Larcis Ducasse - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2017

The Wine Independent

95

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe9/28/2022

A blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Larcis Ducasse is medium to deep garnet colored. It soars from the glass with fragrant notes of rose oil, Morello cherries, redcurrant preserves, and raspberry leaves, followed by suggestions of Ceylon tea, fallen leaves, cardamom, and lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate is soft, graceful, and caressing, delivering just enough freshness to the perfumed red fruits, finishing with a soft-spoken intensity.

Wine Advocate

95

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/17/2020

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Larcis Ducasse (a blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc) has a very enticing nose of kirsch, warm blackberries, baked plums and wild blueberries with hints of pencil lead, tar, tilled soil and forest floor. Medium-bodied, the palate is tightly knit with great poise and subtlety, offering bright, energetic fruit and loads of minerally sparks, finishing with great length. Drinking Window : 2021 - 2039

Vinous

96

byAntonio Gallonithe3/11/2020

The 2017 Larcis Ducasse is just as compelling from bottle as it was from barrel. Pliant and deep, with terrific fruit purity, Larcis possesses striking fruit purity and tons of resonance. Red cherry, blood orange, pomegranate, mint, spice, licorice and mocha infuse the 2017 with striking complexity as well as nuance. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this gem. Larcis is never one of the most obvious wines in Saint-Émilion, but it is often among the most regal. Best of all, Larcis remains one of the best values anywhere in the world.

Wine Spectator

93

byJames Molesworththe2/7/2020

Refined and focused, with a core of gently mulled plum and dark cherry fruit flavors, laced with rooibos tea, incense and red licorice notes. Shows a light bramble hint through the finish. Stylish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2035. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 3,000 cases made. — JM

Jamessuckling.com

96

byJames Sucklingthe1/13/2020

This is a wine that is showing lots of structure with tightly wound tannins that spin through the center palate. Full-bodied, intense and beautiful. Pure and real. Drink after 2025.

Le Point

16,5-17

byJacques Dupontthe6/20/2018

Fruits noirs, profond, nez de truffe, bouche élégante, fraîche, délicat, bonne longueur, très fin.

Jeb DUNNUCK

92-95

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/12/2018

Blueberries, blackberries, violets, licorice and ample crushed rock notes all emerge from this medium-bodied, tight, firm 2017 Larcis Ducasse, which comes from a magical terroir not far from Pavie. It doesn't have the density or depth of the 2015 or 2012, yet has beautiful purity of fruit, ripe tannins, and considerable elegance and purity. I suspect it will put on weight with time in barrel and evolve similarly to the 2008. The 2017 is 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc harvested from the 18th of September to the 2nd of October. 3,000 cases produced.

Vinifera

94-96

byJacques Perrinthe5/28/2018

Fruit mûr et sensation de chair au nez, sur la cerise noire juteuse. Très belle bouche charnue et pleine, emmenée par un fruit justement mûr, le vin ne manque pas de centre. C’est ample, long, grand !

Vinous

92-95

byAntonio Gallonithe5/15/2018

The 2017 Larcis Ducasse is a rich, sensual wine, with softer contours and more plushness than is typically the case, part of which is attributable to the vintage and part of which is the result of gentler winemaking. Dark red cherry and plum fruit is nicely pushed forward in this succulent, racy Saint-Émilion. Mocha, licorice and menthol wrap around the juicy, pliant finish. The 2017 is an especially succulent, racy Larcis. It has been consistently brilliant on the four occasions I have tasted it so far.

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95

byJeff Levethe5/11/2018

Flowers, crushed rocks and ripe, deep red fruits are found in abundance here. With silky textures, sweet maroon berries, earth, licorice and salty tannins, the wine offers concentration of flavor with cut and definition. The mineral character is profound in this vintage, therefore give it at least a decade to develop before popping a cork. The wine was made from blending 92% Merlot with 8% Cabernet Franc, reaching 14% alcohol. The harvest took place September 18 to October 2.

Vinous

91-93

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2018

The 2017 Larcis-Ducasse was cropped at 34hl/ha from 18 to 29 September for the Merlot and 29 September to 2 October for the Cabernet Franc. It has a very high-toned, iodine-tinged bouquet that just lacks the usual harmony, and certainly the cohesion that I discerned apropos the 2015 and 2016 vintages at this early stage. The palate is underpinned by fine tannin and here demonstrates much more harmony than the aromatics. The black fruit is flecked by black pepper and subtle fennel notes, the tannins are quite fine and the finish is much more linear and stricter than recent vintages. It is a more classically styled Larcis-Ducasse this year but it should age well. I expect it will land towards the upper end of my banded score.