Today we share the beautiful wines of Chateau Lascombes which is a property with a whopping 120 hectares (296 acres) planted in the Margaux appellation, as well as 10 hectares (24 acres) in the Haut-Médoc appellation. It is one of the largest vineyards among the classified growths of 1855. Set near the center of Margaux, vines are set on a range of soil types, as the vineyard has three separate blocks of roughly the same surface area: a gravelly outcrop planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, a block of clay-gravel made up of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, and finally clay-limestone plots, where Merlot is planted. As these wines have a softer expression for the region, it is no surprise that Merlot makes up roughly 50% of vines planted which is highly unique to the appellation.
Sitting down with head winemaker Axel Heinz we chatted about the current vintage. Harvest is extremely condensed in this warm 2026 vintage in Bordeaux. Heinz noted “The current vintage is one of the ripest and warmest. In the 20th and 21st century this was the earliest harvest.” We chatted about other warm vintages, including 2009 which Heinz noted “was nowhere near as hot and as early as 2026. It is quite interesting to see a conference about Cabernet Sauvignon and the perspective of climate change. We had to pick examples of warm and cooler vintage and I picked 2009 as an example of a warm vintage. I looked at the weather charts and picking dates and that was almost by today’s standards as a late ripening style.”
In terms of a varietal shining this year Heinz finds that it “might be Cabernet Sauvignon if it is at an early stage. That is the variety that we feel has done most well. This is a vintage all about vineyard site. Certain types of soils and terroirs that have fared better than others.”
I tasted the 2023 wines with Heinz and was so impressed with the overall quality. He mentioned “2023 was an interesting vintage and it is in the bottle now. It was slightly overlooked when it was first reviewed. For various reasons and we know that when we have a brilliant vintage the following vintage gets overlooked. This certainly happened because of the halo that 2022 had and it was easy to overlook 2023. And perhaps because we are entering a cycle of more difficult times in Bordeaux and the wines in general and therefore there was a bit less immediate enthusiasm of the vintage. They are quite different than the 2022s and although it is not a vintage that you would look at the vintage as classically Bordeaux in style. Although in some parts of the growing season it also was a fairly warm vintage but the wines have a sense of balance and restraint and symmetry.” 2023 is reminding me of 2017 in terms of being sandwiched between two excellent years. I like the balance that ‘17s bring and that is now showing up in the glass.
Heinz has been on board now for more than a year and impacting the Lascombes program utilizing a lower percentage of new French oak. He stated “We have a different approach to the Grand Vin and designed for longer aging” he said. “We make our second wine that has a bit more readability in its youth.”
Lascombes is owned by The Lawrence Family, owners of Napa Valley’s iconic Heitz Cellar and Managing Partner and Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy, Jr.. The wines from 2023 show really nice cellaring potential and a great push/pull between fruit character and non-fruit essence. The gorgeous 2023 Chateau Lascombes (OB, 95) is all about balance right now, as the black fruit flavors are slowly stepping into the fray. Compared to the ’22 it is quite more restrained and classic, with less pure dark fruits and better herbal undertones. This perfumed beauty has at least fifteen to twenty years in front of it. Learn more about this famed house at https://www.chateau-lascombes.com and here is my review of the beautiful 2023 releases by Chateau Lascombes.
2023 Chateau Lascombes ‘Chevalier de Lascombes’ Red Wine- The ‘Chevalier de Lascombes’ is primarily Merlot (70%) and 27% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remainder Petit Verdot. This wine comes from vines from gravely soils around the historical heart of the estate. The wine is beautifully perfumed with red rose petals and potpourri alongside red currants and shades of fresh sage. The palate is fleshy and fresh with terrific structure and depth. Gorgeous now, watch this evolve over the next decade. Drink 2026-2036- 93
2023 Chateau Lascombes ‘La Cote Lascombes’ Red Wine- This is a new wine to Chateau Lascombes, as the ‘La Cote Lascombes’ is all Merlot coming from clay and limestone soils at the estate vineyards. It stands inky in the glass, showing off gorgeous black florals that combine with green herbs, crushed wet rock and shades of black licorice. The palate is powerful and concentrated with amazing depth and purity of dark fruits with amazing freshness and clay soils character. Beautifully-textured, enjoy this stunning wine now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2026-2046- 95
2023 Chateau Lascombes- The 2023 Lascombes is a stellar effort in this slightly cooler vintage. The wine comes from the more historic vineyard holdings at the estate set on nearly all gravel soils. This combines 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 37% Merlot, with the remainder Petit Verdot. The gorgeous aromatics of black rose, anise, cassis and shades of dark chocolate shavings with a graphite edge. The palate has amazing stony soil character and mouth-watering acidity with refined tannins. Gorgeous now with a long decant, with a brilliant herbal edge, enjoy over the next fifteen to twenty years. Be sure to give this several hours in the decanter if enjoying now. Drink 2026-2046- 95