2014 Château Lascombes
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Tasting notes
The 2014 Lascombes has a very fruit-driven, slightly overripe nose with mulberry, leather and truffle scents. Maybe picked a bit too late? The palate is medium-bodied with dryish tannins. It's a tad scrawny with a soupy finish that doesn't tempt you back. This is a very underwhelming showing. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.
Critic scores
Tim Atkin MW
Decanter
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Mid to deep garnet. Restrained on the nose. Dark fruited with air. Rather sober, more Pauillac than Margaux, but the tannins are very fine and it’s harmonious. Dry, fine tannin texture. Needs more time. (JH)
A vintage that was not as successful in Margaux as in the nothern Médoc, in that they had more rain during harvest, but although this is austere, you'll find plenty of dark fruit flavours, cassis bud, earth and pureed blackberry. Subtle grilled cedar notes, but even as it approaches 10 years old, the tannins remain a little inflexible, giving an abrupt finish that takes away from the finessed typicity of the appellation. 39hl/h yield, 120ha. 90% new oak, harvest September 22 to October 17. Maceration 35 days, malo in barrel. Lascombes was under new ownership again at this point, with Colony Capital selling to MACSF in 2011, still with Dominique Befvre in place as director.
50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot . Tasted blind. Good balance and accessible. Very straightforward and honest. Relatively fresh. (JR)
About the producer
With vines spread across 40 different parcels throughout the appellation, Ch. Lascombes is one of the most fragmented but also largest Médoc estates, with 120 hectares of vines, now owned by the MACSF insurance company.