023 is, without question, the most elegant, finessed Lascombes made in many years. That won't surprise readers familiar with wines here that were often monolithic and one-dimensional. The 2023 will be a fascinating wine to follow. This is also a new chapter for Estate Director Axel Heinz, formerly at Ornellaia, who strikes me as a liberated winemaker these days—someone freed from the burden of expectations. Tasted three times.

Score: 92 - 95 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2030-2053 Date: 30 April 2024

Under ex-Ornellaia winemaker Axel Heinz, the 2023 Lascombes has a fragrant and floral bouquet with refined aromatics and lively black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a creamy texture and fine acidity, quite poised with a subtle saline note toward the finish. It possesses better structure than previous vintages—this shows a new direction for the estate, with greater selection in the vineyard.

Score: 92 - 94 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2029-2050 Date: 29 April 2024

A wine that begins a new era for this estate, the 2023 Lascombes (which I examined from separate components before tasting the prospective blend) offers up aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with hints of crushed mint, violets and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and velvety, with good depth and purity, it's a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. This estate, which was formerly one of the Médoc's poster children for over-ripeness and over-extraction, is assuredly coming in from the cold.

Score: 92 - 94 William Kelley, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 26 April 2024

Aromas of stone, black licorice, tar, blackberry and slightly burnt orange. Medium to full body with a solid core of tannins and tight but juicy fruit. More chiseled and tannic than in the past.

Score: 95 - 96 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 24 April 2024