Chateau Lascombes 2018

JAMES SUCKLING: "Complex nose, blending notes of elderberries, black cherries, spices, cedar,and violets. It’s full-bodied and structured with elegant tannins and a fleshy texture. Flavorful, savory finish. Try after 2024."

WEINWISSER: "Extrem dunkles Purpur mit undurchsichtiger Mitte. Was für ein Duft nach reifen Brombeeren, exotischen Hölzern und dominikanischem Tabak, dahinter Holundergelee und getrockneter Rosmarin. Am kraftvollen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur und verlangendem Tanninkorsett, fein mehliges Extrakt, strotzt mit enormer Fülle und ungestümer Kraft. Im gebündelten Finale ein Feuerwerk von kleinen schwarzen Beeren, dunkler Terroirwürze und Wacholder. Geben sie dem Powerpack einfach etwas Zeit."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2018 Château Lascombes performed brilliantly in my tastings. It's a rich, medium to full-bodied, impressively textured Margaux with loads to love. Lots of jammy currants, blueberries, vanilla bean, flowers, and camphor emerge from the glass, and it has ripe yet present tannins, no hard edges, and just a balanced, classy style. It needs 3-4 years to integrate its oak and will keep for 25 years or more. The blend is 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot that was brought up in 60% new French oak."

FALSTAFF: "Sehr dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Anklänge von Röstaromen und Nougatkaramell, schwarzes Waldbeerkonfit ist unterlegt, zart nach Lakritze, kandierte Orangenzesten. Komplex, saftig, schwarze Kirschen, reife Tannine, schokoladiger Touch im Abgang, mineralisch unterlegt, ein kraftvoller, würziger Speisenbegleiter. (2025–2045)"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This large estate to the north of Margaux village is performing well. There is still a tendency to overuse wood aging, but powerful black fruits will provide balance as the wine ages. With its structure and dark tannins, this wine has a long-term perspective. Drink from 2027."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2018 Lascombes is deep garnet-purple in color, slowly unfurling in the glass to reveal evocative cassis, black cherries and blackberry pie scents, followed by hints of pencil lead, menthol, lavender and cedar chest with a touch of damp soil. The medium to full-bodied palate gives a great core of muscular black fruits, framed by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and savory."

DECANTER: "Lovely grilled fruit here; super enjoyable, suave and good quality, with depth and interest through the palate. Fully ripe fruit notes of figs and damson are backed up by liquorice and chocolate, but this has a sense of being propelled forward through the palate, and has a crushed mint finish - giving a slight upscore since en primeur. A yield of 45hl/ha. 40% new oak. Drinking Window 2026 - 2042

WINE SPECTATOR: "A bright juniper note leads off, followed quickly by a mix of warmed cassis, steeped plum and blackberry compote flavors. Silky and fine-grained in feel from start to finish, with a late flurry of singed wood, savory and dark tea details on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2036."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "With a smoke filled nose of plum, espresso, licorice, cigar box and roasted dark red fruits, the wine is round, lush and full-bodied with espresso and dark chocolate that rise along with all the ripe, dark red berries in the finish. It is going to take time for the oak to integrate, therefore, you will need to be either oak tolerant or very patient with this one."