2005 Larcis Ducasse, St-Emilion

“I’ve had many brilliant bottles of the 2005 Château Larcis Ducasse but it’s never shown as spectacularly as on this occasion. It’s a magical, phenomenal Saint-Emilion that couldn’t get any better. Stunningly pure crème de cassis, white truffle, white flowers, cedar pencil, and smoked earth nuances all emerge from this incredibly powerful, opulent wine that has the hallmark minerality, freshness and focus of this great terroir. Don’t miss this!” (04/2020)

“With an unbelievable nose of licorice, tapenade, black cherry and blackcurrant liqueur, as well as full body, super-sweet tannin, and astonishing richness and length, this prodigious effort in 2005 announced the resurrection of this great terroir on the slopes near Château Pavie. Dark garnet/plum/purple, this is compelling stuff and drinkable already, but capable of lasting another 25-30 years. This beauty is not to be missed! (RP)” (06/2015)

“Deep garnet colored, the 2005 Larcis Ducasse swans out of the glass with opulent scents of plum preserves, kirsch, raspberry pie, and dried mulberries, giving way to nuances of cigar box, star anise, crushed rocks, and truffles. The full-bodied palate is electric with tension and energetic, evolving black and red berry flavors, framed by very fine-grained tannins, finishing long with a whole firework display of mineral and exotic spice sparks. (LPB)” (09/2022)

“The 2005 Larcis Ducasse is one of the great surprises of this retrospective of nearly two hundred 2005s. A wine of shocking intensity, power and structure, the 2005 is still an infant. Inky dark fruit, gravel, lavender, leather and spice all hit the palate. In the glass, the 2005 is marvelously deep, rich and dark. I am not sure if the tannins will ever fully soften, but so what? The 2005 Larcis Ducasse is an epic wine that shows just how magical this estate is. Superb. (AG)” (04/2021)

“Ruby red in colour, tobacco, liqourice and smoky oak on the nose. This was one of the more austere wines during En Primeur and over its first decade, but it has fully integrated now, with supple, plump tannins, lashings of black fruit, fresh truffle, orange peel, saffron, waves of fresh acidity, decades ahead of it. It's on the understated side, with so much of the power remaining reserved rather than overt, but the intensity ramps up as you sit with the glass, and this is a stunning wine that sings of the slow-ageing, teasing nature of limestone.” (06/2022)

“This merits taking your time, letting it open and express itself, you can easily wait longer before drinking this if you have a bottle. It’s still young but very elegant, vibrant and gentle but beguiling and seductive. The very first hints of tertiary truffle notes are starting to de displayed here yet still with the wonderful smile of a young wine. It’s also worth pointing out that there were lots of chateaux in St-Émilion at this point that were still going at 200% roaring through the gears, and this is a lovely reminder that you didn't need to do that. 55% new oak was used. (JA)” (09/2019)

“This is well-stuffed, with juicy bramble, cassis bush, blackberry paste and plum sauce flavors that are nicely backlit by floral and mineral notes. Still very compact on the finish but with excellent energy, this stands out from the pack, showing more briar than chalk in the structure. A mouthwatering, vivacious wine that will stretch out nicely with some extended cellaring. (JM)” (03/2013)