Chateau Larcis Ducasse - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2011

Decanter Magazine

13,75 / 20

the12/31/2014

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

91 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe8/31/2014

Good deep red-ruby.  Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of black cherry, white pepper, violet and minerals.  Concentrated, elegant and deep; really spreads out to coat the palate with redcurrant and sweet spice flavors.  The bright, harmonious acidity provides noteworthy lift, giving this wine an attractive light touch.  It's also nicely pliant for the vintage, showing no hard edges and finishing extremely long, with sophisticated tannins.  A knockout wine.  (91(+?) points)

Wine Advocate

90 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/2/2014

This dense ruby/purple-colored 2011 exhibits a stunning bouquet of black fruits, spring flowers and confiture of cherries, raspberries, spice and earth. Complete from beginning to end, this medium-bodied 2011 does not possesses as much power as the 2005, 2009 or 2010, but it is a highly successful effort for the vintage. Moreover, it can be drunk early on as it is a delicious, complex St.-Emilion that should last 10-15 years. This is a final blend of 78% Merlot, and 22% Cabernet Franc cropped at 21 hectoliters per hectare.

Jamessuckling.com

93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/19/2014

A wine with a beautiful concentration of fruit and depth. Full body with fully integrated tannins and a long, long finish. A touch of decadence. Superb for the vintage. Better in 2017.      

Wine Spectator

91 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/11/2014

This is rather broad-shouldered, with a cloak of roasted vanilla and bittersweet cocoa out front, followed by a solid core of crushed plum and blackberry fruit. A streak of licorice runs through the finish, revealing a buried chalky spine. Rather closed today, with the structure winning out in the end. Best from 2016 through 2026.

La Revue du Vin de France

16-17 / 20

the5/31/2012

L'effet "côté sud" des coteaux de Larcis se ressent immédiatement dans une maturité nettement solaire et confite que seule la côte de Pavie a offerte cette année. La bouche prend plus de recul avec cette sucrosité charmeuse. La matière est dense, un rien rigide, des tanins qui semblent plus anguleux qu'à Pavie mais de qualité, qu'il conviendra d'élever sans lourdeur, ce que sait faire l'équipe Thienpont Derenoncourt qui gère la propriété depuis dix ans.

Le Point

15,5-16 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/17/2012

Fruits noirs, réglisse, tendu, frais, fin, belle matière onctueuse, pas mal d'acidité, tanins serrés, dense, belle matière mais un peu resserrée. O= 2017 G= 15 ans

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

91-93 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe5/12/2012

Inky purple. Sexy black fruity cocktail on the nose, complicated by grapey, smoky and vanillin nuances. Rich, dense and suave with juicy, delineated blackberry and black cherry fruit complicated by minerals and fresh flowers. The smooth finish features spicy chocolate and plum flavors. Though concentrated and rich, this wine maintains a lovely graceful, high-acid quality that provides for maximum definition of its flavors. A beautiful wine and one of my sentimental favorites of the vintage.

Decanter.com

17,5 / 20

the4/30/2012

Opulent but serious with lively, ripe fruit overlaying a firm, long-ageing structure. Great balance between the fruit and limestone terroir. Premier grand cru classé level. Drink 2020-2035.

Wine Advocate

89-93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2012

The wine exhibits a distinctive peppery, slightly herbaceous, exotic nose that initially is difficult to fathom. This rich, medium-bodied 2011 continues with a certain herbaceous streak that runs through the flavors. Nevertheless, there is impressive ripeness, concentration and density, and the tannins are velvety and well-integrated. If the green, peppery character calms down somewhat, my score should climb into the low 90s. However, this is not one of the top Larcis Ducasses made in the last 7-8 years. An original effort, Larcis Ducasse-s 2011 is different from the great vintages that have been produced since 2005. This spectacular terroir on the Cote Pavie encompasses 25 acres with an average vine age of 35 years. Yields were a tiny 21 hectoliters per hectare in 2011, and the final blend was 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc.

TAST

17 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2012

Volume souple mais de belle finesse tannique, soupe de fruits noirs et rouges, allonge dynamique, finale tendre mais longue. A la fois raffiné et énergique.

Wein Wisser

17 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/30/2012

2016-2032

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/27/2012

Intense minerality, coffee, flowers, licorice, plum, barbecue and black cherry create the complex perfume. From a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 14.4% alcohol. Deep in color, the wine ends with opulent layers of sweet black cherry, mineral and black raspberry liqueur flavors. 94-96 Pts

Wine Advocate

90-92 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/27/2012

The Larcis Ducasse has a very opulent bouquet with ravishing red berry fruit and just a touch of reduction. The palate is medium-bodied with a succulent entry. Grippy tannins, a lot of extraction here; this is a “pumped up” Larcis with a weighty, quite dense finish of oaky red fruit. A little chewy on the finish but I admire its purity and panache. Tasted April 2012

Jancis Robinson

16 / 20

byJulia Harding MWthe4/24/2012

Drink 2016-2024
Colour of elderberry juice, black core. Ribena incarnate on the nose. Very sweet blackcurrant, not very French! Ripe and fruit forward but it does finish fresh. In the way that blackcurrant juice does. Rounded, quite dense tannins. Flattering but too sweet for my taste. (JH)

Asian Palate

91-93 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe4/20/2012

This is a very seductive wine given the challenging vintage conditions. The flavours range from violets, blackcurrant, fresh Chinese red dates to sweet spices. Enjoy this very pretty wine with lifted flavours and firm, ripe tannins in the background about 5-8 years from now. Fairly long finish.

Wine Spectator

90-93 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/10/2012

This is lovely, with floral notes at first, which are then followed by pure, precise blueberry, plum and blackberry fruit aromas and flavors. Features a silky texture, fine acidity and a buried mineral hint on the finish. Classy.—J.M.

Wine Enthusiast

87-89 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/6/2012

Concentrated, with bitter fruit and wood characters, this wine feels hard and extracted, with a burnt finish. —R.V.

Jamessuckling.com

91-92 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/1/2012

Blackberries and black truffles on the nose. Complex. Full body, with a lively acidity that turns to orange peel and dark fruits. Minerally and chalky on the palate. Lively finish.