Château Lascombes, 2ème Cru Classé, Margaux, Bordeaux, France, 2018

Viticulture

Château Lascombes farms around 120 hectares in Margaux, with some additional plots in the Haut-Médoc. The vineyard sits on a mosaic of gravelly mounds, clay-gravel soils and clay-limestone patches, giving each plot a distinct character. The average vine age is about forty years, with the 2018 blend composed of roughly 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot — a classic expression of Margaux’s balance between power and finesse.

Winemaking

Harvesting is done by hand, followed by careful sorting and destemming. The must undergoes a cold soak of around ten days at low temperature before fermentation begins. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in both stainless steel and wooden vats, lasting about 30 to 40 days depending on the parcel. Malolactic fermentation happens in barrel, after which the wine spends around four months on its lees. The estate uses an Oxoline system to keep lees in suspension, building richness and complexity.

Tasting Note

Deeply coloured, with a dark ruby-purple core. The nose opens on concentrated black fruits such as blackberry, black cherry and plum, layered with spice, liquorice, cedar and hints of tobacco. On the palate it is full-bodied and powerful, yet the tannins are finely grained and silky, carrying a long and persistent finish. The wine shows plenty of fruit intensity but also a clear imprint of oak, making it a structured, ageworthy Margaux. Best approached from the mid-2020s, it has the potential to evolve beautifully over several decades.

Food Matching

Rib of beef, lamb shoulder slow-roasted with herbs, or even game like venison.