2022 Chateau Lascombes - 2eme Cru Margaux

Decanter.com – 93 pts – GH: *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.* - 04/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 95 pts – PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zarte Edelholzwürze, reife Kirschen, etwas Cassis, zartes Nugat, feine Kräuternote ist unterlegt. Komplex, straff und kraftvoll, sehr gute Frische im Kern, schokoladig und anhaftend, reife Pflaumen, zeigt gute Würze im Abgang, sicheres Reifepotenzial.* - 01/2023

WeinWisser – 17,5+/20pts – GL, TW: *67 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 % Merlot, 3 % Petit Verdot, 14 Vol.-%, 30 hl/ha. Sattes blaubeeriges Bouquet, edle Cassiswürze, getrocknete rote Rosenblätter und betörender Irisduft. Am sehr straff ausgerichteten Gaumen nimmt der Margaux Fahrt auf, bleibt dank der stützenden Rasse strukturiert und geradlinig. Das engmaschige Tanninkorsett verleiht ihm einen trainierten Körper. Im konzentrierten Finale schwarzbeerige Konturen, dunkler Graphit und mürbe Adstringenz. Dieser Wein schreibt ein neues Kapitel in der Geschichte dieses Deuxième, man spürt einen deutlichen Stilwechsel, aber aktuell ist noch nicht alles in Balance, dreimal verkostet. Kann noch zulegen. Wir sind schon gespannt, was der neue Direktor Axel Heinz aus diesem Gut machen wird.* – 04/2023

JancisRobinson.com – 16,5/20pts – JR: *60% new oak. Yield 30 hl/ha. Cask sample. Deep crimson. Unusually luscious mulberry fruit on the nose. Sweet start with very worked, soft tannins. It’s a seductive expression of the vintage even if a tad more freshness would not come amiss. The elements still need to come together.* - 04/2023

Vinous.com – (90-92) pts – AG: *The 2022 Lascombes is a bold, sumptuous wine. Inky dark fruit, cloves, chocolate and copious French oak fill out the layers. Soft contours wrap it all together. As always, Lascombes is done in a flamboyant style. It will be interesting to see the direction new Estate Manager Axel Heinz takes when he assumes his post this summer. Tasted two times.* - 04/2023

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (92-94) pts – JL: *Deep in color, the wine is lush, concentrated, polished, full-bodied, and packed with toasty oak, black currants, blackberries, black cherries, espresso and cocoa. This is incredibly creamy, but it is also quite oaky, so it is not for the oak averse. If you let it age it a bit, the oak could become better integrated into the wine. Drink from 2027-2050.* - 05/2023