Lascombes - Margaux 2022

Alexandre Ma

92

byAlexandre Mathe3/10/2025

In a blind tasting, I would never associate this wine with Château Lascombes. The familiar notes of mocha, hazelnut, and toasted nuances give way to vibrant cherry juice and soft strawberry gummies. Though the finish delivers notable strength, it maintains a harmonious balance. The tannin structure is undeniably powerful, yet it subtly reflects Château Lascombes’ aspiration for elegance, hinting at an exciting new chapter in the future.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

94

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

Lascombes is a vintage over the past few decades that has shown the heat in the hottest vintages, but while this is exuberant, it is well balanced with cassis, damson, cocoa bean, fennel, liquorice bud, peony and crushed rocks. Has clearly improved over ageing, which is rare in 2022. One to watch, especially with the changes that they have in mind. Good stuff. Lawrence Wine Estates owners, with Axel Heinz director, who did the blend for this vintage, but was not at the estate during the growing season.

The Wine Cellar Insider

93

byJeff Levethe3/4/2025

Lascombes, Château

Jeb DUNNUCK

96

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

Based on 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Château Lascombes pulls from 40% of the total production and was aged 18 months mostly in barrels (60% new) with a small portion in foudre. This inky hued beauty boasts a rich, concentrated, full-bodied, well-oaked style as well as pure cassis and darker berry fruits, some graphite, scorched earth, and licorice nuances, terrific overall balance, and a great finish. This more modern styled, pure, seamless beauty will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and keep for 30 years.

Yvesbeck.wine

94

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot Le bouquet de Lascombes annonce un vin dont le focus dédié au charme est complété par la fraîcheur. Ainsi, outre des notes de fèves de cacao, il révèle des nuances florales et fruitées. De bonne densité, le vin est porté par des tannins compacts, élégants qui vont de pair avec la fraîcheur de la tension. Ainsi, Lascombes a du pep, de la rondeur et, surtout, de l'harmonie. Le virage vers la clarté et évident. L'on ne peut évidemment pas tout révolutionner d'un coup, mais les résultats affichés aujourd'hui sont très réjouissants. Un vin qui n'a pas encore entièrement terminé sa mise en place. Si besoin est, je reverrai ma note à la hausse ultérieurement. Indépendamment de cela, je me réjouis de la tournure des évènements. 2027-2040 94/100

Vinous

90

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 Lascombes was difficult to pin down in barrel. Now in bottle, it seems to have settled down a little, although I find a little warmth commingling with the black cherry, iodine and cassis aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a bold, ripe entry and peppery finish. This is a powerful Margaux, leaning more toward the exotic side than its peers. It's not bad, though my preference lies with the ensuing vintage.

Jamessuckling.com

94

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

This is a full-bodied Bordeaux with lots of velvety tannins and intensity. It’s a bit old-school now with so much fruit and texture, but it’s impressive, to say the least. Plenty of blackcurrant and blueberry character. Shows the richness of the vintage. Best after 2030.

Vinous

92

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 Lascombes is a dark, potent Margaux. Succulent dark cherry, plum, new leather, licorice, incense and chocolate are all amplified nicely in the glass. Relatively soft contours wrap it all together. The 2022 shows a move in the direction of more energy, even in this freakishly hot, dry year. There are still some signs of the highly extracted style favored here prior to Gaylon Lawrence's acquisition of the château. Overall, though, the 2022 is impressive in that it signals a greater focus on quality through much stricter selection of what goes into the Grand Vin. Historically, Lascombes was two-thirds Grand Vin and one-third second wine, a proportion the new team has essentially inverted. Those achievements are made all the notable given that the new team arrived with the base wines essentially all vinified. This next chapter for Lascombes is going to be very interesting.

Decanter.com

93

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Perfumed and aromatic on the nose. Rich and concentrated on the palate, juicy but also there's a richness and power that focuses the black cherry and blackcurrant fruit and acidity and makes it quite serious. Tannins are grippy giving plenty of texture and structure, but this lacks a little energy and finesse. It's certainly stylish though with liquorice, dark chocolate, wet stone and tobacco notes. Tasted twice. The estate has new owners as of November 2022 with the acquisition by Lawrence Wine Estates, (also owners of Napa wineries: Heitz Cellar, Burgess Cellars and Stony Hill). The group was established by the Lawrence family, led by US entrepreneur Gaylon Lawrence, alongside managing partner and Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy Jr MS. 2022 is the last vintage by winemaker Dominique Befve with ex-Ornellaia winemaker Axel Heinz taking over as of the 2023 vintage. Harvest 7-27 September. Yield of 36hl/ha. Ageing in French oak, 60% new.

Alexandre Ma

92-94

byAlexandre Mathe5/17/2023

If I were to blind-taste the 2022 vintage of Château Lascombes, I would never have guessed its origin. The familiar aromas of mocha, hazelnut, and other baked goods have given way to the light and refreshing essence of cherry juice and strawberry candy. The tannin structure remains solid and full-bodied, yet the wine's texture is increasingly supple and smooth. This exquisite wine fills me with great anticipation for the future of Château Lascombes, with hopes that its transformation will please more people and radiate new vitality.

The Vintage Journal

94-95

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2023

Medium deep crimson. Classical blackcurrant cedar aromas with touch leafy, tobacco notes. Elemental with pure cassis, dark cherry mulberry fruits, fine grainy firm tannins, some bittersweet notes and well integrated savoury complexity. Finishes firm and minerally. (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot Around 70% new oak). 94-95+

matthewjukes.com

17,5

byMatthew Jukesthe5/15/2023

The Wine Independent

92-94

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/15/2023

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2022 Lascombes explodes with powerful notes of creme de cassis, fruitcake, and baked plums, giving way to suggestions of unsmoked cigars and dried herbs. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and impactful, with velvety tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and spicy.

Yvesbeck.wine

92-94

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

Le bouquet de Lascombes se révèle avec une agréable fraîcheur ainsi que d'invitantes nuances de réglisse, d'eucalyptus, ce cassis et de pralinés. Le vin a du corps et une agréable sucrosité qu'il affiche dès l'attaque. Les tannins, légèrement crémeux, offrent une belle assise à l'ensemble du palais. Ils ne sont pas encore entièrement intégrés, mais ils ont de la substance et sont en phase avec la structure qui assure de la fraîcheur et du fruit en fin de bouche. L'ensemble doit se caler, mais les perspectives sont prometteuses.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

The 2022 Château Lascombes is a ripe, powerful wine that holds onto a terrific sense of purity and freshness. Black fruits, smoky oak, lead pencil, and tobacco all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a layered, elegant mouthfeel, ripe, building tannins, and a great finish. A killer bottle of wine, it’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring. Tasted twice.

Vinous

90-92

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 Lascombes is a bold, sumptuous wine. Inky dark fruit, cloves, chocolate and copious French oak fill out the layers. Soft contours wrap it all together. As always, Lascombes is done in a flamboyant style. It will be interesting to see the direction new Estate Manager Axel Heinz takes when he assumes his post this summer. Tasted two times. Drinking window : 2027-2042

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-94

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Deep in color, the wine is lush, concentrated, polished, full-bodied, and packed with toasty oak, black currants, blackberries, black cherries, espresso and cocoa. This is incredibly creamy, but it is also quite oaky, so it is not for the oak averse. If you let it age it a bit, the oak could become better integrated into the wine. Drink from 2027-2050.

Wine Advocate

86-89

byYohan Castaingthe4/28/2023

Aromas of oak, spices, overripe berries, graphite and pencil shavings stand out in this modern-styled, rather demonstrative 2022 Lascombes. Medium to full-bodied, chunky and over-extracted, the wine has a dense, rich, mouthfeel but a rather firm finish with prominent new-oak flavors.

Jamessuckling.com

93-94

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

A more refined and focused Lascombes with blackcurrant, graphite, stone and blueberry character. Medium body. Polished finish. Needs a little more at the finish to be in the big leagues.