2022 Château Lascombes

The 2022 Lascombes is a dark, potent Margaux. Succulent dark cherry, plum, new leather, licorice, incense and chocolate are all amplified nicely in the glass. Relatively soft contours wrap it all together. The 2022 shows a move in the direction of more energy, even in this freakishly hot, dry year. There are still some signs of the highly extracted style favored here prior to Gaylon Lawrence's acquisition of the château. Overall, though, the 2022 is impressive in that it signals a greater focus on quality through much stricter selection of what goes into the Grand Vin. Historically, Lascombes was two-thirds Grand Vin and one-third second wine, a proportion the new team has essentially inverted. Those achievements are made all the notable given that the new team arrived with the base wines essentially all vinified. This next chapter for Lascombes is going to be very interesting.

- Antonio Galloni (01/2025)

This is a full-bodied Bordeaux with lots of velvety tannins and intensity. It’s a bit old-school now with so much fruit and texture, but it’s impressive, to say the least. Plenty of blackcurrant and blueberry character. Shows the richness of the vintage. Best after 2030. (01/2025)

Based on 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Château Lascombes pulls from 40% of the total production and was aged 18 months mostly in barrels (60% new) with a small portion in foudre. This inky hued beauty boasts a rich, concentrated, full-bodied, well-oaked style as well as pure cassis and darker berry fruits, some graphite, scorched earth, and licorice nuances, terrific overall balance, and a great finish. This more modern styled, pure, seamless beauty will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and keep for 30 years. (02/2025)