Lascombes

History of Château Lascombes

Château Lascombes derives its name from Chevalier Antoine de Lascombes, born in 1625, who was one of the first owners of this prestigious estate. Heir to the Durfort de Duras family, Antoine de Lascombes laid the foundations of an estate that would endure through the centuries. Under the impetus of Jean-François de Lascombes, a direct descendant, the estate gained renown, and the quality of its wines reached new heights in the 18th century.

However, after the French Revolution, the estate underwent several changes of ownership. In the 19th century, despite its classification as a Second Growth in 1855, the quality of the wines declined. It was finally in 1952 that a group of investors led by Alexis Lichine, a famous wine merchant and taster, purchased the estate and undertook extensive modernisation. Under his direction, Château Lascombes regained the quality that had made its reputation.

The estate then experienced several changes of ownership, passing through the hands of the British company Bass Charrington, then Colony Capital in 2001, before being bought by MACSF, the Mutual Insurance Company for Health Professionals, in 2011. In 2022, Château Lascombes entered a new era under the direction of American entrepreneur Gaylon Lawrence and sommelier Carlton McCoy. Their ambition is to elevate this Second Growth among the elite of Margaux wines, with the help of Axel Heinz, former director of the prestigious Tuscan estates Ornellaia and Masseto.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Château Lascombes

Located in the heart of the Margaux appellation, the Château Lascombes vineyard spans 120 hectares on the left bank, making it one of the largest classified growths in the region. The estate benefits from remarkable geological diversity, divided into three main soil types: a gravelly crest for Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, clay-gravel soils hosting Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, and finally clay-limestone plots ideal for the expression of Merlot, the dominant grape variety at Lascombes. This variety of soils gives the wines unparalleled complexity and aromatic richness.

The estate's grape varieties reflect this diversity, with 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. This blend, slightly atypical for Margaux where Cabernet Sauvignon is generally more dominant, allows for the production of wines with remarkable roundness and voluptuousness. The average age of the vines is 35 years, offering a perfect balance between concentration and finesse.

The vineyard, divided into numerous plots, is cultivated with care, respecting the terroir. Each step, from pruning to harvesting, is carried out manually, ensuring optimal control of grape quality. The planting density of 10,000 vines per hectare guarantees low production per vine, synonymous with concentration of aromas.

Vinification at Château Lascombes

Vinification at Château Lascombes combines tradition and modern technologies to produce wines of great precision. Since the restructuring of the estate under Alexis Lichine and the successive modernisations brought by René Vanatelle and Dominique Befve, the château's facilities are among the most advanced in the region.

The winery, entirely modernised in 2022, now allows for gravity-flow vinification. This technique avoids mechanical handling of the grapes, thus preserving their integrity and aromas. Plot-by-plot vinification is another major asset of the estate, with each plot being vinified separately to best express the diversity of Margaux terroirs.

The fermentation process takes place in stainless steel and wooden vats, offering optimal flexibility for each grape variety and each vintage. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels for 18 months, of which 80% are new barrels, ensuring a perfect balance between wood and fruit. Thanks to this attention to detail, Château Lascombes wines are powerful, elegant and of remarkable aromatic complexity.

The Cuvées of Château Lascombes

Château Lascombes offers a range of cuvées that reflect the excellence of the Margaux appellation and the diversity of its terroirs.

Château Lascombes

The estate's flagship cuvée, Château Lascombes is a powerful, tannic and elegant wine, built for ageing. Its aromatic profile is marked by ripe black fruits, spices and subtle woody notes. Thanks to a blend dominated by Merlot, it presents a roundness and richness on the palate, balanced by the structure and freshness of Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is destined to evolve beautifully in the cellar, developing more complex aromas of truffle, leather and undergrowth over the years.

Chevalier de Lascombes

The estate's second wine, Chevalier de Lascombes is made from young vines and less qualitative plots. It offers a more accessible and immediate interpretation of the Château's style, with a predominance of fresh fruit and seductive roundness. It's a more charming wine that's ready to drink sooner than the grand vin, while retaining the elegance characteristic of Margaux wines.

Le Haut-Médoc de Lascombes

This cuvée, produced from vines located in the Haut-Médoc appellation, is distinguished by a softer and fruitier style. It offers a perfect introduction to the world of Château Lascombes with aromatic complexity and tannic finesse that make it a pleasure to drink in its youth.

The finest vintages of Margaux, one of Bordeaux's most prestigious wines, are renowned for their finesse and elegance. Among the most remarkable years are 1959, 1983, 1986, 1990, 1995, 1996 and 1999, celebrated for their complexity and longevity. Recent vintages such as 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, and 2016 are also highly regarded for their structure and richness. Other years such as 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 confirm Margaux's consistency in producing exceptional wines, symbolising Bordeaux excellence.

The Second Growths of 1855 constitute a prestigious category, grouping together iconic estates that often rival the First Growths in quality. Among them, discover Château Brane-Cantenac and Château Durfort-Vivens, both located in Margaux, as well as Château Lascombes, Château Rauzan-Ségla, and Château Rauzan-Gassies. In Saint-Julien, wine enthusiasts will appreciate the wines from Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Château Léoville Las Cases, Château Gruaud Larose, and the famous Château Léoville Poyferré and Château Léoville Barton. Don't miss Château Cos d'Estournel and Château Montrose in Saint-Estèphe, as well as the essential Château Pichon Longueville Baron and Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in Pauillac.

Château Lascombes, with its rich history, varied terroirs and exceptional wines, is one of the jewels of the Margaux appellation. Since its purchase by Gaylon Lawrence in 2022 and under the direction of Axel Heinz, the estate is moving towards a new era of excellence. Thanks to ultra-modern facilities, precise vinification and rigorous respect for the terroir, Château Lascombes aims to position itself among the greatest names in the Médoc. Its powerful and elegant wines are true witnesses to the grandeur of Margaux, promising memorable tasting experiences for connoisseurs of great growths.