Château Lascombes

History of Château Lascombes

Château Lascombes takes its name from the Chevalier Antoine de Lascombes, born in 1625, who was one of the first owners of this prestigious estate. An 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 in renown and saw the quality of its wines reach new heights in the 18th century.

However, after the French Revolution, the estate went through several changes of ownership. In the 19th century, despite its classification as a Second Grand Cru Classé in 1855, the quality of the wines declined. It was finally in 1952 that a group of investors led by Alexis Lichine, a famous merchant and taster, purchased the estate and undertook a major modernization. Under his leadership, Château Lascombes returned to the quality that had made its reputation.

The estate then went through several changes of hands, passing to the British company Bass Charrington, then to Colony Capital in 2001, before being acquired by the MACSF, the Mutual Insurance company for healthcare professionals, in 2011. In 2022, Château Lascombes entered a new era under the leadership 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 Vines of Château Lascombes

Located at the heart of the Margaux appellation, the Château Lascombes vineyard extends over 120 hectares on the left bank, making it one of the largest classified growths in the region. The estate benefits from remarkable geological diversity, spread across three main soil types: a gravelly ridge for Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, gravelly clay soils for 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 lends 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, produces wines of 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 carefully cultivated with respect for the terroir. Each step, from pruning to harvesting, is carried out by hand, ensuring optimal control of grape quality. The planting density of 10,000 vines per hectare guarantees low yields per vine, a hallmark of aromatic concentration.

Winemaking at Château Lascombes

Winemaking at Château Lascombes combines tradition and modern technology to produce wines of great precision. Since the restructuring of the estate under Alexis Lichine and the successive modernizations carried out by René Vanatelle and Dominique Befve, the château's facilities rank among the most advanced in the region.

The winery, completely modernized in 2022, now allows for gravity-flow winemaking. This technique avoids mechanical handling of the grapes, thereby preserving their integrity and aromas. Parcel-by-parcel winemaking is another major asset of the estate, with each plot vinified separately to best express the diversity of Margaux's 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, 80% of which are new barrels, ensuring a perfect balance between wood and fruit. Thanks to this attention to detail, the wines of Château Lascombes 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 aging. Its aromatic profile is marked by ripe dark fruits, spices and subtle woody notes. Thanks to a Merlot-dominated blend, it displays a roundness and richness on the palate, balanced by the structure and freshness of Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is destined to evolve magnificently 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 crafted from young vines and less distinguished plots. It offers a more accessible and immediate interpretation of the Château's style, with a predominance of fresh fruit and a seductive roundness. It is a more charming wine, ready to be enjoyed sooner than the Fine Wine, while retaining the elegance characteristic of Margaux wines.

The Haut-Médoc of Lascombes

This cuvée, produced from vines located in the Haut-Médoc appellation, stands out for its softer and fruitier style. It offers a perfect introduction to the world of Château Lascombes with an aromatic complexity and tannic finesse that make it a wine of pleasure, to be enjoyed in its youth.

The finest vintages of Margaux, one of the most prestigious wines of Bordeaux, are renowned for their finesse and elegance. Among the most remarkable years, we find 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, a symbol of Bordeaux excellence.

The Second Classified Growths of 1855 form a prestigious category, bringing 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, enthusiasts will appreciate the wines of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Château Léoville Las Cases, Château Gruaud Larose, and the renowned Château Léoville Poyferré and Château Léoville Barton. Do not miss Château Cos d'Estournel and Château Montrose in Saint-Estèphe, as well as the unmissable 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 acquisition by Gaylon Lawrence in 2022 and under the direction of Axel Heinz, the estate is moving towards a new era of excellence. Thanks to state-of-the-art facilities, precise winemaking and a rigorous respect for the terroir, Château Lascombes aims to position itself among the greatest names in the Médoc. Its wines, powerful and elegant, are true testaments to the greatness of Margaux, promising memorable tasting experiences for lovers of great wines.