Farr Vintners Logo

Lascombes 2016

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Margaux
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon

There has been a total transformation in quality here recently. Modern, impressive wines are now being made here which are often criticised for not being very Margaux-like. Nevertheless, they are much better than the weedy efforts produced at Lascombes under the former regime. This is a large vineyard of 118 hectares that is planted with a high percentage of Merlot - 50% - along with 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot.

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Lascombes

Label

Tasting Notes

The 2016 Lascombes has a deep garnet color. It needs a fair bit of swirling to release notes of baked blackcurrants, plum preserves, and tar, with wafts of candied violets and smoked meats. Medium-bodied, the palate is plush and juicy with just enough freshness and a long, fragrant finish.

94
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, December 2022

The 2016 Lascombes was tasted from two bottles, as the first felt very subdued. The bouquet on the second is high-toned with black cherries, cassis, dried blood and crushed stone aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with toasty oak, and grippy in the mouth, but here the wood tannins rather dominate the finish. So-so. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.

88
Neal Martin, vinous.com, August 2020

Full, focused and precise with dark berries, intensely fine tannins and a fresh finish. Medium to full body and a persistent finish. More refined than in the past, yet it remains very well structured.

93/94
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2017

Inky plum colour, the deepest in the vertical at this point, autumnal fruit and grilled spice come in rich waves on the nose and plump textured blackberry, blueberry, creme de cassis, autumn hedgerow, tobacco, pencil lead, cigar box and grilled spice. 35 days maceration, 70% new oak, inky in colour and expression, this is a delicious wine, full of potential, with decades of ageing ahead. Not quite settled into itself yet, I would definitely give this another 3 or 4 years. Captures the pleasure of Lascombes while holding on to the finesse of the appellation. Delphine Barboux promoted to technical director from this 2016 vintage.

96
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, October 2023

Dark blackish purple. I'd hate to be given this blind. It's pure Napa Valley! So sweet! So concentrated! Not really Margaux but a mouthful of concentration, certainly. Drying finish with a slight suggestion of something underripe on the very end. Extremely different from most of its neighbours but the style will definitely appeal to some palates. Just goes a bit dead on the end.
Drink 2025-2040

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2017

There has been a total transformation in quality here recently. Modern, impressive wines are now being made here which are often criticised for not being very Margaux-like. Nevertheless, they are much better than the weedy efforts produced at Lascombes under the former regime. This is a large vineyard of 118 hectares that is planted with a high percentage of Merlot - 50% - along with 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Elevage in 70% new oak. A deep colour, with roasted fruits and smoke on the nose. The palate shows ripe black cherry in great concentration with hints of mint and spice. The tannins are firm, with a chewy texture supporting toasty new oak through to a long, dry and spicy finish.

91
Farr Vintners, February 2017

The 2016 Château Lascombes is another brilliant Margaux, and I was blown away by this wine on two separate occasions. Sporting a deep purple color as well as a thrilling bouquet of cassis, smoked earth, charcoal, and tobacco, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, has obvious minerality, a big palate presence, and a terrific sense of elegance and purity. It’s a beautiful wine, and while I’d happily enjoy bottles today, it’s going to keep for 25-30 years. Drink 2021-2051.

94
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, March 2019

Sweet and ripe the nose has fleshy richness the palate is full of ripe black fruits. Firm tannins in the middle these combined with the freshness tend to hold back the fruit but it does fill out on the back palate and finishes with sweeter fruit. 2025-36

87/90
Derek Smedley MW, DerekSmedleyMW.co.uk, April 2017
85
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2017
Read more tasting notes...

The 2016 Lascombes has a decadent, but pure bouquet with layers of black cherry and blueberry fruit, the new oak conspicuous and (as usual) quite glossy and extroverted in style. The palate is very ripe with saturated tannin, bold and extravagant with a voluminous middle of blackberry, graphite and blue fruit. There is a powerful and heady finish; what it just lacks is finesse and that sense of personality. I tasted this Margaux on several occasions and it was one of the most variable samples, hence the question mark against my score. Drink 2022-2045.

89/91
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (230), April 2017

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Lascombes features beautiful candied violets, Black Forest cake, cassis and menthol with hints of underbrush, cloves, pencil lead and tar. Medium-bodied with good intensity and firm, grainy tannins, it finishes long and perfumed. Drink 2019 - 2037.

94+
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (Interim), November 2018

Some beautiful aromatics going on here, this has the sexy, ripe focus that is a signature of this property under consultant Michel Rolland and director Dominique Befve. It doesn't disappoint, and as ever for me it conveys a sense of joy and vibrancy in the fruit. The blend in 2016 is 50% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot, from a yield of 45hl/ha. There is deep black pepper and cinammon spicing, and while the tannins are a little tight it has clear oak structure. A lovely wine that is a strong successor to the excellent 2015.

Drinking Window 2027 - 2045

93
Jane Anson, Decanter.com, April 2017
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.