Appellation: Saint-Emilion

Size 750mL

Ratings:

98  James Suckling
“Baked-plum aromas., together with candied spices, earth, tobacco and light coffee, following through to a full body with firm yet polished tannins and a fresh, vivid finish. It really builds and shows loads of structure and intensity. Give it time to soften slightly, but the flavors and texture are already balanced and sophisticated. Classic style to this. The palate really builds. Try after 2026."

95 Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2019 Larcis Ducasse has turned out beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of cherries, wild berries, burning embers, spices and licorice. Full-bodied, sumptuous and enveloping, with a fleshy core of fruit, ripe tannins and succulent acids, it's a giving, generous wine that's softer and rounder than Pavie Macquin, its stablemate. This beautiful vineyard, managed by Nicolas Thienpont, is located on the limestone slopes of Saint-Émilion, sandwiched between Pavie and Belle font-Belcier. Best After 2023"

94 Jeb Dunnuck

"Moving to the Grand Vin, the 2019 Château Larcis Ducasse sports a deep ruby/plum color as well as a reserved bouquet of ripe black cherries, leafy tobacco, graphite, and damp earth. Medium to full-bodied and nicely concentrated, with clean, ripe tannins, it's holding things relatively close to its vest and is going to benefit from 5-7 years of bottle age. I don't see it matching the greats from this estate, but it's a beautiful wine. The blend is 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc, and there are just under 3,000 cases produced. Best after 2027."

95-97    Neal Martin for Vinous
“The 2019 Larcis Ducasse is deep purple in colour. The bouquet is opulent and ravishing with precocious dark cherry, cassis and crushed violet aromas that seem to envelop the senses, “hug them into submissions!” The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins that manage to exert good grip, though you only notice that after the wine has exited. Great depth, touches of ash and black pepper infusing the black fruit with unerring balance on the finish. This is an outstanding Saint-Émilion with 30-40 years of pleasure to give. 2024 – 2055″ (June 2020)

94-96    Antonio Galloni for Vinous
“The 2019 Larcis Ducasse is a Saint-Émilion of energy and tension. Graphite, menthol, licorice, tobacco and cedar notes open up in the bouquet. On the palate, though, the 2019 is much more reticent. That is likely a very good thing for its long-term prospect. One of the features of Larcis is the use of 500-liter barrels (which are rarely seen in Bordeaux) for certain parcels. Those larger barrels certainly add to the wine’s freshness and verve. Larcis is one of the more introverted 2019s I tasted. It is also one of Bordeaux’s most under the radar gems.” (June 2020)

94 Decanter

"This is intense, pretty austere as is often the case with a young Larcis Ducasse, and very much with Cabernet fruits dominant even though they are 12% of the blend (it is rather that the Merlot on these limestone soils takes on a depth and seriousness that makes it almost Left Bank in feel). Opens up to reveal fleshy cassis and blackberry. A yield of 38.5hl/ha. Owned by Famille Gratiot-Attmane, but with the Nicolas Thienpont team overseeing winemaking."