2018 Château Lascombes

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. (01/2021)

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. (03/2021)

The 2018 Lascombes has a deep garnet purple color. The nose is a little evolved and leathery, delivering notes of prunes and crème de cassis, plus smoked meats, cedar, and a medicinal waft. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is firm and chewy, with a rustic finish. (02/2023)

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. 29,000 cases made.

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.