Château Larcis Ducasse

Identity

Château Larcis Ducasse is a winegrowing estate located in Saint-Laurent-des-Combes, in the Gironde département. The property belongs to the Gratiot Attmane family, descendants of the Raba family who had owned it since the 18th century. Since 1 August 2024, David Suire has managed the estate, after co-managing the property with Nicolas Thienpont for twenty years. Ariane Gratiot is co-manager of the château. Oenological consulting is provided by Julien Lavenu from Derenoncourt Consultants, who has assisted the estate since 2002. Quentin Debayle has served as cellar master and assistant technical director since January 2022.

History and Philosophy

The history of Château Larcis Ducasse dates back to the 18th century. As early as the 16th century, the wines produced on these lands enjoyed a fine reputation. In 1841, Lecoutre de Beauvais cited Larcis as one of the finest crus in Saint-Émilion. The estate was awarded a gold medal at the 1867 Paris Universal Exposition. In 1893, Henry Raba acquired the property. Management was subsequently handed down through generations, with André Raba taking over in 1925, followed by Hélène Gratiot Alphandéry from 1941, assisted by cellar master Pharaon Roche. From 1990 onwards, Jacques Olivier Gratiot managed the estate. In 2002, Nicolas Thienpont began his collaboration with the château, contributing significantly to its development. Château Larcis Ducasse was promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé B in the 2012 Saint-Émilion classification, a status it retained and reaffirmed in 2022. The generational transition within the owner family began in 2024, and Nicolas Thienpont stepped down on 1 August 2024, leaving David Suire at the helm of the château.

Appellations

Château Larcis Ducasse produces its wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation, holding the rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé B since 2012, reconfirmed in 2022.

Winemaking and Ageing

Harvesting is carried out by hand. Vinification takes place in concrete vats. Ageing for the grand vin lasts between 16 and 18 months, with the proportion of new oak barrels ranging from 55% to 75%, using 225- to 500-litre barrels.

Practical Information

Château Larcis Ducasse is located at 1067, route des Coteaux, 33330 Saint-Laurent-des-Combes. The estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 (0)5 57 24 70 84 or by email at contact@larcis-ducasse.com. Visits are strictly by appointment for wine professionals only. There are no direct sales at the property nor tastings for the general public. The estate does not offer gîtes or guest rooms.

Find Out More

Official website of the estate

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The vineyard of Château Larcis Ducasse spans 11.15 hectares. It is located within the historic perimeter of the Saint-Émilion plateau and the grande côte, at the heart of the Côte Pavie on a south-facing slope overlooking the Dordogne. 85% of the vineyard is planted on slopes. The vines have an average age of 35 years, with new plantings reaching planting densities of over 8,000 vines per hectare. The terroir is predominantly clay-limestone, featuring diverse profiles: 10% clay-limestone over starfish limestone subsoil on the plateau, 55% shallow clay-silt terraces over starfish limestone subsoil, and 35% clay-limestone colluvial soils on the slopes. The grape varieties grown are Merlot, representing 83% of plantings, and Cabernet Franc at 17%. The estate carries out mechanical soil cultivation, cover crop sowing, green harvesting to control yields, and uses biodynamic composts. The château holds HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) certification.

Flagship Cuvées

The estate's grand vin is Château Larcis Ducasse, a Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé. In its youth, this still red wine offers aromas of strawberry, cherry, blackberry, and blackcurrant, alongside chalky, spicy, and floral notes. With ageing, it develops aromas of truffle, forest floor, violet, tobacco, and sweet oriental spices. Average annual production is around 35,000 to 38,000 bottles. The château's second wine is Murmure de Larcis Ducasse. The estate also offers a special cuvée named “La Côte Larcis”, presented in a collector’s box set and reflecting three terroir interpretations across various vintages: "root-driven" expressions (1966, 1983, 2004, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2021 vintages), "eastern-scented" (1945, 1959, 1990, 2005, 2009, 2015, 2018 vintages), "luminous" (1967, 1971, 1989, 2010, 2016, 2020, 2022 vintages), and "saline" expressions (1961, 1962, 1988, 2008, 2019, 2023 vintages).