2012 Lascombes
By Chateau Lascombes
2012 Lascombes from Chateau Lascombes, Margaux, Bordeaux
The 2012 vintage from Chateau Lascombes encapsulates both challenge and triumph, a testament to the resilience and meticulous care in viticulture and winemaking that distinguishes Margaux. While the unwieldy narrative of the 2012 Bordeaux vintage speaks of a tricky growing season, punctuated by erratic weather patterns, it is these very trials that have refined the mettle of the wine from this storied estate.
An Assemblage of Complexity and Elegance
In this year's assemblage, Chateau Lascombes showcases a vibrant blend where Merlot takes precedence, followed closely by Cabernet Sauvignon, offering collectors an investable asset with a profile divergent from its usual Cabernet-dominant character. This proportion has endowed the 2012 Lascombes with a luscious pliability in its youth, coupled with an underpinning structure that heralds a promising ageing potential.
Capturing the Essence of Margaux's Diverse Terroir
Vintners in Margaux had to navigate a capricious Mother Nature throughout 2012, harnessing inimical conditions to distill the region's quintessence into their barrels. The terroir's interaction with this specific climatic pattern imbues the wine with an enigmatic duality: there is warmth in its ripe berry notes, yet depth in its earthy undertones – all carefully enclosed within a velvety tannic embrace. It is this unique array of expressions that ensures the 2012 Lascombes distinguishes itself even amidst its own siblings from different vintages.
In investing parlance, ownership of the 2012 vintage from Chateau Lascombes could certainly be likened to holding a blue-chip stock; poised for value appreciation given enough time to unfurl its multilayered complexity within the chateau's signature style. Curating a cellar with such wines is not merely an investment in liquid assets but also in sensorial history.
Sample this vintage of 2012 Lascombes and one experiences Margaux in a bottle – reflective and dignified as it stands – eloquent testimony to what can be achieved when experience wrestles with adversity. Its understated power and longevity bolster confidence in its future performance, both on the palate and potentially in value amongst assiduous fine wine investors.
Market price (CAD)
$990.00
12x75cl
Highest score
94
POP score
42.86
Scores and tasting notes
An intriguing blend of 48% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot, this inky purple-colored wine is ripe, progressively styled, big, rich, thick and juicy. In other words, the 2012 Lascombes is loaded. No doubt the high percentage of Merlot in the final blend gives this wine a fleshiness and succulence that is unusual in the Médoc. Rich, pure and full, it should hit its prime in another 4-5 years and last at least two or three decades.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 29 April 2015
An outstanding wine in this vintage, the full-bodied 2012 Lascombes reveals more power, concentration and texture than many of its peers. Its dense blue/purple color is followed by notes of acacia flowers, blueberries, black raspberries, black currants, vanillin and toast. Medium to full-bodied with excellent texture (for a 2012), as well as good follow through and length, this soft, plush, outstanding Margaux should drink well for 12-15 years.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #206
A wine with a pretty fruit character. Full and velvety with a medium center palate. Refined and attractive.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, April 21st 2013
Tasted from a barrel sample at en primeur. The Grand Vin is a blend of 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot picked from 4 until 18 October. It offers plenty of juicy black fruit on the nose, with subtle graphite notes coming through. The oak is nicely integrated here. The palate has a sorbet-like freshness on the entry. There is clearly a lot of skin maceration here - vatting time between 30 and 35 days. The finish just feels rather pushed and monotonous, a little 'worked' after picking. We will see
Neal Martin - Wine Journal May 2013