The tasting of Château Larcis Ducasse, Premier Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Émilion, around four themes.
The tasting took place in the magnificent winery, designed by architect Philippe Ducos, and was centered around four themes:
1.Pied de Côte, the “Racinaires”
2. Heart of the Slope “with oriental scents”
3. The Plateau of the “Salins”
4. High hillside, the “Luminous”
Since the summer of 2024, David Suire has taken the helm of Château Larcis Ducasse. While discretion has always been a characteristic of the estate, the arrival of Alice Leuret as the commercial manager marks a strategic turning point. The estate aims to strengthen its market development with a clear goal of increased openness and wider influence. It is in this dynamic that the first tasting, organized on-site for the partners of La Place de Bordeaux, took place in early February, in the presence of co-owner Amel Attmane.
Since its acquisition in 1893 by Henry Henriques-Raba, Château Larcis Ducasse has remained in the hands of the same family. The current generation has been keen, as highlighted in the press release, to preserve this legacy by entrusting the joint management to Ariane Gratiot, daughter of Jacques-Olivier Gratiot, and Amel Attmane, daughter of Jeanne Attmane.
Ideally located at the heart of the Côte Pavie, overlooking the Dordogne valley, Château Larcis Ducasse rests on an exceptional terroir. Its soil is a layered combination of clay and limestone, marked by the presence of natural springs. 15% of the vineyard is planted on the limestone plateau, which gives the wine its characteristic salinity. The remainder of the vines extends over the Côte Pavie, facing south/southwest and naturally irrigated throughout the year.
As explained by David Suire in our Inside on June 28, 2024, Inside La Place – The freshness of Larcis Ducasse, this vineyard stands out due to the sharp contrast between its intense sunlight exposure and the freshness of its soils, which are among the coolest in the appellation.
It is a great terroir that naturally tempers the climate each year. Here, the dominance of Merlot (80%), complemented by 20% Cabernet Franc, the emblematic grape varieties, make all the difference. The annual production ranges between 32,000 and 38,000 bottles.
Pied de Côte, the « Racinaires »
The vintages 2014, 2017, and 2021, where the cold nature of the vintage is more marked by the soil than by the sun. The deep rooting of the vines in soils of clay and limestone sand, in varying proportions, shapes their identity.
2014: In Bordeaux, we often refer to 2014 as a classic vintage, unbiased, because in classic, balance is key. This vintage, without excess, reveals tertiary aromas today and has reached its peak.
2017: Larcis Ducasse was relatively spared by the spring frost. The resulting wine presents an airy structure, marked by red fruit notes and a delicate freshness that lengthens the finish. A wine that can already be enjoyed now.
2021: This vintage will remain the “bad boy” of the market, with Primeur prices disconnected from the prices of deliverable wines. As for the quality, Thomas Duclos described it very well in the Inside of May 28, 2022, Inside La Place – The man who observes the nuances: “It’s a return to contemporary classicism, with a touch of irreverence and a form of insolence, as if it were breaking out of the frame.” The key word for 2021: humility. A battle, a fight to overcome. Larcis Ducasse rose to the challenge, delivering a perfectly balanced 2021, which will certainly surprise us in 10 years!
Heart of the Slope “with oriental scents”
In this parcel, the opulence and generosity of the fruit are expressed under the sun’s influence of the vintage, while the limestone structures the power of the clay. The vintages 2015 and 2018 are perfect illustrations of this. Both summers were marked by dry and hot conditions, with heatwave peaks in 2018.
The 2018 vintage, on the other hand, is more massive at this stage, with a defined tannic structure and more pronounced power. The sun was certainly very present in both vintages, but thanks to the freshness of the soils, the Merlots are well framed, with salinity and liveliness that provide a beautiful length.
The Plateau of the “Salins”
The vintages 2019 and 2023 perfectly illustrate the influence of limestone, which imparts freshness, minerality, and a distinctive iodized framework to these wines. This terroir rests on a hard rock, a marine-origin limestone slab with asterisks, topped by a fine layer of brown clay.Among these two vintages, 2019 particularly captivated me with its delicacy and refinement. It stands out with subtle floral aromas and a persistent freshness. As for 2023, still reserved at this stage, it promises to evolve magnificently and could well establish itself as one of the greatest vintages of Larcis Ducasse.
High Hillside, the “Luminous”
The vintages 2016, 2020, and 2022 are undoubtedly among the greatest ever produced at the estate. The Fronsadais molasse, a soft and sedimentary rock where clay and limestone blend harmoniously, imparts a brilliant luminosity to these wines. As noted in the description of the estate, these three vintages combine exceptional aging potential with the ability to provide immediate pleasure. Their fascinating freshness fully reveals itself after a few hours in a decanter, thus enhancing their complexity and brilliance.
As for the 2024 vintage, which concluded the tasting, David Suire and his team went above and beyond to preserve its quality. The preparations aimed at bringing the grapes to optimal ripeness, as well as the harvest, often conducted in the rain, were particularly demanding. A rigorous selection was made to retain only the best of this vintage. And I can already tell you one thing… It’s really not bad at all!
We look forward to sharing the 2024 Primeur tastings with you during the week of April 14.
Gerda BEZIADE has an incredible passion for wine, and possesses a perfect knowledge of Bordeaux acquired within prestigious wine merchants for 25 years. Gerda joins Roland Coiffe & Associés in order to bring you, through “Inside La PLACE” more information about the estate we sell.