“99 points. Spellbinding with shitake mushrooms, wet earth and moss” - J. Suckling
“98 points. Superb nose of iris with magnificent clarity of fruit.” - Yohan Castaing
Anmeldelser af Château Larcis Ducasse St-Émilion 1. Grand Cru Classé 2016
99/100 James Suckling
"The aromas here are so spellbinding with shitake mushrooms, wet earth and moss, as well as tree bark and, finally, dark fruit. The palate is incredible as it builds and grows with full body, but always tight and reserved. It shows so much depth and complexity."
98/100 Yohan Castaing
"Iris, very floral, superb nose of iris with magnificent clarity of fruit. Purity and precision on the palate, verticality and a very good management of acidity from the early fruit which adds soul to it. All in delicacy and linearity. Crystalline and pure. Well done!"
98/100 Jean-Marc Quarin
"It is one of the revelations of this tasting and the best wine made in this property. A sensation already experienced at the castle last October. Medium intensity nose, fruity and above all truffled. Soft on the attack, very melting in the development, fragrant (which is difficult given its power), juicy, noble to the touch and yet a tad southern, the wine develops very long and deep. Superb."
97/100 Jeb Dunnuck
"From one of my favorite estates in Bordeaux, the deeply colored 2016 Château Larcis Ducasse is comprised of 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in 50% new French oak. It offers a huge bouquet of black, black fruits, smoked herbs, forest floor, graphite, and underbrush that builds beautifully with time in the glass. Deep, rich, opulent and expansive on the palate, with building tannins, it’s a rich, layered Saint-Emilion as well as another incredible wine from this estate. Give it a few years if you can."
97/100 Vinous
"The 2016 Larcis Ducasse is absolutely gorgeous. Fresh, vibrant and alluring, with tremendous vibrancy, the 2016 has so much to offer. Expressive savory and blood orange notes add brightness to the red cherry and plum fruit, with beams of firm yet well-integrated tannins that give the wine its shape and energy. In 2016, Larcis brings together undeniable raciness and power in a complete package that is irresistibly beautiful."
97/100 Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
"Full bodied, luxurious, deep, fresh and sweet, the wine has power, purity, minerality and length. There is concentration, complexity and on the finish, it is incredibly polished and silky with layers of fruit and persistence. Made from a blend of 87% Merlot, harvested October 12 to October 20 and 13% Cabernet Franc."
97/100 Tastingbook.com
97/100 Markus Del Mongo MW
"Dark purple red with violet hue and black core. Opulent nose blackberry jam, black cherry jam, discreet spiciness in the background as wella as hints of toasted gingerbread. On the palate opulent and rich with ripe and silky tannins, sweet fruit and excellent length."
97/100 Andreas Larsson, World's Best Sommelier
"Distinct top Saint-Emilion with a silky and sexy burgundian texture."
96/100 Robert Parker
"Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Larcis Ducasse sashays gracefully out of the glass with beautiful Black Forest cake, red cherry compote, raspberry preserves and blackberry pie scents plus hints of cigar box, Ceylon tea, dried lavender and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers gorgeous red and black fruit preserves flavors with a wonderfully plush texture and very long, perfumed finish."
96/100 Chris Kissack, The Wine Doctor
"“From the Pavie slopes, this is dark and perfumed, with an aromatic nose, fragrant and confident, releasing scents of black bean and black pepper over and above the fruit, all laced with praline, toast, cocoa bean and vanilla, as well as touches of smoke and salt. The palate feels very accomplished with a velvety texture, full of creamed fruit, in a savoury, dark and spicy style, dressed with notes of black pepper, black bean, crushed black plum and damson, black currant and black olive. The tannic undercurrent feels firm, tightly knit and velvety, giving the wine fabulous grip, yet it feels fresh and composed. It finishes long, the length charged with tannic energy. This is an excellent vintage for Larcis Ducasse."
"Rigor and density, length and intensity, refined, perfectly ripe tannin. Will assert itself over time."
95/100 Wine Spectator
"Features a lovely profile, with caressing edges but a very focused feel, as cassis, plum reduction and blueberry preserve flavors stream through together, flanked by dark tea and singed apple wood notes. A bolt of chalk emerges steadily through the finish, keeping this well-grounded. This will need some time to unwind fully."
Om Château Larcis Ducasse
100 point fra Robert Parker til Larcis Ducasse 2005 var et af flere vægtige argumenter bag forfremmelsen af slottets Grand Vin fra "Grand Cru Classé" til "1. Grand Cru Classé B" i 2012.
Larcis Ducasse, der har været familiejet i mere end 100 år, har fra starten været velsignet med et sydskrånende kalkstensterroir i samme topklasse som hos sin berømte nabo, Château Pavie, men indfrielsen af verdensklassepotentialet lod længe vente på sig…
Først 12 år efter det seneste generationsskifte i 1990 begyndte forvandlingen at tage fart. Den nye ejer, Jacques-Olivier Gratiot, lavede sit klogeste move i 2002, hvor han overlod driften til Nicolas Thienpont og Stéphane Derenoncourt.
Superduoen indførte en serie ændringer, der til sammen har flyttet kvaliteten op i mesterklassen. Fx forlængede de høstperioden fra tre dage til flere uger, så alle druer nu kunne høstes ved ideel sukker- og smagsmæssig modenhed. Dernæst blev druesorteringen skærpet - og for at minimere oxidering af vinens frugt, ophørte al knusning af druerne inden gæringen. Siden 2005 er produktionen konverteret til økologi.
En lille del af slottets 11 hektar vinmarker befinder sig på St-Émilions fossilsholdige plateau, men hovedparten, 85%, ligger på sydvendte terrasser med kalkholdig mergel, side om side med nabomarkerne fra Château Pavie. Kombinationen af soleksponering og den hvidlige, kølige kalkjord giver eksotisk frugtig vin med frisk mineralitet i behold.
Afhængigt af årgangen består Le Grand Vin af ca. 85% Merlot og 15% Cabernet Franc, der efter endt gæring modner 18 måneders på barriquefade, heraf ca. 60% helt nye.
Andenvin: Murmure de Larcis Ducasse.
