Lascombes La Cote 2023

The 2023 La Côte Lascombes, 100% Merlot, is quite the powerhouse. Dark, ample and explosive, the 2023 offers notable density and the intensity to match. Black fruit, lavender, bittersweet chocolate, grilled herbs and cloves stain the palate. La Côte is an intriguing expression of pure Merlot on the Left Bank. Stylistically, though, it is oddly closer to the past style of more extracted wines here, largely because the oak imprint remains quite strong. This is just the second vintage for La Côte, which is a work in progress at this stage. (Drink between 2030-2053)