Chateau Lascombes Margaux 2010

96 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

The wine hits all cylinders in 2010. The average alcohol for the bottled wine is 14%. It has a gorgeously sweet nose of creme de cassis, spring flowers, subtle barbecue smoke and charcoal followed by full body, beautiful intensity, great purity, stature and length. The influence of any oak is minimal, despite the fact that 90% new French oak was used. Needless to say, this is an example of modern-styled winemaking at its finest, and arguments that such wines will not age well, do not represent their terroir , and are soul-less, are totally groundless. Give it five or so years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25-30 years. This is one of the great Margaux wines of the vintage. Probably the greatest Lascombes made to date, the 2010 is a blend of nearly 55% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest Petit Verdot.

96 Points, Decanter

A powerful, textured wine, reminds you exactly of why we describe 2010 as an architectural vintage, and it would be churlish to say that this lacks some Margaux typicity – it is quite clearly a brilliant wine that has decades ahead of it. Creme de cassis, blackberry, creme caramel, smoked campfire, grilled turmeric, pomegranate and orange peel, exuberant but staying within the lines. I often prefer the 2009 to 2010 in many estates right now, but for me this one stands out above the 2009 for having the fruit and the heft through the mid palate to really balance out the alcohol. Great stuff, and almost certain that this will taste even better after being open 24 hours. 36hl/h yield, 90% new oak; harvest September 30 to October 20. Maceration extended to 35 days at this point, still with malo in barrel. Dominique Befve director, Alain Raynaud and Michel Rolland consultant winemakers.