Château Larcis Ducasse

The estate traces its origins to ancient Roman times, making it one of Saint-Émilion's most historically rooted properties. Henri Raba purchased the property in 1893, and ownership passed to Hélène Gratiot Alphandéry in 1941, keeping the estate within the Gratiot family for over a century. Despite this long tenure, the wines fell out of critical favor and the estate languished in relative obscurity for much of the late twentieth century. The turning point came in 2002 when Nicolas Thienpont, already known for his work at Pavie Macquin and Le Pin, took over management. Working alongside consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt, Thienpont overhauled viticulture and winemaking practices. The results were decisive: the estate earned promotion to Premier Grand Cru Classé B in the landmark 2012 reclassification. In 2024, David Suire assumed the role of technical director and current manager, continuing the estate's upward trajectory.

• Ancient Roman origins on the Côte de Pavie
• Henri Raba purchased in 1893; Gratiot family ownership from 1941
• Nicolas Thienpont revitalized the estate from 2002, with Stéphane Derenoncourt as consultant
• Promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé B in 2012

Larcis Ducasse occupies 11.15 hectares on the Côte de Pavie, the slope connecting Saint-Émilion's plateau to the lower terraces. The south-facing aspect delivers generous sun exposure, yet the soils remain among the coolest in the appellation, moderated by the limestone plateau above and the proximity of the Dordogne River below. Soil composition across the estate is notably varied: roughly 10% of the vineyard sits on limestone-clay plateau over asteriated limestone, 55% covers terraces with very shallow loamy clay soils on asteriated limestone, and the remainder consists of limestone-clay colluvial soils on hillsides alongside chalk, marl, sand, and silt. This mosaic of soil types, combined with the elevation peaking at 86 meters, contributes directly to the minerality and structural complexity that define the estate's wines.

• South-facing slopes on the Côte de Pavie at up to 86 meters elevation
• 55% of vineyard on shallow loamy clay over asteriated limestone
• Cool soils despite warm aspect, moderated by limestone and the Dordogne
• Complex soil mosaic including chalk, marl, sand, and silt

The estate is planted predominantly to Merlot, which accounts for 83 to 90 percent of the vineyard, with Cabernet Franc making up the balance at 10 to 17 percent. This blend composition is typical of Saint-Émilion's plateau and côtes estates, where Merlot thrives in the clay-rich soils and Cabernet Franc provides aromatic lift and structural backbone. Under Thienpont and Derenoncourt, the focus shifted toward precision viticulture, lower yields, and gentle extraction techniques designed to highlight the site's natural minerality rather than extract maximum power. The approach emphasizes finesse and freshness over concentration, a philosophy well-suited to the naturally cool soil temperatures on the Côte de Pavie.

• Merlot dominant at 83-90%, Cabernet Franc 10-17%
• Viticulture refocused under Thienpont toward lower yields and precision farming
• Winemaking philosophy prioritizes finesse, freshness, and mineral expression
• Consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt shaped the post-2002 winemaking approach

The 2012 Saint-Émilion classification represented a watershed moment for Larcis Ducasse. Promoted from Grand Cru Classé to Premier Grand Cru Classé B, the estate joined a select group of properties at the second-highest tier of Saint-Émilion's hierarchy, below only the two Premier Grand Cru Classé A estates, Pétrus excepted as it falls under Pomerol. The promotion reflected the measurable quality gains achieved in the decade following Thienpont's arrival and confirmed the estate's standing among the appellation's most serious terroirs. Annual production of roughly 32,000 to 38,000 bottles keeps Larcis Ducasse in high demand, and the wines are now counted among Saint-Émilion's most sought-after labels by collectors and trade buyers alike.

• Promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé B in the 2012 reclassification
• Previously classified as Grand Cru Classé
• Production limited to approximately 32,000-38,000 bottles per year
• Recognized as one of Saint-Émilion's benchmark côtes terroirs