Château Lascombes, 2ème Cru Classé, Margaux,

All eyes on Lascombes as of the 2023 vintage with the arrival of Axel Heinz, making this 2022 a particularly interesting vintage for future comparisons. You'll find a ton of black cherries, cassis, fragrant baked spices, bitter chocolate and fennel, with serious tannic grip and fresh acidities. Marked by the vintage, as you would expect from a vineyard that has plots in different soil types across Margaux, but it walks the line and there is plenty of lush fruit and personality to enjoy here. 60% new oak. The biggest change this year is the increase in Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, which was made possible by bringing the percentage of 1st wine down to 40%, 3.75, 36hl/h yield. New owners the Lawrence family with CEO Carlton McCoy involved in the blend, but not the growing season. The wine cellar was redone for 2021.

Excellent quality, a delicious wine majoring on blackberry and spiced plum, with the increased Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend pulling its weight in terms of depth of flavour. Brambled fruit dominates, with a hedgerow character that adds welcome freshness and acidity in such an exuberant year, coupled with layers of black chocolate, fennel, liqourice, violet and slate. 60% new oak. The only one in the lineup blended by Axel Heinz, working alongside technical director Delphine Barboux (but the 2023 vintage will be the first one with Heinz present during growing season also). Harvest September 7 to 27 reflective of a hot and dry year. The percentage of 1st wine from the 120ha estate down to 40% in this vintage, reflective of the new direction taken by Lawrence Wine Estates. Julien Viaud consultant.

The 2022 Lascombes, which now comes with a retro label that I approve of, feels a bit overdone on the nose, a bit too much VA in one sample bottle. The palate is very sweet and oaky, underneath a harsh greenness that pokes out on the finish. I was perplexed by this wine to the extent that I will wait longer and review it when in bottle.