Chateau Lascombes   Lascombes

2005 Lascombes

By Chateau Lascombes

2005 Lascombes from Château Lascombes, Margaux, Bordeaux

In the verdant labyrinth of Bordeaux's Margaux appellation, one finds the 2005 Lascombes from Château Lascombes—a vintage of compelling distinction. My relationship with Château Lascombes' offerings stretches back decades, allowing me an intricate understanding of their evolution and prowess.

 

A Vintage Echoing History

The 2005 vintage remains a beacon of Bordeaux's winemaking excellence, its triumph echoed through the cellars where these bottles slumber in anticipation of discerning palates. Seldom does one encounter a harmony as nuanced as that which the terroir and climatic conditions accorded the 2005 Lascombes. It is a blend steeped in the rich narrative of its birth year—generous warmth during the growing season, followed by an ideally tempered September, culminating in grapes offering both maturity and acid balance.

 

An Exemplary Investment Calibre

For investors searching for wines with lasting legacies, understanding the underpinnings of such vintages is essential. The 2005 Lascombes displays a tapestry woven with opulent dark fruit notes underlain by a solid structure of tannins—attributes that make it an unyielding candidate for longevity. It sits amongst other Bordeaux greats from the year yet distinguishes itself through its unique panache.

A glass reveals layers beginning with cassis and progressing to hints of violet and liquorice—an expansive palette that continues to develop complexity as it ages. Investors should take note not just of this wine's potential for grace as it matures but also of its consistent performance in market assessments. The wisdom of including this emblematic Margaux within one’s portfolio cannot be overstated—a wine as much an investment in pleasure as in potential appreciation.

To summarise, the 2005 Lascombes from Château Lascombes presents an enviable intersection of history, quality, and investment opportunity—it's a vintage celebrating the zenith of a winemaker's artistry against the backdrop of Bordeaux's natural largesse.

Market price (HKD)

HK$8,555.22

12x75cl

Highest score

95

POP score

59.67

Scores and tasting notes

95

A gorgeous example of Lascombes, the 2005, a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, continues the remarkable turn-around in quality that began five years ago. A stunningly opulent wine with a dense purple color, the 2005 possesses a beautiful perfume of spring flowers, blueberries, blackberries, creosote, and graphite, full body, silky but noticeable tannins, a layered mouthfeel, and a stunning, 45+-second finish. This is a brilliant, modern-styled Margaux that should age for 30-35 years.

Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #176

92

Tasted single blind at Southwold. Another Margaux that has ameliorated since bottling. It is a little dusty on the nose: macerated black cherries, a touch of violets but it never really gets going. The palate has ripe sappy tannins, good acidity, rather assertive with a deep, muscular finish of blackberry, sous-bois and cedar. It still lacks the finesse of other Margaux, but it is certainly beginning to meld together. Modern Margaux, polished and well-crafted. Drink 2014-2030. Tasted January 2009.

Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jul 2009

88

Spicy oak, earth and cedar wood jump from the glass of this fruity, medium-bodied wine. It is not showing quite the density I would have expected, but it is still well-endowed and more evolved than some of the top efforts from the Margaux appellation. It has a dark, ruby/plum color, a slightly narrow finish, and less intensity than I remember. For whatever reason, this didn’t jump out of the horizontal tasting of the appellation of Margaux in 2005. Moreover, I loved this wine from barrel and post-bottling.

Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 28 June 2015

Vintage performance