This is an impressive wine from the moment it is poured into the glass: the wine is so thick and inky purple there is almost no rim between where the core ends and where the glass begins. The faintest flecks of pink bring out the very edge of the wine. On the nose the wine continues in the same vein. Huge dense fruits swarm out of the glass backed by aromas of baking chocolate dusty limestone green bell peppers toasted brioche vanilla and violets. In the background the wine presents aromas of blackberry cassis dark cherries hints of caramel and light undertones of wet clay and earth. After the lush soft entry the tannins quickly build in strength on the mid-palate filling the mouth with a rich chewy quality. This is definitely a young wine and the tannins are a bit green at the moment but they balance well with the body of the wine. Charred tobacco charcoal and heavy oak flavors come through first but the fruit quickly unfolds underneath. Dark blackberries blueberries and raspberries come through and linger for minutes with touches of spicy green pepper vanilla and hints of charcoal on the finish. This wine truly shows how new winemaking techniques can fit with centuries of winemaking history to create the perfect marriage of a bold fruity new-world style nose and a mouth feel and taste that is undeniably Bordeaux at its finest. Anticipated maturity: 5-10+ years.

Another brilliant effort from this estate the 2004 Lascombes (a blend of 50% Merlot 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot) exhibits a deep blue/purple hue along with a sweet perfume of blueberries black raspberries cherries incense smoke and spring flowers. While opulent underneath the full-bodied richness of fruit and depth is a structured wine. As it sits in the glass an espresso roast character (no doubt from new oak) also emerges. Enjoy this pure structured fleshy beauty between 2010-2025.

Vibrant plum purple colour, an impressive 2004 that has plenty of structure and tannic heft even as it approaches 20 years old, and you can see at this point that a more muscular style of Lascombes was being produced compared to the earlier decades of this vertical. Silky texture, blueberry, pie crust, liqourice root, mint leaf, soot, cocoa bean, with pockets of air that carry you through the palate. An enjoyable example of an often overlooked vintage. 44hl/h yield, harvest October 1 to 25, 85% new oak for ageing, still Oxoline with ageing on the lees. Dominique Befve director, Alain Raynaud and Michel Rolland consultant winemakers.