2020 Château Larcis Ducasse Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé

The Château Larcis-Ducasse Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé coming from the fantastic year 2020 for the judge has a beautiful garnet-red color. The wine has an intensely soft nose, with a nice impression of the Cabernet Franc, in addition to the softness and elegance of the ripe Merlot. The stylish ripe tannins leave a nice harmonious aftertaste. On the nose aromas of red cherry compote, raspberry preserves and blackberry pie scents plus hints of cigar box, ceylon tea, dried lavender and forest floor. The wine is medium to full-bodied and has beautiful red and black fruit notes on the palate with a wonderfully soft texture and a very long, perfumed finish. A beautifully concentrated wine in a feminine style. It is not for nothing that it has always been one of the great favorites of JP Moueix, aka "the nose".

The total surface area of the Larcis-Ducasse vineyard is 11.15 ha of which 9.80 ha is in use. The Planting Density is 6,000 vines/ha and this will be increased to 8,888 after replanting. It is a widely held idea that a higher plant density is intended to produce more because it is not the case. Due to the high plant density, the yield per plant is much lower and the plant is forced to root deeper due to 'competition'. This mainly benefits the quality and certainly not the quantity. This Larcis-Ducasse is a Merlot driven Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé (approx. 88%) supplemented with Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged for 16 to 18 months in French oak barrels of which 55% new and 45% 1st year.

98/100 James Suckling
98/100 Parker