Chateau Lascombes Margaux Grand Cru 2022
(Bordeaux, France) - [JD 96+] [WE 95] [JS 94] [DM 93] [TWI 92-94+]

About This Wine:
Combining power and elegance, smoothness and tannins, Chateau Lascombes is a wine of great complexity. In its youth, its depth of colour never fails to impress. Finesse and softness on the palate are complemented by stylish, fine-grained tannins. Chateau Lascombes should be enjoyed as it ages over the years to enable full appreciation of its aromatic complexity and the development of its ever-more suave structure in bottle.

Blend: 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% petit Verdot et Cabernet Franc

Harvest: From September 7th to 27th. Hand harvesting in several passes, according to the level of maturity of the plots. Meticulous sorting in the vines and in the vat room.

Tasting Notes:

Depth, complexity and graceful power characterize this wine which reveals all its qualities after a long ageing in the bottle. Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, it bears witness to the winemaking tradition of the Médoc and reflects the great classicism of Margaux.

Grape varieties: 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot

Vinification: Gentle vinification by infusion. Cold maceration. Maceration period from 30 to 35 days decided by daily tastings.

Ageing: In barrels and casks

ABV: 14%

Ratings & Reviews

96+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck:

Based on 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Château Lascombes pulls from 40% of the total production and was aged 18 months mostly in barrels (60% new) with a small portion in foudre. This inky hued beauty boasts a rich, concentrated, full-bodied, well-oaked style as well as pure cassis and darker berry fruits, some graphite, scorched earth, and licorice nuances, terrific overall balance, and a great finish. This more modern styled, pure, seamless beauty will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and keep for 30 years.

95 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
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. — Roger Voss

94 Points - James Suckling:
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.

93 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Perfumed and aromatic on the nose. Rich and concentrated on the palate, juicy but also there's a richness and power that focuses the black cherry and blackcurrant fruit and acidity and makes it quite serious. Tannins are grippy giving plenty of texture and structure, but this lacks a little energy and finesse. It's certainly stylish though with liquorice, dark chocolate, wet stone and tobacco notes. Tasted twice. The estate has new owners as of November 2022 with the acquisition by Lawrence Wine Estates, (also owners of Napa wineries: Heitz Cellar, Burgess Cellars and Stony Hill). The group was established by the Lawrence family, led by US entrepreneur Gaylon Lawrence, alongside managing partner and Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy Jr MS. 2022 is the last vintage by winemaker Dominique Befve with ex-Ornellaia winemaker Axel Heinz taking over as of the 2023 vintage. Harvest 7-27 September. Yield of 36hl/ha. Ageing in French oak, 60% new." - Georgina Hindle (Apr 2023)

92-94+ Points - The Wine Independent:
"Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2022 Lascombes explodes with powerful notes of creme de cassis, fruitcake, and baked plums, giving way to suggestions of unsmoked cigars and dried herbs. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and impactful, with velvety tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and spicy." - LPB (May 2023)

92 Points - Vinous:
"The 2022 Lascombes is a dark, potent Margaux. Succulent dark cherry, plum, new leather, licorice, incense and chocolate are all amplified nicely in the glass. Relatively soft contours wrap it all together. The 2022 shows a move in the direction of more energy, even in this freakishly hot, dry year. There are still some signs of the highly extracted style favored here prior to Gaylon Lawrence's acquisition of the château. Overall, though, the 2022 is impressive in that it signals a greater focus on quality through much stricter selection of what goes into the Grand Vin. Historically, Lascombes was two-thirds Grand Vin and one-third second wine, a proportion the new team has essentially inverted. Those achievements are made all the notable given that the new team arrived with the base wines essentially all vinified. This next chapter for Lascombes is going to be very interesting. 2028-2042." -Antonio Galloni