Larcis Ducasse 2017 (750ML)

96 JS / 96 VM / 95 WI / 94 JD / 94 WCI / 93 WS / 93 WE

#72 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of France 2020

This is a wine that is showing lots of structure with tightly wound tannins that spin through the center palate. Full-bodied, intense and beautiful. Pure and real. Drink after 2025. - James Suckling

The 2017 Larcis Ducasse is just as compelling from bottle as it was from barrel. Pliant and deep, with terrific fruit purity, Larcis possesses striking fruit purity and tons of resonance. Red cherry, blood orange, pomegranate, mint, spice, licorice and mocha infuse the 2017 with striking complexity as well as nuance. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this gem. Larcis is never one of the most obvious wines in Saint-Émilion, but it is often among the most regal. Best of all, Larcis remains one of the best values anywhere in the world. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

A blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Larcis Ducasse is medium to deep garnet colored. It soars from the glass with fragrant notes of rose oil, Morello cherries, redcurrant preserves, and raspberry leaves, followed by suggestions of Ceylon tea, fallen leaves, cardamom, and lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate is soft, graceful, and caressing, delivering just enough freshness to the perfumed red fruits, finishing with a soft-spoken intensity. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

I always love this wine and the 2017 Chateau Larcis Ducasse is no exception. Offering up a complex bouquet of spiced red and black fruits, white truffle, smoked game, and hints of underbrush, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, nicely integrated acidity, and present yet ripe, polished tannins as well as subtle background oak. It's not a blockbuster like the 2015 and 2016 but has a terrific sense of minerality, flawless balance, and a great finish. Give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following 15-20 years or so. The blend is 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc and was brought up in 60% new barrels. - Jeb Dunnuck

Stony, mineral-driven red plums and cherries are all over the place. Concentrated, fresh, complex and fresh, give this a decade or so, allowing everything to come together, gaining complexities, nuances and softness-JeffLeve, Wine Cellar Insider

Refined and focused, with a core of gently mulled plum and dark cherry fruit flavors, laced with rooibos tea, incense and red licorice notes. Shows a light bramble hint through the finish. Stylish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2035. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 3,000 cases made. - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

At this stage, this wine is muted, but its future and structure are all in place. As it opens, it will reveal smoky fruits, rich tannins, impressive concentration and a core of black-plum and berry flavors. This will take time, so drink the wine from 2024. — Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast

Deep dark ruby, purple reflections, faint brightening on the rim. Attractive bouquet with cherry fruit, floral notes and delicate blackberry and orange zest. Juicy, elegant and balanced with pleasant fruit sweetness, fine acidity, mineral and long. Promising ageing potential.-Peter Moser, Falstaff