Chateau Larcis Ducasse Premier Grand Cru Classe B, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015

The aromas to this are phenomenal with oyster shell, blackberries, iodine and black truffles. Full-bodied, layered and so refined and intense. Love the texture and intensity. Chalky. Amazing. Goes on for minutes. Try in 2023.

The 2015 Larcis Ducasse is just as compelling from bottle as it was from barrel. Rose petal, lavender, spice and mint give it an attractive upper register that melds seamlessly into a core of inky red and purplish fruit. Dense, powerful and overt, the 2015 also has quite a bit of freshness to liven up the flavors. Silky tannins and soft contours add to the wine's racy, sensual personality. The 2015 is going to be virtually impossible to resist in its youth.

A more elegant, finesse-driven style of cuvee than normal, the 2015 Château Larcis-Ducasse is comprised of close to 90% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc. It reveals a terrific bouquet of cassis, spring flowers, cedary spice and forest floor, with more graphite and lead pencil nuances developing as it sat in the glass. With full-bodied richness, a tight, backward, yet promising style on the palate, beautiful tannin quality, and a great finish, it’s an undeniably classy, balanced 2015 that will reward 2-4 years of bottle age.

Composed of 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Larcis Ducasse is deep garnet colored. The nose is a little shy and grumpy to start off, offering glimpses at tar, damp soil, truffles, burnt rubber, and smoked meats notes, before going full peacock and revealing gregarious notes of kirsch, juicy black plums, wild blueberries, and violets, followed by a waft of star anise. The full-bodied palate explodes with bright, opulent red, black, and blue fruit layers, showing off this vineyard's remarkable tension and very fine-grained tannins, finishing very long and very fragrant. Enjoy it now, after decanting a good 2-3 hours previously, or forget it in the cellar for another 6-8 years and drink it over the next 25 years+.

The 2015 Larcis-Ducasse is showing just a touch of brettanomyces on the nose that obscures the terroir expression. This is broody and introverted, perhaps closed down for the time being. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin, quite masculine and strict. It feels like there is a lot of Cabernet Franc here (although there is just 13% in the blend). Yet there is plenty of freshness, quite classic in style with a long and precise finish. Excellent, but not as immediate as its peers. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

87% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc. Maturity of the fruit balanced by the limestone terroir. Ripe, dark fruit aroma and flavour – raisins and blackcurrant. The palate tight and firm with good tension and length. Affirmative in style. Slightly chewy finish.