In less than five years this property has emerged as one of the appellation’s up and coming stars thanks to the infusion of money from the American conglomerate, Colony Capital, as well as the braintrust that now oversees the winemaking, Yves Vatelot (of Reignac fame) and the internationally renowned oenologist, Michel Rolland. The dark plum/ruby-hued, open-knit 2003 offers a big, sweet nose of barbecue smoke, plum liqueur, creme de cassis, flowers, new saddle leather, and damp earth. Loads of black fruits, a full-bodied palate impression, low acidity, and a savory, expansive mouthfeel suggest it can be drunk in 2-3 years, or cellared for 15+.

Tasted at Bordeaux Index’s “10-Year On” tasting in London. This is the one real surprise on the Left Bank, although perusing my older notes, it seems to have remembered how well it showed out of barrel! The Lascombes 03 displays a much better nose than I expected and is certainly fresher than the Brane-Cantenac tasted alongside. Light boysenberry and bilberry fruit mingling with cloves and cedar-wood. The palate is medium-bodied with palpable New World persona. That is not necessarily a bad thing because at least there is more freshness to be found here and the finish displays more weight and fruitiness. This appears to be ageing better than many of its neighbours. Tasted March 2013.