The 2018 Larcis Ducasse is a powerful yet restrained wine, with a deep garnet-purple color and a complex bouquet of crushed blackberries, plum preserves, boysenberries, black truffles, tapenade, and subtle rose and clove perfumes. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers a rich layer of dark fruits, complemented by savory sparks and firm, slightly chewy tannins. Its long, earthy finish showcases the wine's great structure and precision. Despite its intensity, the tannins are finely textured, making it enjoyable even in its youth, though it will benefit from aging until at least 2026. Rich in dark chocolate, liquorice, and slate notes, this wine embodies the elegance of its south-facing slopes and limestone terroir.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 97
Published: Jan 21, 2021

Polished aromas of lavender, plum, dried blueberry, clove, sandalwood and dark chocolate. Hints of praline. It’s full-bodied with firm, tightly knit tannins. Supple, seamless layers with great length and precision. Still reserved and tight. A toned and textured red with great structure. Try from 2026.

The Wine Advocate | RP 96
Published: Mar 31, 2021
Drink: 2024-2050

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Larcis Ducasse needs a fair bit of swirling to unlock notes of crushed blackberries, plum preserves and boysenberries with suggestions of black truffles, tapenade and crushed rocks coming through, building to a subtle underlying perfume of roses and cloves. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating black fruits and loads of savory sparks, framed by firm, slightly chewy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and earthy. 

Decanter | D 95
Published: Apr 4, 2019
Drink: 2026-2040

Powerful but with a sense of restraint, this is extremely well handled in 2018. The difference between this and a more massive St-Emilion is subtle for sure - it's unquestionably on the dark fruit register - but you notice it in the way that the tannins respond and bounce rather than stiffen up in the mouth. You can enjoy them as they close in around you rather than beg for air. The palate has lots of dark chocolate, liquorice and slate notes, with cassis and blackberry fruits. This is from south-facing slopes, so there's plenty of ripeness in the grapes, but the limestone helps to temper it, along with the natural water sources that are found at this spot. Owned by Famille Gratiot-Attmane, but with the Nicolas Thienpont team overseeing winemaking.

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 17
Published: Feb 9, 2022
Drink: 2024-2042

Tasted blind. Distinctive sweaty-leathery nose. Round and very mellow on the palate. Sweet and charming – though again quite potent. Saline. Almost exaggerated… 

Larcis-ducasse.com

In their youth, Larcis Ducasse wines are rich, powerful, and silky. They release captivating fruity aromas, with notes of strawberry, cherry, blackberry, and blackcurrant, and a chalky, spicy, and floral character.

As it ages, the fruity notes give way to an intense bouquet with more complex, evolved notes, ranging from truffle to undergrowth, violet, tobacco or sweet oriental spices.