Bordeaux Château Larcis Ducasse 6 bouteilles 2019

The Estate

Château Larcis Ducasse — Premier Grand Cru Classé Elevation

Perched on the limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion’s iconic côte, Château Larcis Ducasse commands one of the appellation’s most privileged terroirs. The estate’s history stretches back centuries, but its modern renaissance began when Nicolas Thienpont — architect of Le Pin’s legendary success — and Gratien and Hélène Ménard acquired the property in 2002, bringing meticulous viticulture and restrained winemaking philosophy to these ancient limestone slopes.

Promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé status in the 2012 Saint-Émilion classification, Larcis Ducasse has earned widespread recognition for wines of remarkable purity and mineral tension. The estate’s 11 hectares produce wines that balance Saint-Émilion’s characteristic richness with a crystalline elegance, reflecting both the limestone bedrock and Thienpont’s precision-focused approach. This six-bottle case offers collectors an exceptional opportunity to acquire this distinguished cuvée from an outstanding vintage.

This Lot

Available as 6 bottles case — ideal for collectors and long-term cellaring.

Terroir & Grapes

Limestone Côte Excellence

The vineyard occupies a privileged position on Saint-Émilion’s southeastern limestone côte, where the ancient calcaire à astéries bedrock imparts distinctive mineral character and natural freshness. This unique geological foundation — the same formation that underpins Château Pavie and other great côte estates — provides exceptional drainage and forces vines to dig deep, producing small berries of remarkable concentration. The meso-climate here benefits from southeastern exposure and cooling influences that preserve aromatic complexity and natural acidity.

Vinification & Ageing

Precision & Restraint

Under Nicolas Thienpont’s direction, Larcis Ducasse follows a philosophy of minimal intervention that allows terroir expression to shine through. Parcels are vinified separately in temperature-controlled concrete and stainless steel vessels, with gentle extraction techniques that preserve fruit purity and avoid over-extraction. Fermentation is carefully monitored to respect the delicate aromatic profile of each lot, with indigenous yeasts playing an increasing role in recent vintages.

The wine matures for 18 months in French oak barrels, with approximately 60-70% new wood carefully selected to complement rather than dominate the wine’s inherent character. The élevage is designed to integrate tannins and build complexity while maintaining the limestone-driven freshness that defines the estate’s signature style.

Vintage Character

The 2019 Miracle

The 2019 vintage in Bordeaux delivered exceptional quality across the Right Bank, combining the concentration and ripeness of a warm growing season with remarkable freshness preserved by timely rainfall and cool nights in September. For Saint-Émilion’s limestone terroirs, the year proved particularly blessed, as the calcaire bedrock provided natural temperature regulation during summer heat while maintaining optimal acidity levels. Many critics have hailed 2019 as superior even to the lauded 2018, particularly for estates on the côte where minerality and tension define house style.

At Larcis Ducasse, the Merlot achieved perfect phenolic ripeness with intact natural acidity, a rare combination that yields wines of both power and grace. The vintage produced wines with immediate appeal yet possessing the structure and balance for extended cellaring — a hallmark of truly great Bordeaux years.

Tasting Notes

Limestone Precision

The 2019 Larcis Ducasse opens with captivating aromatics of crushed black cherries, blackberries, and violets, interwoven with subtle notes of graphite, crushed stone, and sweet tobacco. On the palate, the wine reveals remarkable density and concentration, yet never loses its sense of lift and elegance — the limestone signature asserting itself through a vein of cool minerality that runs from entry to finish. Fine-grained tannins provide structure without heaviness, while vibrant acidity carries the wine’s complex layers of dark fruit, exotic spice, and earthy undertones through a long, precise finish. This is Saint-Émilion of the highest order: powerful yet refined, rich yet fresh, immediate yet built for the long haul.

Critics’ Scores

International Acclaim

The 2019 Larcis Ducasse has earned outstanding recognition from the world’s most respected wine critics, confirming its status as one of the vintage’s finest achievements on Saint-Émilion’s limestone côte. Wine Advocate awarded the wine 94-96 points, praising its “gorgeous purity and precision,” while Vinous scored it 93-95 points, noting “remarkable intensity without weight.” James Suckling awarded 95-96 points, describing it as “one of the finest Larcis Ducasse wines yet made.” These scores place the 2019 among the estate’s most successful vintages, reflecting both the exceptional year and the continued evolution of quality under Thienpont’s stewardship.

Service & Pairing

Cellar & Table

While approachable in its youth thanks to supple tannins and generous fruit, the 2019 Larcis Ducasse will reward patience, evolving gracefully over two to three decades in a properly maintained cellar. Decant for at least two hours to allow the wine’s aromatic complexity to fully unfold. This Premier Grand Cru Classé pairs magnificently with refined preparations of beef — think côte de boeuf with bone marrow, tournedos Rossini, or aged prime rib — as well as game birds such as roasted duck or squab, wild mushroom dishes, and aged hard cheeses like Comté or Parmigiano-Reggiano. The wine’s mineral backbone and