Lascombes 2016

Chateau Lascombes, the mighty modern Margaux Cru known for balanced and delicate wines, has a beautiful deep ruby colour with a narrow and light pink rim. This 2016 has violet notes of ripe red fruits and vanilla oak on the still-raw nose. The highly extracted palate is spice, sweet vanilla from the toasty oak, black cherry fruit, and a hint of cigar box, mint and spice. Inky, medium on the palate with intensity and concentration of fresh ripe fruit. The blend in 2016 is 50% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot, from a yield of 45hl/ha.

Tannic and woody, it recalls elements of 2015 I tasted: the structure is dense and firm and will age nicely for another decade. However, judging from the tastings, it has less potential than 2015 and is undoubtedly more enjoyable in the immediate and intermediate terms.

Scores are impressive: JS95, RP94+. Compared to 2015, this 2016 is more natural and age-worthy. Anson commended 2016 as a successor to 2015, and there is an added dimension of deep black pepper and cinnamon spicing, and while the tannins are a little tight, it has a clear oak structure. However, JR says 2016 is too modern. (referring to the sweet oak and concentrated fruit).