1988 Larcis Ducasse
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Tasting notes
The 1988 Larcis Ducasse has a strange bouquet with strong wood varnish aromas (it actually reminded me of my dad when he was painting his boat!) That ebbs a little with time but it still seems volatile. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, hard in texture with a rather tough leathery finish that suggests it will not repay further cellaring. Drink up. Tasted at the Larcis Ducasse vertical in Bordeaux.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The best of these wines from the trio of 1988, 1989 and 1990 vintages, the 1988 Larcis Ducasse is a rustic wine, but it has also aged relatively well for the standards of the time. Expressive and floral notes give the wine its aromatic lift and perfume. Tasted next to the 1990 and 1989, the 1988 is a bit more delicate and also fresher, with more refinement in its tannins than either of those wines and the mid-weight structure that was typical of the wines of this period. The 1998 will drink well for at least a few more years, but not more.
Larcis-Ducasse made an excellent wine in 1988 - full-bodied, rich, with impressive ripeness and length, and at least 20 years of potential evolution. This is an admirable, old-style wine that will appeal to those who have patience. Anticipated maturity: 1996-2010.
About the producer
Over the last two decades, Nicolas Thienpont and David Suire have forged this estate’s reputation – crafting increasingly impressive wines from its 11 hectares of south-facing slopes on clay-limestone soils.