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2012 Château Larcis Ducasse, St Emilion, Bordeaux

  • Red
  • Dry
  • Full Bodied
  • Merlot (83%),Cabernet Franc (17%)
Ready - at best
Robert Parker
95/100
17.25/20
Julia Harding MW
17/20
James Molesworth
90-93/100
Robert Parker
93-95/100
Product: 20121012185
2012 Château Larcis Ducasse, St Emilion, Bordeaux

Description

This is still quite closed at present, but there’s some bright, ripe fruit just showing its head. It is much more open on the palate, with big and fully mature black and red fruit notes, nuances of spice and vanilla. This is a very big wine with the 83% Merlot in the blend, and it dominates at present. A full, yet balanced structure brings it to a long, satisfying finish.
Martyn Rolph, Private Account Manager
Colour Red
Sweetness Dry
Vintage 2012
Maturity Ready - at best
Grape List Merlot (83%),Cabernet Franc (17%)
Body Full Bodied
Producer Château Larcis Ducasse

Critics reviews

Robert Parker 95/100
This great terroir, long owned by the Gratiot family, has come to life under the inspired winemaking of Nicolas Thienpont and Stphane Derenoncourt. Some recent vintages have been legendary efforts, especially 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010. The 2012 (83% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc) is right in the competition, with an inky, opaque, bluish/purple color, gorgeously sweet, rich nose of black raspberries, black cherries and currants, and licorice. The wine hits the palate with a full-bodied, thunderous effect. This blend tips the scales at 14.5% alcohol, which is indicative of its fabulously exposed vineyard on a full, steep limestone slope with a primarily southern exposure. This is full-bodied, ripe and one of the great stars of the vintage again. The wine has full-bodied texture, gorgeous purity, richness and length. Drink it over the next 20 years.Robert M. Parker, Jr. - 30/04/2015
Robert Parker, RobertParker.com (Apr 2015)
17.25/20
Rich and ripe on the nose with a hint of mocha. Fresh and long on the palate. Friendlier in style than 2011. Tannins softened by the fruit.
Decanter.com
Julia Harding MW 17/20
Deep dark cherry colour. Fine and dry and so fresh. Feels like a breath of summer. But it is not particularly light – good length – just no excess weight. Maybe just a very slight bitterness on the finish? julia_harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, 26 Apr 2013
Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2013)
James Molesworth 90-93/100
Blueberry, damson plum and blackberry notes all mingle here, with a snappy licorice edge and brairy tannins on the finish. This has length and balance, without the sinewy, extracted feel of some St.-Emilions. james_molesworth, Wine Spectator, April 8 2013
James Molesworth, WineSpectator.com (Apr 2013)
Robert Parker 93-95/100
The 2012 exhibits notes of licorice, truffles, lead pencil shavings, barbecued meats, blackberries, black raspberries and a hint of espresso roast. Sweet new oak notes are apparent in the back of the wine, but its abundant fruit, full-bodied mouthfeel, and multidimensional texture as well as length, make for an impressive showing. This wine will need 3-4 years of cellaring and should keep for 20 years or more. Bravo! If you haven’t yet jumped on the Larcis Ducasse bandwagon, it’s time to do so. Even if the 2012 is not as potentially prodigious as the 2005 and 2010, it is a remarkable effort. Yields were kept to 23 hectoliters per hectare by the brilliant team of Nicolas Thienpont, Stephane Derenoncourt, David Suire and Julien Lavenu. The final blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc has produced a powerhouse with 14.5% natural alcohol. This team’s goal is undoubtedly to elevate Larcis Ducasse to the status of Ausone, Cheval Blanc, Pavie and Angelus. They are well on their way. robert_parker - Wine Advocate - Apr 2013
Robert Parker, RobertParker.com (Apr 2013)

About this wine

Merlot

The most widely planted grape in Bordeaux and a grape that has been on a relentless expansion drive throughout the world in the last decade. Merlot is adaptable to most soils and is relatively simple to cultivate. It is a vigorous naturally high yielding grape that requires savage pruning - over-cropped Merlot-based wines are dilute and bland. It is also vital to pick at optimum ripeness as Merlot can quickly lose its varietal characteristics if harvested overripe.
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Chateau Larcis Ducasse

Traditionally Ch. Larcis Ducasse, a St Emilion Grand Cru Classé, was regarded as a property with exceptional terrior but a constant underperformer. This has changed, mainly thanks to the talents of a new winemaking team headed up by Nicolas Thienpont (of Ch. Pavie Macquin repute) and Stephane Derenoncourt (the mercurial 'flying wine consultant') who have managed to unlock the potential of this sleeping giant. The estate is located on one of Bordeaux's finest strips of terroir - the Cote Pavie in St Emilion. Here, this 25-acre property abuts the 1er Grand Cru Classé Ch. Pavie estate. The vines are planted on an eclectic range of soils - alluvial sand deposits, clay, chalk and limestone. The vines, as one would expect for that part of the world, are predominately Merlot (some 75%) Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The new winemaking team arrived in 2002 and since then, the wines have gone from strength to strength. Look out especially for the 2005 Ch. Larcis Ducasse (98/100 Parker), 2006 Ch. Larcis Ducasse (91-94 Parker) and 2007 Ch. Larcis Ducasse (92-94 Parker), as these are the manifestation of all the hard work undertaken at the château over recent years.
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