Chateau Lascombes |
| Newstime：2009-08-04 09:14:09 Befrom： Writer： |
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History
The Lascombes estate has its origins in at least the 17th Century, when the property was owned by the Durfort de Duras family. The family held sway over huge swathes of land in the Médoc (and had done since the 12th Century), and this particular part of their estate was no back garden. At some point before the mid-18th Century by which time the two estates were clearly separate entities, the Duras property was divided, one part being the origin for Durfort-Vivens, the other destined to be Lascombes. The name most probably comes from the Lascombes family, the earliest record of which concerns a Chevalier Antoine de Lascombes, who was born in the region in 1625. The estate came to Antoine from the Duras family, although the exact route of transfer is not clear, and it remained with his descendants for at least a century thereafter. It passed through the hands of Jean-François de Lascombes, a Bordeaux councilor and naval prosecutor, who dedicated his wealth to making a great wine at Lascombes. Later, the chateau was succeeded by his sister, Anne, who had no heir and as a consequence she was the last Lascombes to own the family estate.
Shortly after the Revolution Lascombes then passed into the hands of Nathaniel Johnston, the négociant firm established by the Scottish-Irish immigrant William Johnston, and Loraique held the tenure during the 1820s. His heirs subsequently sold the estate to the Hüé family. Despite passing from pillar to post, and a significant reduction in the size of the vineyard, the estate still enjoyed a good reputation and was classified as a deuxième cru in the 1855 classification. Nevertheless, Lascombes continued to pass from one owner to the next like a hot potato; Hüé's son-in-law took over, and he then sold it on to Gustave Chaix-d'Est-Ange, who bequeathed it to his children Jean-Jules Théophile and Jeanne-Marie. The former was a lawyer of great repute, having won a significant case against Egypt over the Suez Canal, and it is perhaps unsurprising that he was an absentee landlord, the estate managed in his absence by a M. Valbord Hugen. Nevertheless, it was Jean-Jules that built the chateau that still stands today, now covered in ivy. He also saw fit to expand his estate, acquiring the neighbouring Marquis d'Alesme-Becker, his intention being to amalgamate the two estates. But Jean-Jules died in 1923 before this was achieved, and his successor, the adopted Comte Emmanuel du Bourg du Bazas, sold Alesme-Becker to Chaplin & Co. Lascombes, however, he held onto, for a few years at least. In 1926 the estate was formed into a company, the major shareholders being the Ginestets.
They owned the estate throughout the Second World War, in the latter stages of which it was utilised by Allied forces as a headquarters. But the vineyard remained tiny, and fragmented. It may well have floundered altogether - it would not be the only classed growth from the 1855 classification to disappear had it done so - but rescue came in the shape of Alexis Lichine, who purchased the estate in 1951, only one year after acquiring Chateau Prieuré-Lichine. In doing so, Lichine had fulfilled a lifelong ambition (for the second time with Lascombes), to own a Bordeaux chateaux.In 1971 the backing company, who were the true owners rather than Lichine, was taken over by the brewing giant Bass Charrington, and the Lichine era came to an end. Bass Charrington continued his work, however, enlarging the vineyard, although generally through the acquisition of distant plots (some unfortunately of questionable quality, and bearing young vines), adding to the patchwork quilt that was the Lascombes vineyards. There was refurbishment in the cellars also, with a new reception room, and a new system of stainless steel pipes for the transport of the must, powered by compressed air. And there were also new fermentation vats installed. Nevertheless, there was no stratospheric climb in quality.In April 2001, a controlling 53% stake in the estate was purchased by an American pension fund group Capital Colony, in unison with entrepreneur Yves Vatelot, for the tidy sum of $67 million, and the new owners were set to really shake things up at Lascombes. And a new era has begun for this property.
Nowadays’ Owner
Chairman of the Board of Directors: Sebastien Bazin
Sebastien Bazin represents Colony Capital, the main shareholder of Chateau Lascombes. Colony Capital is one of the most active and innovative international investment funds in the real estate sector.
Technique Information
Location: Chateau Lascombes is located in the commune of Margaux, Bordeaux.
Appellation: Appellation Margaux Controlee
Neighboring Chateau: Chateau Durfort Vivens (2nd Growth of Margaux in1855)
Acreage: 84 hectare
Soil: clay-limestone and clay-gravel suitable for growing Merlot, clay-limestone and gravel for Cabernet Sauvignon and gravel for Petit Verdot.
Grape Varieties: 50% Merlot, 45%Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot
Average age of vines: 35 years
Cultivation density: 8,000 to 10,000 vines per hectare
Viticulture: Use 101-14, Riparia and 3309C Rootstocks; Throughout the growing season, removal on non fruit-bearing lateral shoots, de-leafing on each side of the rows, and careful crop thinning according to the needs of each vine, are all carried out by hand to enhance the ripening process through better ventilation and exposure to sunlight. Pruned in double-Guyot; Harvest by hand.
Winemaking: Pre-fermentation lasts approximately one week, at 8℃; Alcoholic fermentation at 28℃, maceration at 30℃; Malo-lactic fermentation in barrel at a temperature of 21℃; Both Chateau Lascombes & Chevalier de Lascombes are aged on the lees over a 4 month period; The wine is gently racked with compressed air every three months; Fined in the traditional manner with egg whites. Aging in barrels 18 to 20 months, 80% new annually French oak.
Yield: 40-50 hectolitres per hectare
Brand: Chateau Lascombes(First Label)(A.O.C. Margaux)
Chevalier de Lascombes(Second Label)(A.O.C. Margaux)
Annually production: Chateau Lascombes (First Label): 250,000 bottles
Chevalier de Lascombes (Second Label): 70,000 bottles
Character:
Chateau Lascombes (First Label): Chateau Lascombes is a long-ageing wine. It is concentrated and powerful, tannic, with all the elegance and finesse of the great Margaux wines. At maturity, this wine can offer a bouquet with a fragrance of ripe black currants, spicy vanilla oakiness and violets. The wine is rich and full flavored.
Chevalier de Lascombes (Second Label): The second wine, Chevalier de Lascombes, is fruitier in flavor, and suppler. It can be enjoyed five to ten years after bottling, while waiting for the great wine to reach full maturity in the cellar. Medium-bodied, light tannin, moderately acidity, should be drinkable early.
Best vintages: Chateau Lascombes (First Label): 1966, 1970, 1995, 2001
Award: 2nd Grand Cru Classe in 1855 Margaux.
Website: http://www.chateau-lascombes.com/
Serving Suggestion
Cellar Humidity and Temperature: 75-85%, 14-18℃
Serving temperature: 17℃-19℃
Optimum Drinking and Ageing Potential: 15-20 years
Food match:
Chateau Lascombes (First Label):
Western Food: A perfect complement to any red grilled meat, beef, lamb, or duck breast and cheese.
Chevalier de Lascombes (Second Label):
Western Food: Charcoal grilled Lobster, Roasted duck, Grilled rack of lamb, Braised sea-cucumber w/mushroom, Pan-fried rib of veal.
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