Château Lascombes 2020

Open-knit and direct, with a friendly display of plum and cassis notes carried by a polished structure. Ends with light violet and singed vanilla details. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2034. 26,000 cases made.

Liquorice and cola cubes on the nose. Vibrant and punchy, this is forward and quite bold, with lashings of dark chocolate, slate, cola and clove spice, all very upfront and giving. I love the texture and overall weight. It’s not hugely ripe or chewy, definitely more sleek and suave, with a confidence and cool, mouthwatering acidity full of wet stones and saltiness. Still needs time to come together but refreshing and full of life. Gently muscular, with attractive sculpting.

Aromas of crushed blackcurrants and cherries with dried Provence herbs, lavender, raw walnuts and spiced cedar. Graphite, too. Full and muscular with a broad-shouldered, velvety tannin structure that goes on for minutes. Textured and chalky with a lingering finish. Very polished. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and 5% petit verdot. Try after 2027.

Tasted blind. Very dark. Rich in black fruit. Really fragrant. Seductive yet serious. Dark, savoury, and yet perfumed too. Quite reticent on the palate, with beautifully smooth tannins. (JH)

The 2020 Lascombes is a deep, sensual wine. Blackberry fruit, lavender, espresso and chocolate are all amplified in this exotic Margaux. Plush and racy, with soft tannins, Lascombes shows off the more opulent side of the appellation. The 2020 is not super-complex, but it is easy to appreciate and drink.

Still quite oaky at the moment, so it takes a little effort to find its floral, spice and dark cherry essence. Round in texture with a lush, opulent, albeit oaky finish; perhaps with time, the wood will become better integrated. Drink from 2025–2045.

Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, deep core, delicate rim brightening. Fine, inviting wild berries, ripe cherries, delicate savoury nuances, a hint of vanilla. Juicy, good complexity and freshness, sweet texture, ripe, supporting tannins, a touch of toasty flavors, mineral and long lasting, certain ageing potential. (2028-2050).

Dark, fruity and intense, with roasted coffee bean and meaty notes, balanced oak and a wealth of crushed dark berries. An ample and rich palate, layered in a modern and supple style with fine balance. Long and powerful finish.

Tasted on multiple occasions, the 2020 Château Lascombes is clearly another brilliant wine from this château that readers will love. Sporting a deep purple hue as well as a classic bouquet of cassis, dried flowers, freshly sharpened pencils, and obvious minerality, it hits the palate with medium- to full-bodied richness, has a layered, elegant mouthfeel, lots of building tannins, and a great finish. It's going to need at least 4–6 years but is some serious Margaux brilliance with 30 years of longevity.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: finely creamy, dense, fresh bouquet, blueberries, strawberries, delicate mocha cream, nougat. Velvety, full, dense palate with powerful fruit, fine tannins, fresh, intense aromatics, tight structure, long, full finish.

Finely creamy, dense, fresh bouquet with blueberries, strawberries, delicate mocha cream, nougat. Velvety, full and concentrated palate with powerful fruit, fine tannins, fresh, intense aromatics, dense structure, long, generous finish. 18/20 2025 - 2040

A little more closed down at this point than the 2019, a vintage to put aside and forget about for a good four or five years. There are hints of what will happen when it opens though, as you'll find ripples here of cassis, blueberry and bilberry fruits, with liquorice and cloves, delicious curls of woodsmoke and smoked earth. 60% new oak, 40 hl/ha yield, harvest September 10 to October 2, 120 ha, 35 days maceration. Delphine Barboux technical director, Julien Viaud consultant.

The 2020 Lascombes is deep garnet-purple in color. It has a powerful nose of baked plums, boysenberry preserves, and crème de cassis, with hints of iron ore, black olives, and Indian spices. Medium-bodied, the palate is generously fruited, with plush tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and spicy.

89-90

The wine shows its usual flamboyance, with a full, ripe texture, yet without any jamminess. Lovely black-fruit notes, with a finish of generous but silky tannins. A Lascombes with excellent potential, very seductive.

An eloquent, catchy, seductive nose with aromas of crunchy red fruits mingling with a bouquet of opulent flowers and freshly ground coffee beans, then milk chocolate; on the palate, a roundness of juicy black fruit and lovely balance… A wine of pure pleasure, for hedonists and bon vivants.

The hallmark charm we know from Château Lascombes is, of course, very much in favor in 2020! The bouquet is highly inviting with notes of coffee and chocolate, complemented by nuances of iris, grenadine, and raspberry. Suave right from the attack, Lascombes is well supported by finely grained tannins. An inviting, seductive, yet convincing wine. A charmer that fully owns it!

95–97. Barrel Sample. Powerful tannins add to this wine's structure and to its potential rich fruitiness. Ripe black currants and the dryness of the texture are going to work together into a harmonious wine, needing time.