Lascombes - Margaux 2023

Vinous

93

byNeal Martinthe2/1/2026

The 2023 Lascombes, which was bottled June 2025, was raised in barrels, foudres and, for the first time, amphora. This has a delightful bouquet that is very different from the wines that precede Axel Heinz's arrival. Nicely detailed, fresh and floral (peony and violet), it unfolds gracefully in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with sapid red fruit, finely detailed tannins, admirable symmetry with quite a minerally finish. This is a classy Lascombes that continues its move away from the more bombastic style of the previous decade.

Jamessuckling.com

95

byJames Sucklingthe1/27/2026

Blackberries, orange blossoms, black currants and a hint of chocolate on the nose and palate. It's medium- to full-bodied with round and lightly chewy tannins and a long and focused finish with hints of spices and cedar. Chiseled. Needs time to soften. Best after 2028.

My Bettane + Desseauve

95

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/15/2024

Plein, harmonieux, tannin assez suave mais avec un beau retour de notes de cèdre et d’épices douces. Vin de charme avec le corps nécessaire pour aller loin dans la vie.

Yvesbeck.wine

90-91

byYves Beckthe5/14/2024

Das Bouquet ist elegant, präzise mit einem offensichtlichen Streben nach Subtilität. Der Wein ist leicht cremig im Auftakt, wirkt erfrischend und kann auf die Unterstützung seiner bestens eingebundenen Tannine zählen. Letztere werden von der Säure belgeitet, die für Temperament sorgt, während eine feine herbe Note den Abgang unterstützt bzw. Das Finale streckt.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/13/2024

The 2023 Château Lascombes is terrific, and this brilliant Margaux is well worth seeking out. Ripe red and black fruits, lead pencil shavings, and tobacco all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a pure, seamless, graceful texture, beautiful tannins, and a great, great finish. It should benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age (although I suspect it will offer plenty of charm in its youth) and evolve gracefully for two decades.

The Wine Independent

93-95

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/7/2024

The 2023 Lascombes is deep garnet-purple in color. Scents of freshly crushed blackberries, cassis, and black raspberries leap from the glass, leading to touches of menthol, dark chocolate, licorice, and violets in the background. The medium-bodied palate delivers impressive intensity, with vibrant black and red berry layers and a fine-grained texture lifted by a racy backbone, finishing long and minerally. This represents a real change in style to a classic beauty! The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot.

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95

byJeff Levethe5/6/2024

The first vintage with the new owners, with Axel Heinz calling the shots, comes through nicely with its nose of flowers, incense, spice, and black, with red, and blue fruits. On the palate, the wine is soft, supple, subtle, and fresh, There is energy here, as well as a relaxed, silky feeling on the palate. The freshness in the finish is capped with by mint leaves, spice, and vibrant, currants with cocoa on the backend. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and an even mix of Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. 13.5% ABV. This is an updated style for the chateau. Loads of big changes here starting with the amount of wine placed into the Grand Vin slashed by more than 30%. The aging program is 50% new French oak, with a lighter toast, used barrels, and foudres. Drink from 2028-2055. 93-95 Pts.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

94

byJane Ansonthe5/6/2024

All eyes on this estate for its first full vintage with Axel Heinz. It's clear that the build and construction is more serious than in the past, but most impressive is the juicy pleasure to be found in the layers of inky, nuanced, textured fruits, with sculpted tannins and well-judged grilled cedar oak. Inky, savoury, black fruits, savoury and lifted. Tasted twice, thoroughly enjoyable both times.

Vinous

92-95

byAntonio Gallonithe4/30/2024

The 2023 Lascombes marks a new direction for the Chateau. Dark and virile, with real intensity, the 2023 marries richness and energy. Black cherry, lavender, spice, menthol and licorice emerge from the glass. This fleshes out beautifully on the finish, showing terrific breadth and nuance. The 2023 is, without question, the most elegant, finessed Lascombes made in many years. That won't surprise readers familiar with wines here that were often monolithic and one-dimensional. The 2023 will be a fascinating wine to follow. This is also a new chapter for Estate Director Axel Heinz, formerly at Ornellaia, who strikes me as a liberated winemaker these days—someone freed from the burden of expectations. Tasted three times.

Vinous

92-94

byNeal Martinthe4/29/2024

Under ex-Ornellaia winemaker Axel Heinz, the 2023 Lascombes has a fragrant and floral bouquet with refined aromatics and lively black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a creamy texture and fine acidity, quite poised with a subtle saline note toward the finish. It possesses better structure than previous vintages—this shows a new direction for the estate, with greater selection in the vineyard.

Falstaff

95

byPeter Moserthe4/29/2024

Dark ruby, purple reflections, brightening on the rim. Fine herbal savouriness, nu- ances of cassis and black cherries, tobacco, a hint of fine oak. Juicy, elegant, ripe cherries and plums, fine tannins, good freshness, mineral and persistent, a very balanced wine with good length and certain ageing potential.

Alexandre Ma

93-95

byAlexandre Mathe4/28/2024

Wine Advocate

92-94

byWilliam Kelleythe4/26/2024

A wine that begins a new era for this estate, the 2023 Lascombes (which I examined from separate components before tasting the prospective blend) offers up aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with hints of crushed mint, violets and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and velvety, with good depth and purity, it's a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. This estate, which was formerly one of the Médoc's poster children for over-ripeness and over-extraction, is assuredly coming in from the cold.

Jamessuckling.com

95-96

byJames Sucklingthe4/25/2024

Aromas of stone, black licorice, tar, blackberry and slightly burnt orange. Medium to full body with a solid core of tannins and tight but juicy fruit. More chiseled and tannic than in the past.

Vertdevin

95

byJonathan Chicheportichethe4/24/2024

Decanter.com

94

byGeorgina Hindlethe4/24/2024

Now under the guidance of ex-Ornellaia winemaker Axel Heinz and an impressive debut vintage. Dark scents on the nose, blackcurrants and black cherries with some soft perfumed and liquorice accents. Smooth but with flesh, not chewy but this has a nice dollop of density as well as clear focus and drive from start to finish. Precise and juicy, a lovely generous feel about this. Charming but in a dark, ripe way. There’s clearly concentration and power but underpinned by a cool freshness. Very finessed and characterful, I love the elegance but this isn’t lacking in fruit, acidity, tannins or Margaux polish. Ends with graphite and liquorice, a touch of toast and wet stones. Clearly youthful but this has so much potential. 35hl/ha. 3.70pH. 78 IPT. Harvest September 7 - October 9. Ageing 60% new oak. Julien Viaud consultant.