2018 Murmure de Larcis Ducasse Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 750 ml

Terroir and talent: That’s what any estate needs to reach the pinnacle, and that’s exactly what  Larcis Ducasse has. The château is led by the superstar team of Nicolas Thienpont—his family owns Pomerol’s Château Le Pin and Vieux Château Certan—and Stéphane Derenoncourt, the renowned consultant and author of 100-point La Mondotte. 

Together they preside over Larcis Ducasse’s meticulously farmed 11-hectare vineyard, which abuts Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé “A” Château Pavie on the famed Côte Pavie. 

In this blessed area of Saint Émilion, the clay-rich calcareous soils sit atop limestone, and the vineyards enjoy a dramatic southerly exposure. The grapes (99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc in this bottling) ripen beautifully under these conditions, and the perfectly drained hillsides imbue them with mineral richness and exquisite concentration.

Over two decades ago, when Thienpont and Derenoncourt took over at Larcis Ducasse, Robert Parker declared it “a property to watch closely,” because “dramatic” things would be afoot. By 2018, the team had clearly confirmed Parker’s predictions as their estate emerged as one of the Right Bank’s best.

2018 was a hot, dry vintage “that yielded rich, sumptuous wines,” in the words of Vinous, who noted that “wines from Saint-Émilion's famed limestone plateau handled the rigors of the year exceptionally well.” The Grand Vin of Larcis Ducasse earned a perfect score and carries a price commensurate with that perfection. With Murmure, you can get a taste of their greatness for far less.