Chateau Larcis Ducasse 2021

A Premier Grand Cru Classé B of Saint-Émilion, Château Larcis Ducasse is celebrated for its limestone terroir and remarkable elegance. It reveals aromas of black cherry, blackberry, cassis, violet, graphite, licorice, dark chocolate, and subtle baking spice. Richly concentrated yet beautifully refined, it delivers velvety tannins, vibrant freshness, exceptional depth, and an extraordinarily long finish.

Food Pairing: Pair with beef Wellington, roast lamb, duck breast, venison, mushroom risotto, black truffle dishes, aged Comté, or braised short ribs.

96 Points - James Suckling

Very complex and subtle with cedar, dried herb, green tobacco, berry and lavender aromas that follow through to a medium body, with ultra-fine tannins that give a sophistication and beauty to the wine, especially from this vintage. 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc.

94 Points - Decanter

Rose petals, pink flowers, raspberries and a touch of cardamom and cinnamon to the red berry fruit. Grippy and textured, quite a lean expression, direct and focussed, with bite to the tannins and a touch of dry salty, flinty minerality that coats the cheeks. It's well worked but hasn't quite settled yet and doesn't quite have the fruit density to carry more of the motion and energy. Sleek though and definitely confident. Will be lovely once it calms.

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast

This has tobacco and black-pepper aromas, and solid tannins. Power and dense blackberry flavors are impressive.

93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck

Up with top wines of the vintage, the 2021 Château Larcis Ducasse is a beautiful Saint-Emilion based on 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc, with the Merlot harvested between September 29 and October 9, and the Cabernet from October 9 to October 11. From yields of 34 hectoliters per hectare and aged in 50% new barrels, its solid ruby/plum hue is followed by a beautiful nose of ripe red and black fruits, iron, dried tobacco, leather and truffly earth. Medium- to full-bodied (closer to medium-bodied), it has terrific mid-palate depth, ripe, polished tannins and a balanced, layered, elegant mouthfeel. As with most 2021s, it only needs a few years of bottle age and will have two decades of overall longevity.

91 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Offering up exotic aromas of minty blackberries and cherries mingled with dark chocolate, confit orange and melted asphalt, the 2021 Larcis Ducasse is medium- to full-bodied, with a rich and creamy palate framed by powdery tannins. It's unusually sweet and unctuous for the vintage and concludes with a discreetly herbal finish. Maturation in wood, now featuring some foudres and 500-liter barrels in addition to barriques, lasted until April, with bottling just over three months later.

91 Points - Wine Spectator

Offers red currant and damson plum notes lined with savory accents throughout, while light chalk and potpourri hints underscore the finish.