Château Lascombes 2022

This wine puzzled me en primeur; open on the nose, lots of dark fruit, smoky notes; dense on the palate, noticeable tannins, clear extraction, well-structured, long finish. Very good quality, but with somewhat little charm.

Warm and caressing up front, with a velvety edge to its cassis and black cherry compote flavors, backed by singed black tea, wood spice and walnut husk notes that then leave a subtle, burly edge as they finish. A bit ambitious in style for this warm vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2038. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 15,000 cases made.

Dried flowers, exotic spices and some herbal notes join black fruit on the nose. Compact and filling on the palate, tannins are massy and firm and although there is clear juiciness, the tannins are doing all the talking right now. Not as easy as some, there's tension and some restriction from cedar and liquorice spice but there's also purity of fruit and a long mentholated, salty stone finish. A touch rustic but that should soften and even out in a few years.

This is a full-bodied Bordeaux with lots of velvety tannins and intensity. It’s a bit old-school now with so much fruit and texture, but it’s impressive, to say the least. Plenty of blackcurrant and blueberry character. Shows the richness of the vintage. Best after 2030.

The 2022 Lascombes has quite an intense nose, with brambly black fruit, gravel and light pencil shavings scents unfolding in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, good depth and volume, fine acidity and quite a minerally style, with admirable precision on the finish. This is very promising, though this is one example where the 2023 may well supersede the previous vintage. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

Incense, espresso, flowers, chocolate, and cherries are evident in the perfume. The palate is round, lush, and polished. There is a sweetness to the fruits, which are ripe and fresh, but there is a lot of oak to work through, so wait a bit, or enjoy this in its youth for its display of blackberries, black cherries, espresso, chocolate and creamy textures. Drink from 2028-2050.

Lascombes is a vintage over the past few decades that has shown the heat in the hottest years, but while this is exuberant, it’s well balanced with cassis, damson, cocoa bean, fennel, liquorice bud, peony and crushed rocks. It has clearly improved with ageing, which is rare in 2022. One to watch, especially with the changes they have in mind. Good stuff. Owned by Lawrence Wine Estates, with Axel Heinz as director, who did the blend for this vintage but was not at the estate during the growing season.

Opulent nose, marked by woody and toasted notes. On the palate, balance is spot on: a fine, fluid, drinkable wine, with that same toasted expression.

Lascombes’ bouquet heralds a wine whose charm-driven focus is complemented by freshness. Beyond notes of cocoa beans, it reveals floral and fruity nuances. With good density, the wine is carried by compact, elegant tannins that go hand in hand with vibrant freshness. Thus, Lascombes has pep, roundness and, above all, harmony. The shift toward clarity is evident. Of course, you can’t revolutionize everything at once, but the results on display today are very encouraging. A wine that has not yet fully settled. If needed, I will revise my score upward later. Regardless, I am pleased with how events are unfolding.

Deep, intense colour. Very aromatic nose, with ripe, Merlot-like fruit. Delicate, melting, fragrant and flavoursome on the palate, with a smooth flow and a fine, delicate structure on the finish. Normal length.

This large estate is now settled well into its elegant stye. This new release is lifted with a licorice aroma and dense texture. It is juicy, packed with chocolate flavors and ripe tannins. The wine has a fine future. Drink from 2029.