2022 Larcis Ducasse, St-Emilion

This is marked by the chalky tannins, which are very cohesive and caressing. The ripe and dry year gave a more savory character to the wine, with notes of mussel shells, fine spices and dried orange peel coloring the fruit. Medium to full body with a compressed mouthfeel from the vibrant, powdery tannins.

The blend is 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc, and the élevage here was 70% new oak, in 225- and 500-litre barrels, as well as 10% resting in foudre s. A dark, dense, coherent and savoury character to the black fruit on the nose, with a lovely sense of dark purity, with dried black cherry, currant and damson, framed by a powdered limestone detailing. The palate is elegantly composed, very stylish, coherent, with fine layers of desiccated black berry fruits, saline and savoury, and laced with touches of tobacco, toast and leather. A very impressive composition here, so very complete yet dark and focused, with a peppery drive underneath the fruit, smoky and laced with liquorice and sandy minerals in the finish. This is a seriously good St Emilion, savoury with structure, coherence, drive and plenty of promise;in short, a superb Larcis Ducasse, brilliantly individual while hanging on to its Côte de Pavie roots, and one of the best I can recall tasting from this property. (CK)