Château Lascombes
Château Lascombes 2012
Combining power and elegance and an unctuous and tannin-rich texture, Château Lascombes is a complex wine. In its youth, it always has an amazingly deep colour. On the palate, finesse and a rich texture combine with very stylish fine-grained tannins.
Gradually over the years, Château Lascombes should be enjoyed again and again so as to fully appreciate its complexity of flavour and to see how its structure has developed a more and more suave mouth-feel.
Gradually over the years, Château Lascombes should be enjoyed again and again so as to fully appreciate its complexity of flavour and to see how its structure has developed a more and more suave mouth-feel.
Presentation
Presentation
Château Lascombes, is a second growth classified of Medoc in 1855. On the Margaux Appellation this wine is made with mostly merlot by too great wine makers : Dominique Befve, General Manager of the winery and Michel Rolland, internationaly known wine maker.
The vintage
As technicians, we will not forfet this vintage 2012 because it took us to show composure and patience. Indeed, the whole growing season was complicated, because of a sometines cold weather, sometimes wet, sometimes dry. 2012 was announced heterogeneous and not really uninteresting. Yet September has allowed a good maturity, even if in early October, we had to hurry to pick, we harvested with good maturity and the result is very satisfactory. The optical sorting helped us considerably. The Merlots were superb, which has favored us in Lascombes since they dominate our vines. The Cabernet Sauvignons were more classic but with a beautiful concentration. Château Lascombes 2012 presents a nice bouquet of red and black fruits and a very good balance. The tannins are fine and velvety structure. It is only waiting to refine in barrels.
Location
The Château Lascombes vineyard stretches over 112 hectares within the Margaux appellation. This is nowadays one of the vastest growth classified in 1855.
Terroir
The parcels making up the property display an interesting geological variety consisting of three main categories : argillaceous limestone and argillaceous gravel suitable for growing Merlot, argillaceous gravel and gravel for Cabernet Sauvignon and gravel for Petit Verdot.
In the vineyard
Elimination of lateral vine shoots
First de-leafing (on the east-facing side) : June/July
Bunch thinning : end of July
Second de-leafing (on the west-facing side) : end of August
Grapes are entirely hand picked in ten-kilo crates
First de-leafing (on the east-facing side) : June/July
Bunch thinning : end of July
Second de-leafing (on the west-facing side) : end of August
Grapes are entirely hand picked in ten-kilo crates
Winemaking
Sorting before and after de-stemming
Light crushing of the grapes before going into vats
Cold maceration for around 10 days at 8°C
Alcoholic fermentation October 14-November 12
Traditional vinification with a gentle pumping over every day
Long vatting time : 30 – 35 days
Running off : November 04 – November 26
Malolactic fermentation in barrels : – November 02 – December 10, 2012.
Light crushing of the grapes before going into vats
Cold maceration for around 10 days at 8°C
Alcoholic fermentation October 14-November 12
Traditional vinification with a gentle pumping over every day
Long vatting time : 30 – 35 days
Running off : November 04 – November 26
Malolactic fermentation in barrels : – November 02 – December 10, 2012.
Ageing
Stirring of the lees for four months with the Oxoline rack system
1st racking: In April.
Traditional ageing in 80% new oak barrels
1st racking: In April.
Traditional ageing in 80% new oak barrels
Varietals
Merlot : 48%
Cabernet sauvignon : 48%
Petit verdot : 4%
Cabernet sauvignon : 48%
Petit verdot : 4%
Advice
Serving
The Château Lascombes should be served between 17 and 18°C.
In its first years, it can be aerated one hour before serving in order to free all its aromas.
In its first years, it can be aerated one hour before serving in order to free all its aromas.
Tasting
Château Lascombes 2012 displays a lovely deep purple hue.
It has a pretty bouquet of well-ripened red berry and black fruits mingling with subtle toasty notes, such as toasted bread and roasted coffee beans.
After a fresh entry on the palate, the structure of the wine comes through as both full-bodied and elegant. The balance between alcohol, acidity and concentration is harmonious. The mid-palate is fleshy, velvety, and the tannins are fine and already coated. This vintage is absorbing amazingly well an 80% proportion of new barrels, the oak of which complements delicately the black fruit flavours in the wine. The finish is long and promises great ageing potential.
Château Lascombes 2012 is one of those beautifully made vintages which can be enjoyed sooner and at the same time help you wait for the great vintages to mature!
It has a pretty bouquet of well-ripened red berry and black fruits mingling with subtle toasty notes, such as toasted bread and roasted coffee beans.
After a fresh entry on the palate, the structure of the wine comes through as both full-bodied and elegant. The balance between alcohol, acidity and concentration is harmonious. The mid-palate is fleshy, velvety, and the tannins are fine and already coated. This vintage is absorbing amazingly well an 80% proportion of new barrels, the oak of which complements delicately the black fruit flavours in the wine. The finish is long and promises great ageing potential.
Château Lascombes 2012 is one of those beautifully made vintages which can be enjoyed sooner and at the same time help you wait for the great vintages to mature!
Food pairings
The power and elegance of this great wine calls tasty and savoury meat dishes : game, beef, grilled lamb, roasted or with sauce.
The Château Lascombes also can be tasted at the end of meals with certain cheeses like : Saint Nectaire, Brie de Meaux or Langres.
The Château Lascombes also can be tasted at the end of meals with certain cheeses like : Saint Nectaire, Brie de Meaux or Langres.
Reviews
"Lovely burnished, dark, brambly fruit notes are joined by some oak finessing in a well balanced, integrated style. It's good quality, more fruit-forward at this stage than in many vintages, with a sweep of gourmet fruit, liquorice and grilled almonds. Enjoyable and true to itself, reflecting the Lascombes signature. Drinking 2021 2040"
Decanter - 2018
"Refined yet still muted on the nose. Notes of ripe black fruits and smoke after swirling. Supple palate with melted tannins. Aromatic balance. Velvety and charming.
"
Gilbert & Gaillard - 2013
