Château Lascombes 2010

In Bordeaux we know neither friends nor foes, only winemakers whose work we respect. This applies even more to estates that accept our criticism as our opinion and nevertheless continue to present their wines. Lascombes is one of them, with wines we simply struggle to connect with. Not because they are poorly made—quite the opposite—but simply because their style—extraction, oak, a lack of charm—doesn’t speak to us.

The wine fires on all cylinders in 2010. The average alcohol for the bottled wine is 14%. It has a gorgeously sweet nose of crème de cassis, spring flowers, subtle barbecue smoke and charcoal, followed by full body, beautiful intensity, great purity, stature, and length. The influence of any oak is minimal, despite the fact that 90% new French oak was used. Needless to say, this is a prime example of modern-styled winemaking at its finest, and the arguments that such wines will not age well, do not represent their terroir, and are soulless are totally groundless. Give it about five years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25–30 years. This is one of the great Margaux wines of the vintage. Probably the greatest Lascombes made to date, the 2010 is a blend of 55% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot. Production from this huge estate totals nearly 400,000 bottles.

Dark and nicely toasty, with ample espresso and ganache up front, followed by steeped fig, blackberry and black currant fruit that rumbles through the finish. Features ample tarry grip, but eschews minerality and finesse for a direct, toast-driven approach. Best from 2014 through 2026. 25,000 cases made.

Expressive nose of sweet cherries, cedar, vanilla and liquorice. Juicy and upfront at first, then it tightens and turns severe as the promised fruity fun closes down. Tannins are nicely supportive, but the fruit lacks the density and vibrancy to truly sustain the palate, which becomes a little diluted. Dry, powdery liquorice and cola notes on the finish.

Pinpoint yet rich fruit in the form of blackcurrants, licorice, fresh herbs, blackberry leaf and cedar. Full body, structured tannins, vibrant acidity and a long finish. A wonderful combination of freshness and fruit. Delicious now, but this will hold for many more years.

The 2010 Lascombes feels flat and rather fatigued on the nose compared to its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with soft tannins, rather smudged and lacking detail, with a tobacco and quite peppery finish that needs more flesh and vigour. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting.

Espresso bean, coffee, licorice, chocolate and jammy blackberries create the aromatics. On the palate, the wine is lush, opulent and rich, with a touch of heat in the powerful, ripe, oaky finish.

The 2010 Château Lascombes is flat-out gorgeous and might be the finest vintage from this château I've tasted. Based on 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot that was raised in 90% new French oak, it has a dense purple/plum hue as well as a blockbuster-like style in its darker currants, cassis, smoky tobacco, incense, and graphite aromas and flavors. Beautifully textured, full-bodied, dense, and concentrated, but still graceful and beautifully balanced, it's clearly in its prime drinking window yet has another 2-3 decades of overall longevity. It is impossible to resist today.

55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot. Only 36 hl/ha. Extremely dark purple with violet highlights. Sweet-spiced berry cocktail (mulberries!) mixed with black plums and vanilla bean, with exotic spice notes in the background. Well-shaped palate with incredible density, concentrated fruit core in a rich, textural extract, black currant notes on the finish. On the one hand, this wine shows the power of the vintage, yet on the other, the charm of a truly great Margaux. It belongs to the greatest vintages of the new era and, among them, to the classically great. Tasted three times. There was also a sample of the second wine lying around somewhere. Out of pure curiosity, I tasted it quickly, although I usually take a closer look only at the second wines of the Premiers. Chevalier de Lascombes (the second wine of Lascombes) was so wonderfully seductive that I had to be careful not to take a big spontaneous sip. A terrific, early fun factor. 19/20. 20: Deep purple-violet. Incredibly intense bouquet; blackberries, blueberries, freshly cracked black pepper, accompanied by floral, precise Cabernet notes. It seems deceptively open on the nose and, after a few minutes, conveys violets and minty traces. The palate is massive, meaty, structured and highly astringent. The flow is abrasive, making this extremely demanding Margaux feel somewhat raw. An uncut Lascombes diamond. The potential is immense, but unfortunately true drinking maturity is still a long way off. (19/20). 20: Dense purple with violet highlights, zero signs of evolution. Brilliant, clear grand cru bouquet. And so very Margaux! It shows this with its abundance of ripe fruit: mulberries and wild raspberries mixed with plenty of cassis. Appropriate yet intense toasted notes. In summary: the nose play is a stunner. On the palate, things really get going. The aromas from the nose repeat and almost double. It also shows that it is still far too young. Thus the potential is significantly greater than the current pleasure factor. Those who wait will be rewarded. But only in ten years. Or perhaps it will take even longer to reach the peak of enjoyment. (19/20).

Dense, closed, mineral, complex bouquet, mulberries, damassine plums, mocha, red licorice, slate. Densely knit, multi‑layered, powerful palate with a fine, creamy texture, varied, sweet aromatics, fine tannins, long, fragrant, elegant finish. 19/20 drink - 2038

Enjoyable, waves of cloves, iron filings, bay leaf, good deep dark blackberry fruits, crème de cassis, crème caramel, campfire smoke, grilled turmeric, pomegranate and orange peel. Exuberant but staying within the lines, and this is a serious step up on the 2009. 36hl/ha yield, 90% new oak; harvest September 30 to October 20. Maceration extended to 35 days at this point, still with malo in barrel. Dominique Befve director, Alain Raynaud and Michel Rolland consultant winemakers.

Compact attack, tight mid-palate, long, straight, rectilinear, beautiful spices that are very Margaux-like.

Beautiful dark, intense color. Lovely, delicate nose with pure, ripe, creamy fruit. The palate starts off rich and rounded, with a texture a little less tightly knit than expected in the middle. It nevertheless finishes very fruity, tasty, seamless, with a normal length.

Wood-driven tannins dominate at this stage, creating a wine that is structured and dense. The tannins are layered with the weight of the black currant and plum fruits. Lascombes is still finding its style, but is definitely on the upward slope.