| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
This 10 hectare property is situated close to Pavie on the best south-facing slope in Saint Emilion. In 2002, Nicolas Thienpont and Stéphane Derenoncourt of neighbouring Pavie Macquin, took control of both the vineyard and the winemaking and the wines here have become rather concentrated and inky in style. The vineyard is planted with 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc. The 2018 was picked from September 21st to October 4th and the yield was 32 hl/ha. 89% Merlot.
The 2018 Château Larcis Ducasse checks in as 89% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc that comes from a gorgeous hillside terroir on the Côte Pavie, located between Château Pavie and Château Bellefont-Belcier. Aged 18 months in 60% new barrels, it offers a truly sensational bouquet of ripe blackcurrants, espresso roast, scorched earth, bloody meat, chocolate, iron, and bouquet garni. A massive, super-rich Saint-Emilion with a dense, concentrated, layered mouthfeel, it has building yet sweet tannins and incredible purity of fruit. Reminding me of the 2005 shortly after release, this heavenly juice offers astonishing richness and depth while staying flawlessly balanced and elegant. Sadly, there are less than 3,000 cases produced, but this monumental, legendary wine won't hit maturity for a good 8-10 years and will have 40-50 years of longevity if well stored. Hats off to Nicolas Thienpont and consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt for producing one of the wines of the vintage as well as one of the greatest young Bordeaux I've ever tasted.
The 2018 Larcis Ducasse has a charming, pretty bouquet of subtle floral scents of iris and peony as displayed in barrel. This is very well defined with mainly black fruit, though there is more blue fruit as it unfolds with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Interestingly, after an initial flourish, it seems to clam up with aeration and reveals a firm spine that ought to safeguard its longevity. Lovely saline notes come through on the finish, completing a very accomplished Larcis Ducasse that will require 4–5 years in bottle. Drink 2024-2048.
Polished aromas of lavender, plum, dried blueberry, clove, sandalwood and dark chocolate. Hints of praline. It’s full-bodied with firm, tightly knit tannins. Supple, seamless layers with great length and precision. Still reserved and tight. A toned and textured red with great structure. Try from 2026.
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Larcis Ducasse needs a fair bit of swirling to unlock notes of crushed blackberries, plum preserves and boysenberries with suggestions of black truffles, tapenade and crushed rocks coming through, building to a subtle underlying perfume of roses and cloves. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating black fruits and loads of savory sparks, framed by firm, slightly chewy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and earthy. Drink 2024-2050.
Tasted blind. Distinctive sweaty-leathery nose. Round and very mellow on the palate. Sweet and charming – though again quite potent. Saline. Almost exaggerated… 14.5%
Drink 2024 – 2042
Black core with the thinnest of purple rims. Has both cassis and a more wild elderberry aroma. Tannins are really definite but not thick, firm but rounded, and there's freshness to counterbalance the fullness and power. Long, blackcurrant finish.
Drink 2025-2035
Glass-staining and inky in colour, the nose here is extremely sweet, with tarry liquorice and damson jam. The palate follows, dominated by liquorice and baked fruit. The tannins come in a rush and dry out the sweetness of fruit, leaving a rasping finish that feels out of sync with the warming alcohol. This is a very modern and extracted wine, and whilst impressive in concentration, is an acquired taste.
A solid wine, with raspberry and red currant fruit adhering to chalk and iron notes, while ample grip drives underneath. Reveals a mouthwatering tobacco accent at the end.
(89 Merlot, 11 Cabernet Franc) | 45% new oak | 14.5% alc This is a powerful Larcis and the oak influence is quite strong, but the fruit has a lot of depth and perfume and even though there are some vegetal notes it is a sturdy, structured wine.
This is very structured and powerful with bright and electric acidity and fine-grained yet muscular tannins. Full-bodied yet compact and focused. Greatly formed. Flexing. Thoughtful.
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Larcis Ducasse features wonderfully expressive scents of baked black and red plums, kirsch, rose hip tea and cigar box with hints of pencil shavings, baked redcurrants and truffles plus a waft of licorice. Full-bodied and beautifully nuanced on the palate, it has layer upon layer of red and black fruit preserves with beautiful, velvety tannins and loads of freshness, finishing long and perfumed.
Incorporating 11% Cabernet Franc, the Merlot-dominated 2018 Château Larcis Ducasse come from an 11.5-hectare parcel of clay and limestone soils, on the south facing hillside just outside of Saint-Émilion, and there are only 2,400 cases made, which equates to 72% of the total production. This deeply colored beauty offers a thrilling blue fruit quality as well as complex violets, graphite, and a liquid rock-like minerality. It's deep and thrillingly pure, with fine tannins and a beautiful finish. This is an incredible terroir, and the estate has been firing on all cylinders thanks to the talents of Nicolas Thienpont and David Suire. Give bottles 4-5 years (if you can) and it will keep for 30-40 years if you’re so inclined.
