Château Larcis Ducasse 2018

Tasted at Bordeaux Extra: Arrivage 2018 (9 | 2021) REDWINE

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Larcis Ducasse needs a fair bit of swirling to unlock notes of crushed blackberries, plum preserves and boysenberries, with suggestions of black truffles, tapenade and crushed rocks coming through, building to a subtle underlying perfume of roses and cloves. The medium- to full-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating black fruits and loads of savory sparks, framed by firm, slightly chewy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and earthy.

Warm cherry, raspberry and plum preserve flavors form the core here, with nicely polished structure supporting it through the finish where anise, black tea, singed alder and savory details steadily emerge. A touch austere in feel, but the breed and length is there. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2035. 2,416 cases made.

Powerful yet restrained, this is extremely well handled in 2018. The difference with a more massive Saint-Émilion is certainly subtle — it’s unmistakably on the dark-fruit register — but you notice it in the way the tannins respond and bounce rather than stiffen in the mouth. You can enjoy them as they close in around you rather than beg for air. The palate shows plenty of dark chocolate, liquorice and slate notes, with cassis and blackberry fruit. From south-facing slopes, there’s ample ripeness in the grapes, but the limestone helps to temper it, along with the natural water sources found on this site. Owned by the Famille Gratiot-Attmane, with the Nicolas Thienpont team overseeing winemaking.

Polished aromas of lavender, plum, dried blueberry, clove, sandalwood and dark chocolate. Hints of praline. It’s full-bodied with firm, tightly knit tannins. Supple, seamless layers with great length and precision. Still reserved and tight. A toned and textured red with great structure. Try from 2026.

The 2018 Larcis Ducasse has a charming, pretty bouquet of subtle floral scents of iris and peony as displayed in barrel. This is very well defined with mainly black fruit, though there is more blue fruit as it unfolds with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Interestingly, after an initial flourish, it seems to clam up with aeration and reveals a firm spine that ought to safeguard its longevity. Lovely saline notes come through on the finish, completing a very accomplished Larcis Ducasse that will require 4–5 years in bottle.

With a good depth of color, the wine delivers its blend of roasted cherries, licorice, smoke, flowers, plum liqueur, espresso, kirsch, and black raspberries with zero effort. The wine is dense, full-bodied, and concentrated. Yet with all its weight and richness, everything is in balance. Texturally, all the fruit is drenched in velvet, rocks, and stones. The seamless finish stays with you for at least 50 seconds. The wine blends 89% Merlot with 11% Cabernet Franc.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, violet tints, delicate watery rim. Dark berry fruit with a mineral undertone, a hint of cherries, candied orange zest. Elegant, black-berry fruit, substantial texture, pleasant freshness, fine herbal savoriness on the finish, good ageing potential.

The 2018 Château Larcis Ducasse is composed of 89% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc from a gorgeous hillside terroir on the Côte Pavie, located between Château Pavie and Château Bellefont-Belcier. Aged 18 months in 60% new barrels, it offers a truly sensational bouquet of ripe blackcurrants, espresso roast, scorched earth, bloody meat, chocolate, iron, and bouquet garni. A massive, super-rich Saint-Emilion with a dense, concentrated, layered mouthfeel, it has building yet sweet tannins and incredible purity of fruit. Reminding me of the 2005 shortly after release, this heavenly juice offers astonishing richness and depth while staying flawlessly balanced and elegant. Sadly, there are less than 3,000 cases produced, but this monumental, legendary wine won't hit maturity for a good 8-10 years and will have 40-50 years of longevity if well stored. Hats off to Nicolas Thienpont and consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt for producing one of the wines of the vintage as well as one of the greatest young Bordeaux I've ever tasted.

Kunz barrel sample 19: (89% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 33 hl/ha, 72% Grand Vin) Opulent, delicately jammy, powerful bouquet, cherry compote, strawberry jam, licorice, slate. Velvety, broad, fruity palate with intense, sweet fruit, plenty of fine tannins, muscular structure, dark aromatics, long, slightly dry finish. Can improve further.

(89% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 33 hl/ha, 72% Grand Vin) Opulent, finely jammy, powerful bouquet, cherry compote, strawberry jam, licorice, slate. Velvety, broad, fruity palate with intense, sweet fruit, plenty of fine tannins, a muscular structure, dark aromatics, long, slightly dry finish. Has room to improve. 17/20 2026 - 2042

I would count this as the vintage when the wider world finally sat up and took notice of what has been happening at Larcis Ducasse. It’s poised, controlled, and tightly knit around its blackcurrant and bilberry fruit, yet you feel the energy running through it, along with espresso, liquorice, black tea, and loads of fresh acidity that anchor it to the clay-limestone slopes. Owned by Famille Gratiot-Attmane, with the Nicolas Thienpont team overseeing winemaking. I loved it En Primeur and it has only improved since.

The 2018 Larcis Ducasse has a deep garnet-purple color. It offers notes of stewed blackberries, boysenberry preserves, and redcurrant jelly, with hints of pencil lead, cloves, and camphor. The palate is full-bodied, firm, and fine-grained, with tightly knit fruit and a mineral finish.

Sanguine and warm, the 2018 shows a nose still marked by the generous summer, slightly confit and delicately spiced, with notes of mocha and cocoa. The palate, however, reflects perfectly ripe grapes, poised between the year’s freshness and roundness. The lovely finish melts into the supple texture of the élevage while preserving its aromatic subtlety thanks to the 500‑liter vessels.

Complexity and character on the nose, with notes of aromatic herbs and a wild, slightly maderized edge, as well as stewed fruit and baked plums. On the palate, everything is incredibly well integrated, smooth and structured, with a tasty, mineral and fresh finish, lightly chocolaty. A perfectly controlled wine that has captured the power of its vintage without excess.