2020 Château Larcis Ducasse Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé

The Château Larcis-Ducasse Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé, from the fantastic 2020 vintage for the judge, has a beautiful garnet-red color. The wine has an intensely soft nose, with a beautiful hint of Cabernet Franc alongside the softness and elegance of the ripe Merlot. The stylish, ripe tannins leave a beautifully harmonious finish. The nose reveals aromas of red cherry compote, raspberry preserves, and blackberry tart, 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 with a feminine style. It's no wonder it has always been a favorite of JP Moueix, aka "the nose."

The total area of the Larcis-Ducasse vineyard is 11.15 hectares, of which 9.80 hectares are in use. The planting density is 6,000 vines/ha, which will be increased to 8,888 after replanting. It is a common belief that higher planting density is intended to increase production, but this is not the case. Due to the high planting density, the yield per plant is significantly lower, and competition forces the vines to develop deeper roots. This primarily benefits quality, not quantity. This Larcis-Ducasse is a Merlot-driven Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé (approx. 88%), supplemented with Cabernet Franc. The wine ages for 16 to 18 months in French oak barrels, 55% new and 45% first-year.

98/100 James Suckling
98/100 Parker