2010 Lascombes

The 2010 Château Lascombes is based on 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot. It's a beautiful wine that has some maturity as well as plenty of life ahead of it. Darker currants, truffly earth, leather, and spicy notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a concentrated, layered mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and outstanding length. Drink 2025-2040.

Magnum chosen for a family dinner on the basis it would be interesting to see how Lascombes under a previous regime was looking now that it has been taken in hand by the US Lawrence Family with ex-Ornellaia Axel Heinz in charge. In 2010 the property was being offered for sale by the US Colony Capital group who eventually sold it in 2011 to a French insurance company. So the 2010 was probably made with advice from Michel Rolland, Alain Raynaud and/or fellow consultant oenologist Yves Vatelot. I'm expecting the wine to be pretty full-on rather than expressing traditional Margaux elegance. Deep, dark ruby. Classic mature Médoc nose actually! Even if with a slight undertow of overripe fruit. There's still a little bit of dry tannin on the slightly sudden (but not hot) end but there is lots of quite pleasurable fruit on the way there, even if it is far from the juiciest or most concentrated. High yields? (JR)

Enjoyable, waves of cloves, iron filings, bay leaf, good deep dark blackberry fruits, creme de cassis, creme caramel, campfire smoke, grilled turmeric, pomegranate and orange peel. Exuberant but staying within the lines, and this is a serious jump up on the 2009. 36hl/h 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.