CHÂTEAU LASCOMBES
2013 2ème Cru Classé Margaux Château Lascombes
Inky deep black colour. This has little in the way of relief in the flavours; all dense and in one piece, the tannins give thickness, but it is no fun at all. 2020-2025? Rating: 84 L&S (Apr 2014)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
An inky/ruby/purple color is followed by an impressive bouquet of forest floor, black currants and spring flowers. Full-bodied, opulent and ripe with impressive density and richness and a fuller style than many of its peers, the 2013 Lascombes proves that top-notch viticultural work, an excellent team in the cellar and a strict selection can turn a so-so vintage into something very good. Drink it over the next 10-12 years. 2014-2026 Rating: 90-93 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com (Aug 2014)
Bright, full ruby. Plum, black cherry, redcurrant, lead pencil and cocoa on the nose. Sweet fruit flavors are nicely framed by harmonious acidity, but turn quite firm--almost tough--on the moderately long finish. Substantial tongue-dusting tannins are keeping the fruit under wraps today. Rating: 86-88 Ian d'Agata - Stephen Tanzer website (May 2014)
Sweet on the nose the start of the palate has some ripe black fruits. The tannins are obvious the mid palate tighter yet at the back there is more weight with a sweet mix of cassis and black cherry. 2020-30 Rating: 88-90 Derek Smedley MW, www.dereksmedleymw.co.uk (May 2014)
Rating: 86 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (May 2014)
More intense and much oakier than its own second wine but seemingly not much better. Too much carpentry and the fruit is far too forced and raw. It will not all soften out. Grainy and harsh. Rating: 15.5+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Apr 2014)
Dark black fruit essence. Chewy texture which really overwhelms the finish, and the flavours fall away quite quickly. (RH) Drink 2018-2022. Rating: 15 Richard Hemming MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2014)
Rich colour, extracted robust fruit, rather chunky but will wake up once in bottle. Drink: 2018-2028. Rating: 16.75 Steven Spurrier (Apr 2014)
Plump, and with a juicy edge as dark plum and blackberry flavors mingle with black tea and singed balsam wood notes. Good flesh through the stone-tinged finish. Rating: 88–91 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2014)
Very attractive blueberry and mineral character but slightly hollow center palate. Medium body. Light finish. Rating: 86-87 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2014)
The Lascombes is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot and 5% Merlot cropped at 25hl/ha between 26 September and 12 October. It has a slightly pinched nose that will hopefully gain more vigour by the time of bottling. At the moment if feels too strict. The palate is medium-bodied with firm grippy tannins, but it is lacking fruit intensity and fleshiness towards the finish. Rating: 84-86 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2014)
The 2013 Lascombes is nicely layered in the glass. Dark red and blue fruit, tobacco and smoke all meld together effortlessly. This supple, fruit-forward Margaux is best enjoyed in its youth. The finish is gracious and inviting. Rating: 89-91 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2014)
Château Lascombes
Margaux Deuxième cru 1855 Château Lascombes was originally part of a larger estate that included what is now Château Durfort-Vivens. The estate passed through many hands with one of the more notable owners being Jean-Jules Théophile, a successful lawyer, who built today's château and purchased the neighbouring Château Marquis d'Alesme-Becker with a view to amalgamating the two. His death, in 1923, put an end to that plan and Marquis d'Alesme-Becker was sold off. Years of decline were arrested in 1951, when Alexis Lichine bought Château Lascombes, having bought Château Prieuré-Lichine the year before. In order to fund much needed investment, Alexis needed financial backers - financial backers who sold the estate to Bass Charrington in 1971. Bass Charrington continued to invest in Château Lascombes but the results were less than exciting. More dynamic new owners - Capital Colony - in 2001 have seen considerable improvements, however. Alain Reynaud was installed to head up the team, which included Michel Rolland on oenology. The 84ha of vineyard are planted to 50% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon with the rest Petit Verdot. The grand vin sees quite a high proportion of new wood, in some years as much as 100%.
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those of the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do call us, but see the 'practical notes' below.
Ordering
Prices are per case as listed 'in bond London'.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment from you to buy the wines you order on release, subject to the price being below the upper price of the estimated band on our website. You may also set your own upper price limit, lower or higher than ours. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability. Providing this firm commitment to us effectively gives you priority.
Wines listed on the website (after any pre-orders and allocations have been fulfilled) can be ordered in the usual way via the website order form or by email or telephone 020 7221 1982, always subject to stock remaining.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are contractually binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of the confirmation date, apart from pre-orders which are binding if the release price is below the top estimate or other price you have set.
Invoices are raised at the In Bond price, excluding any duty and VAT which will become payable at the prevailing rates on arrival of the wine if required duty paid.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or credit transfer. We reserve the right to charge 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £1000, orders below this total will be charged £16.50+ VAT when the wine invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery for 2016 Bordeaux primeurs will probably be completed by October 2019, but we make no guarantee as to specific delivery times, and some of the Sauternes may be later.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes) for immediate payment. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option, but do please note that confirmed orders are still binding as above even if the final invoice has not been issued.
When the wine is shipped, unless previously specified we will assume that delivery is to be to bonded storage with Elephant Storage, but in any case, we will contact you requesting any alternative instructions. If you have another bonded delivery address you would like the wine to go to, please tell us at the time of ordering. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue invoices at the rates prevailing at the time for the excise duty (currently £25.98 per case) and the VAT (currently at 20%) on the total of the wine cost and the duty.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the bottle size you want. Even if a wine is only listed in one size, you can order any bottle or case size you want if the property supplies it, but you must order the case/bottle size you require and check that the correct size has been invoiced.
Additional charges are as follows:-
- +£15 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£15 per case of 6 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£35 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£45 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.