2004 CH LASCOMBES 2ÈME CRU MARGAUX - 6x150cl

Tasting Notes

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  Robert Parker, June 2007,
  Score: 93

  Another brilliant effort from this estate, the 2004 Lascombes (a blend of 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot) exhibits a deep blue/purple hue along with a sweet perfume of blueberries, black raspberries, cherries, incense, smoke, and spring flowers. While opulent, underneath the full-bodied richness of fruit and depth is a structured wine. As it sits in the glass, an espresso roast character (no doubt from new oak) also emerges. Enjoy this pure, structured, fleshy beauty between 2010-2025.

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  Robert Parker, June 2006,
  Score: 92-95

  This property has exploded in quality since it was acquired by the American company, Colony Capital. Chateau Reignac's Yves Vatelot was brought in to oversee the winemaking, and everythingwas revolutionized with the assistance of Dr. Alain Raynaud and Michel Rolland. This has now become one of Margaux's top wines, even challenging Palmer and Chateau Margaux. The brilliant 2004 (50%Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Petit Verdot) is unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage. An inky/purple color is followed by a gorgeously expressive, explosive nose of creme de cassis, smoked meats, flowers, and graphite. Opulent, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully concentrated, with tremendous precision as well as uplift, this superb effort is atypically rich and textured for a 2004. The 2004 Lascombes appears to be superior to the 2003. An extraordinary blue/purple color is accompanied by knock-out aromatics of spring flowers, crushed rocks, charcoal, blueberries, blackberries, and cherries. Medium to full-bodied, rich, and textured, with impeccable precision as well as definition, this beauty may be the finest Lascombes yet produced. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020+

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  Jancis Robinson, April 2005,
  Score: 17

  Opulent nose. Quite exotic aromas. Extremely fine tannins and lovely lift. This wine is a flatterer. Exciting. Built to last. It will last but on the front palate there is immense ripeness. Falls away just very slightly on the finish however and the dry tannins are just a bit too bitter. 12 apr: According to a fiche technique received in the mail today, they picked the Cabernet Sauvignon which constitutes 53% of the blend, right up to 25 oct, which may help to explain the quality of this wine. Drink 2011-2022

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Producer

Château Lascombes

Château Lascombes, bears the name of its first owner, Chevalier de Lascombes, who was born in 1625. Bought by Alexis Lichine in 1952, he rennovated the château's vineyard and cellars. In 1971 he sold the estate to the British brewer Bass-Charrington. The estate then passed on to Colony Capital in 2001. With this new ownership, the slightly unloved estate has again blossomed, due to strict selection methods and more labour intensive vinification. Yves Vatelot (of Reignac) and Alain Raynaud (of Quinault) have been consulting, and the jump in quality is impressive. The vineyards are planted with vines of an average age of 40 years with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. For ageing, 80-100% new oak barriques are used, depending on the character of the vintage.