Chateau Lascombes 2006

Chateau Lascombes was founded in the early 1600's by the Lascombes family. The current chateau was built between 1875 and 1880. Lascombes earned a ranking as a second growth in the Medoc Classification of 1855. At that time it was owned by Chaix d'Est-Ange who was a general under Napoleon III. In the 1950's, Alexis Lichine purchased the chateau and began to realize its potential. The property was sold in 1971 to BASS, its current owners.

The vineyard at Lascombes is 84 hectares in all, although not all of sterling quality. The vines are 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet and 5% Petit Verdot, with an average age of 35 years, planted on 101-14, Riparia and 3309C rootstock, and pruned in a Double-Guyot fashion that is typical of Bordeaux. The varieties planted are dictated by the terroir, which is a mix of clay-limestone and gravel, the former better for Merlot and the latter for the two Cabernets.

Harvesting of the grapes are always done by hand so as to discard grapes that are overripe or unripe. The wine is fermented in temperature controlled, stainless steel tanks. Varieties are vinified separately. The Merlots undergo malolactic fermentation in new French oak casks. Once the assemblage has been performed , the wine is aged in oak casks for 18 months. About 1/2 of the barrels for Chateau Lascomes first wines are new each year. For the second wine, Chevalier des Lascombes, about 1/4 of the barrels are new each year. A fining of the wines with egg whites is performed before bottling.

90 points Robert Parker: "One of the more modern-styled wines from the appellation of Margaux, always with a prominent overlay of toasty new oak, espresso roast, and sweet black fruits, this wine seems more restrained and has backed off its concentration with the 2006. It is a mid-weight, elegant wine with notes of licorice and black currants as well as a hint of tobacco leaf. The wine is concentrated and obviously outstanding, but the moderate tannins in the finish suggest cellaring it for 2-3 years and drinking it over the following 15-20."

TECHNICAL DATA FOR CHATEAU LASCOMBES 2006
Harvesting dates :
- Merlot : September 21 – October 5
- Petit Verdot : October 2
- Cabernet Sauvignon : October 3 – 13
84 hectares under vine comprising : 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot

Blend :
- 50% Merlot
- 45% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 5% Petit Verdot

Viticultural methods and vinification for the vintage :
- Elimination of lateral vine shoots
- First de-leafing (on the east-facing side) : June/July
- Severe bunch thinning : end of July
- Second de-leafing (on the west-facing side) : end of August
- Grapes are entirely hand picked in ten-kilo crates
- Sorting before and after de-stemming
- Light crushing of the grapes before going into vats
- Cold maceration for around 10 days at 8-10°C
- Traditional vinification with a gentle pumping over every day
- Vatting time : 30 – 35 days
- Running off : October 22 – November 12
- Malolactic fermentation in barrels : October 29 – November 29
- Stirring of the lees for four months with the Oxoline rack system
- Racking & Blending : beginning of March

Alcoholic degree : 13% vol
IPT : 85