Château Lascombes 2021

Violets, raspberries and blackcurrants, with subtle toasted notes. A slender, fresh palate—firm and crisp—with austere tannins, showing character and good length, with a touch of dryness on the finish.

The 2021 Lascombes offers up aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with hints of toasty new oak and leather. Medium to full-bodied, punchy and extracted, it's a characterful but somewhat rustic effort that may, or may not, come together with time.

Gains intrigue from black tea and incense notes, while the black cherry and blackberry fruit flavors are a step up for the vintage. Shows the vintage’s firm edge on the finish, but with just enough fruit and warm earth to keep things going. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2028. 25,000 cases made.

Smells oaky and heavily toasted on the nose. Sleek yet a bit rustic on the palate. There isn’t much elegance carrying this wine; some cool blue and ripe black fruit touches and hints of stony minerality, but it’s missing a more refined concentration.

The 2021 Lascombes was bottled in June 2023. It has an attractive nose, not amazingly complex but showing purity of fruit: black cherries, a touch of cassis and that inkwell note I remarked on from barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, quite tensile, but there is a slight tapering off toward the finish. Nonetheless, I appreciate the linearity of this Margaux, and it should drink well for 15–20 years.

Aromas of chocolate, espresso, licorice, black cherries and mint chip ice cream come through in the bouquet. On the palate, the wine is creamy, supple, rich, ripe and fruity, with dark chocolate and espresso notes that linger on the finish. Drink from 2025–2040.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. On the nose, subtle notes of orange, hints of fig and nougat, red berries and a touch of cassis. Complex, juicy and elegant with integrated tannins and a touch of chocolate on the lingering, mineral finish. Good ageing potential.

The 2021 Château Lascombes is deep ruby/plum-hued and reveals beautiful aromatics of red and black currants, smoked tobacco, graphite, and integrated oak, with a kiss of violet and flowers emerging with air. It's medium-bodied and has a focused, elegant mouthfeel, rock-solid mid-palate depth, and ripe tannins, with its oak and acidity both beautifully integrated. This is one classy, seamless, yet relatively serious Margaux that will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and drink brilliantly over the following decade. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in French oak. Tasted multiple times with consistent notes.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 41 hl/ha, 13.5% alc.) Fresh, finely creamy, powerful bouquet: raspberry jelly, strawberries, mint pralines, nougat, cinnamon. Balanced, elegant, fresh, velvety palate with intense, sweet aromatics, fine tannins, creamy, delicate structure, a diverse, powerful range of flavors, and a long, full finish.

(55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 41 hl/ha, 13.5% alc./vol.) Fresh, finely creamy, powerful bouquet, raspberry jelly, strawberries, mint pralines, nougat, cinnamon. Balanced, elegant, fresh, velvety palate with intense, sweet aromatics, fine tannins, a creamy, delicate structure, diverse, powerful aromas, long, full finish. 18/20 2028 - 2048

Sandalwood and campfire smoke, bright acidity, blueberry and raspberry fruit; this shows some appellation typicity in its soft rose aromatics, dips through the mid-palate but is clearly a step up from Chevalier, as you would doubly expect in the vintage. 41 hl/ha yield, 60% new oak. Last full year with Dominique Befve as director before the new team came in. Tasted three times, one-point upscore.

A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2021 Lascombes has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. Scents of black cherries, cassis, and redcurrant jelly slowly emerge from the glass, giving way to nuances of dried lavender, rose oil, and cloves, with a waft of cedar chest. The medium-bodied palate is elegant and soft-spoken, with compelling tension and fine-grained tannins, finishing on a persistent mineral note. Impressive!

A brilliant, dancing fruit that intertwines with indulgent notes of mocha and a hint of incense. On the palate, the wine is broad, coating every corner of the mouth. There is also significant acidity—very flattering—though it could be better integrated.

Inviting with its charm and approachability from a very young age, Lascombes stays true to itself. It clearly shows its élevage through roasted notes, ideally coupled with hints of mint and dark chocolate… a bit like an After Eight! On the palate, the wine offers compact tannins that bring some vigor, while the acid structure lends character. A gourmet, harmonious wine!

The nose is elegant, aromatic and offers a touch of concentration, harmony, lovely fresh fruit and a certain softness. It reveals notes of violet, crushed blackcurrant and, more subtly, cornflower, combined with hints of strawberry as well as fine touches of fleshy red berries, pepper, nutmeg, a subtle hint of smoke and vanilla pod. The palate is fruity, balanced and elegant, offering minerality, energy, good definition, a certain indulgence, a tangy backbone, juiciness, roundness, a touch of creaminess, lovely freshness, a delicate “dark” nuance, well-judged bitters and a slight floral side. On the palate, this wine shows notes of fresh/juicy wild blackberry, fresh violet, fresh lily and, more slightly, pulpy blackcurrant, combined with touches of wild strawberry, fresh/crisp red plum, cocoa, a varietal hint, fine toasted notes, nutmeg and a subtle hint of almond. A very discreet saline note in the background. Good length. The tannins are precise and fine.

Dark color with purple highlights. Fruity, pure, and precise nose. Delicate on entry, flavorful at mid‑palate, with presence and a slender profile, the wine caresses the palate. It finishes juicy, tasty, and fine. This winemaking benefited from the advantages of a new cellar, more comfortable and equipped with small vats that allow for better selection. Blend: 55% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot, 5% petit verdot. Alcohol: 13.5% – pH: about 3.75. IPT: about 80. Yield: 41 hl/ha.

This wine was made by the previous teams, in a fairly modern, bold style that is set to evolve. The 2021 is meant to be imposing, with ripe notes, hints of chocolate and toasted oak. The Merlot brings roundness and plenty of charm. The finish still needs to refine.