Chateau Lascombes 2011

DECANTER: "The welcoming and rich nose steals up on you rather than being overbearing. There's a great mix of liquorice, dark chocolate and damson through the palate, with silky tannins, black pepper and rosemary spice. It's well constructed, juicy and enjoyable, and I like it very much. Good typicity of the property, offering an accessible version of a recognisable style."

WEINWISSER: "55 % Merlot, 40 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 5 % Petit Verdot, 30 hl/ha, 60 % Grand Vin, 80 % neue Barriquefässer. Dichtes Granat mit satter Mitte und aufhellendem Rand. Berauschendes Waldbeerenbouquet, dahinter Hagebuttensaft und rotes Cassis. Am mittleren Gaumen mit fein sandigem Extrakt gepaart mit einer herrlichen Fruchtsüsse. Im sehr aromatischen Finale ein voller Korb mit roten Früchten, Wachsnoten, La - kritze und Graphit. Der macht einen Heidenspass, ein absolut unterschätzter Jahrgang, hier geht es im Vergleich zu den Primeurs einen Punkt nach oben."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "This large, fragmented estate must be a logistical nightmare for winemakers, but the 2011, a blend of 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, exhibits a beautifully scented nose of spring flowers, black raspberries, black currants, graphite and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied and rich with supple tannins, this terrific example of Lascombes continues their qualitative revolution that began over 15 years ago. One of the stars of the vintage, this beauty can be consumed over the next 20-25 years."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, attraktive dunkle Beerenfrucht, feine exotische Gewürze, vielschichtige Aromatik, ein Hauch von Herzkirschen und Nougat, facettenreiches Bukett. Saftig, komplex und extraktsüß, seidige und doch präsente Tannine, schokoladiger Abgang, würziger Nachhall, bereits jetzt sehr verführerisch, gutes Potenzial, mineralischer Nachhall."

JAMES SUCKLING: "A brightness and beauty to this wine, with mineral, berry and dark-chocolate character. Full body but reserved and integrated. Very fine for the vintage. Better than from barrel. Try in 2018."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "At this stage, the wine is showing way too much wood aging. It is toasty and spicy with the fruit obscured beneath. It should integrate in a few years, although the wood is always likely to be prominent. Drink from 2017."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Blending 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, this is one of the riper, more alcoholic wines of the vintage. Deep in color, with a nose of fresh brewed espresso, vanilla bean, licorice, chocolat."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Solid, with a sleek, focused core of damson plum, red currant and red licorice, framed by an alder edge through the finish. Integrated and approachable now, this should age nicely in the near term. Best from 2015 through 2022. — JM"