Chateau Larcis-Ducasse is a Premier Grand Cru Classe B estate in the Saint-Emilion AOC of Bordeaux’s Right Bank. Already extremely popular and highly sought-after in the 16th century, Larcis Ducasse’s wines have continued to garner praise into the 21st century. It’s ownership has been in the same family since 1893.

Chateau Larcis-Ducasse’s 11 hectares of closely-grouped blocks occupies the tip of the famous Cote Pavie hill, west of Chateau Pavie and north of Chateau Troplong Mondot. The vineyards enjoy a fully south-facing position and are planted with 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc. Soil types range from alluvial sand deposits, to limestone, clay and chalk. The vines average 35 years of age.

Since 2002, Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt have led a new winemaking team. They have worked to further increase wine quality, investing considerably in the vineyard and cellar. They combine traditional methods with innovative techniques to complement the flavors of the land. Among the changes have been a new drainage system for the vineyard and an extended harvest that picks over several weeks as the various blocks become ready.

Chateau Larcis-Ducasse’s terroir produces wonderfully ripe grapes which result in complex, well-structured wines with fresh fruit and mineral flavors. These characteristics are, in part, attributable to the different bedrocks found on the property, from the limestone of the plateau to the iron-rich feldspar sand at the base of the slope.

Viticultural methods are as natural as possible. Yields are kept low in the vineyard were grape varieties were planted according to soil type. In the cellar, grapes undergo a gentle maceration to avoid over-extraction. Vinification takes place in concrete tanks with no pump-over. After fermentation, the wine is aged in barrel for eighteen months.

The 2023 Larcis-Ducasse is a Bordeaux Blend from the esteemed Saint-Emilion sub-region in Bordeaux, France. Produced by Larcis-Ducasse, this red wine comprises 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc. It comes sealed with a cork closure and is noted for its deep garnet-purple color.

James Suckling awarded the wine an impressive 97 points, describing it as "really classic in character, with a fine tannin structure and medium body." He highlighted its flavors of black cherries, currants, and a subtle salty note, calling it "savory and subtle" (jamessuckling.com, 4/15/2024).

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also praised the 2023 Larcis-Ducasse, giving it 95 points. William Kelley pointed out its "aromas of dark berries, preserved plums, orange confit, vine smoke, licorice, and spices" (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 4/26/2024). Kelley emphasized the wine's "medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy" profile, noting its "ripe, powdery tannins" and "mouthwateringly mineral finish."

Vinous, represented by Antonio Galloni, provided an excellent review, scoring the wine 96 points. Galloni described it as "elegant, powerful, and wonderfully expressive," noting flavors of "plum, blood orange, spice, menthol, mocha, and gravel" (Vinous, 4/30/2024). He mentioned that the wine "will need some time to shed its considerable baby fat."

Jane Anson scored it 95 points, praising its "depth, intensity, and sculpted tannins" (janeanson.com, 4/11/2024). She remarked on its "brambled damson and black cherry fruit" and called it "a great benchmark wine."

Jeff Leve from The Wine Cellar Insider gave it 96 points, highlighting its "complex aromatic profile" of "crushed stone, flowers, strawberries, cherries, licorice, tobacco, and spice" (TheWineCellarInsider.com, 4/1/2024). He noted its "crisp, ripe, long, and vibrant" palate and "trademark sense of minerality."

The Wine Independent’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown also awarded 96 points, describing it as "stunning" with "an initial burst of pure, ripe blueberries and crushed blackberries" (The Wine Independent, 5/7/2024). She emphasized its "taut structure of firm fine-grained tannins and bold freshness."

Jeb Dunnuck, who also rated it 97 points, called it "another smoking effort in the vintage," with "awesome aromatics of red and black fruits, smoked tobacco, chocolate, and spice" (jebdunnuck.com, 5/8/2024).

Lastly, Decanter gave it 95 points, noting its "vibrant color" and "dark aromatics" (Decanter, 4/16/2024). The review mentioned its "rich and full" body and "mineral-edged tannins," describing it as "straight and focused."

Overall, the 2023 Larcis-Ducasse is highly praised for its classic character, complex aromatics, and balanced structure.