This shows tons of well expressed brambly black fruits, fresh and full of juice, with the slatey minerality on the finish that I always love. This should be good value and there`s no need to wait too long to get going. Small yields at 23hl/ha, and this isn`t an organic property - the mildew impact was extremely widespread in 2018. 2% Petit Verdot makes up the blend. Eric Boissenot consults. Drink 2026 - 2038. 92 points

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot; 60% new oak. Darkest cherry colour with black core. Spicy and marked by the oak on the nose with a note of dark chocolate. Lighter on the palate than I expected, relatively delicate tannins and not a lot of fruit flavour at the core but handled gently enough to be just about in balance, if a little oaky. 15.5 points

The 2018 Lascombes is deep garnet-purple in color and a little reduced to begin, offering tar and scorched earth notions over an emerging core of baked blackcurrants, plum preserves and charcuterie plus hints of bay leaves and underbrush. Full, richly fruited and laden with ripe black fruits and earthy suggestions, it has a solid foundation of firm, grainy tannins and finishes long and savory. 92-94 points

The 2018 Lascombes is quite attractive in this vintage. Black cherry, plum, cloves, leather, tobacco and licorice all run through a succulent, supple Margaux that will drink well with minimal cellaring. This is an especially modern, fruit-forward style. 90-93 points

This is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, picked between September 18th and October 16th, at a yield of 45 hl/ha. The declared alcohol is a modest 13.5%. After a cold soak lasting ten days, this was vinified in a traditional manner. It has a rather reticent nose, smoky and laden with oak, and not showing much in the way of fruit at the moment. The palate seems equally reticent on this encounter, with a polished su bstance, elegantly refined, carrying a rather substantial seam of tannic grip, giving this barrel sample a broad and peppery structure, along with a fresh and bright acidity. A little difficult to judge this one, but the palate suggests this has promise. Well done. The élevage will be in 60% new oak and 40% second-fill oak. 92-94 points