Larcis Ducasse - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2002

Wine Spectator

90 / 100

par James Molesworth le 26/12/2012

Plummy and inviting with a nice velvety feel and notes of melted red licorice, red currant, pâté de fruit and plum sauce. Lots of bergamot and toasted allspice chime in on the finish, which has good stuffing for this generally lighter vintage. A surprise showing. Drink now through 2020. (90 points, non-blind)

Wine Advocate

82 / 100

par Neal Martin le 09/11/2009

Tasted blind at Farr’s 2002 Bordeaux tasting. This is an odd showing for a 7-year old Saint Emilion , for there are already secondary aromas dominating the nose: sous-bois, smoke, leather, thyme, dried blood. Moderate definition. Medium-bodied palate, coarse tannins, the Cabernet quite stern here, but rather drying towards the tannic, rather forced finish. Tasted October 2009.

Jancis Robinson

15.50 / 20

par Jancis Robinson le 13/10/2009

Some development and very good density. Leaft, green nose. Transparent and very much in 'lesser vintage' vein but a nicely balanced whole, even if a bit inky on the particularly firm finish. Drink 2010-16

Wine Advocate

90 / 100

par Robert Parker le 29/04/2005

Open-knit, charming, earthy, and herbaceous, with abundant quantities of sweet black cherry and currant fruit as well as a tremendous fragrance, this is a sensual, lush, rich claret that transcends the vintage characteristic of hard, tannic, structured wines. Ripe, but not nearly as concentrated as the 2003, this enormously appealing 2002 should be drunk over the next 6-7 years. This 26.7-acre vineyard merits serious consideration. For more than five decades, this fabulous terroir (just down the street from Pavie), with a brilliant south-facing exposition on pure clay and limestone soils, with vines averaging 40 years of age, made one mediocrity after another. That all changed after the outstanding duo of Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt arrived as consultants in 2002. Larcis Ducasse is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine Spectator

92 / 100

par James Suckling le 31/03/2005

Aromas of plum tart and vanilla with hints of wild forest fruits. Full-bodied, with lovely silky tannins and bright fruit. Pretty wine. This is the first year that Nicholas Thienpont and Stéphane Derenoncourt took over, and it shows. Serious stuff here. Excellent length. One of the surprises of the vintage. Best after 2008.

Wine Advocate

88-89 / 100

par Robert Parker le 30/10/2003

This wine has more texture, concentration, and complexity than any vintage since 1945! Its dark plum/purple color is accompanied by big, sweet aromas of hot rocks intermixed with black cherries, dried herbs, and a smoky, spicy component. Rich and medium to full-bodied, with loads of fruit, muscle, and depth, this may be the finest Larcis Ducasse in many years. A sleeper of the vintage, Larcis Ducasse appears to be moving in the right direction with this 2002. This estate is situated on the same southern-facing, phenomenally-sited hillside as Pavie, and just about every Bordeaux old timer will tell you that this terroir has unlimited potential. This is the first vintage where the talented winemaking gurus Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt were brought in to oversee the winemaking and upbringing. The results are obvious. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2015