Château Lascombes 2023

2023, BACK TO THE ROOTS

"2023 marks my first vintage at Lascombes. It was a plunge into the origins and rich history of the estate. With this exceptional terroir, which we must now work to shape for the future, we began to work, as artisans of the living. As soon as I arrived, in the almost tropical atmosphere of the vegetative cycle, and after a beautiful flowering, we made meticulous choices in the vineyard: careful management of the foliage to counter the risk of disease by aerating the bunches, while protecting them from excess light, and adjustment of the harvest load to allow the grapes to ripen well while preserving the freshness of the fruit.

The harvest, which began on September 7 and was spread over five weeks, enabled us to pick each plot at just the right level of ripeness. For me, after a long detour via Italy, the time had come to return to my roots: to listen to the raw material in order to decode the pure, natural expression of a unique terroir, whose exploration and understanding will require patience, humility and perseverance. I was quickly seduced by the charm and radiant fruit of the Cabernet Francs. The Merlots required careful selection. After vinification, they revealed their crispness and great finesse. Gentle Extractions allowed the Petit Verdot to express its fruity yet tannic touch. As for the Cabernet-Sauvignons, their complexity, elegance and racy tannins are a tribute to the historic terroir of Lascombes. They guided us, as a matter of course, to the blending of a Château Lascombes 2023 of uprightness, classicism and silkiness. Isn't this the definition of the Margalais style I've come to rediscover?"

VENDANGES

From September 7 to October 9. Hand-picked in several passes, depending on the degree of ripeness of the plots. Meticulous sorting in the vineyard and vat room.

Vinification: gentle infusion. Maceration period of 20 to 30 days, determined by daily tastings.