Michel Bettane: Big color, excessively round on the nose, with an evident quest for suavity; silky texture, complex, but better for tasting than for drinking: an ultra-ripe finish. But no lack of a certain Margaux-like elegance. 17

Thierry Desseauve: Rich color, oaky and toasty aromas for a very Merlot-style wine. Very sweet and ripe body, the tannins are perfectly drawn, silky and balanced finish. Very Lascombes and very 2009. 17

Michael Schuster: Nose dominated by cedary oak; and that dry oak astringency dominates the palate, too, where a delicate, sweetly ripe fruit is gripped and smothered by the dry wood tannin. Good core fruit, but not sure this will ever really harmonize. Too much (or too modest in quality?) new wood for the available fruit. Difficult to know how to score this… Class, yes, but class marred by its oak treatment. 2022–30+. 16.5?