2004 - Lascombes, Margaux

Vibrant plum purple colour, an impressive 2004 that has plenty of structure and tannic heft even as it approaches 20 years old, and you can see at this point that a more muscular style of Lascombes was being produced compared to the earlier decades of this vertical. Silky texture, blueberry, pie crust, liqourice root, mint leaf, soot, cocoa bean, with pockets of air that carry you through the palate. An enjoyable example of an often overlooked vintage. 44hl/h yield, harvest October 1 to 25, 85% new oak for ageing, still Oxoline with ageing on the lees. Dominique Befve director, Alain Raynaud and Michel Rolland consultant winemakers.

Good bright ruby. Wild aromas and flavors of blackberry, coffee, mocha, chocolate and game. Sweet, dense and lush but with plenty of acidity giving the wine shape and structure. Quite concentrated for 2004: offers a very broad mouth feel without coming across as heavy. Finishes with horizontal, toothcoating tannins. An impressive showing.