Château Larcis-Ducasse

Larcis-Ducasse is one of St-Emilion’s most prized estates. Sitting south facing on the renowned Côte de Pavie and adjacent to Château Pavie, its location couldn’t be better. The estate has long been sought after and its wines were commanding high prices as far back as the 1700s. Larcis-Ducasse was inherited by Hélène Gratiot Alphandéry in 1941 and the estate has stayed in the Gratiot family. Since 2002, the wine has been made by Nicolas Thienpoint and David Suire, with Stéphane Derenoncourt (who also advises for Pavie-Macquin and Berliquet) on hand to advise. Their hard work has paid dividends, with the promotion of the estate in 2012 to Grand Cru Classé (B). There are 11.3 hectares of vineyards on the limestone slopes, the majority planted with Merlot, but also a touch of Cabernet Franc. A second wine is sometimes made, Murmure de Larcis Ducasse, but in great vintages all the grapes are reserved for the Grand Vin.