2009 Château Lascombes

A vintage famed for its ripe fruits and firm tannic hold, and one that leans into the style of Lascombes, showing exuberant spice. Black pepper, turmeric, smoked cumin, blueberry, blackberry, cassis puree, young in character and structure, less Margaux appellation typicity than you find in the older vintages, but it has a luscious quality, with a kick of eucalpytus helping to balance out the clear grilled and charred oak. Harvest September 28 to October 19. 90% new oak, and by this point Lascombes had risen to 120ha in AOC Margaux, making it the biggest of the classified growths. 43hl/h yield. Dominique Befve director, Alain Raynaud and Michel Rolland consultant winemaker.

The 2009 Lascombes is blessed with a classy, very well defined, cedar and forest floor scented bouquet with seamlessly integrated oak. This has real style and panache. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a silky smooth texture with sweet black cherry, boysenberry, white pepper and cedar notes. Unlike some others, it is never cloying, but it does need bottle age, at least a decade. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.

Very balsamic with slightly chewy tannins, this is a rustic expression of the vintage that needs substantial food to give its best. Plenty of freshness at the finish though. Drink now. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)