The Médoc has long been defined by its rigid hierarchies and its unwavering devotion to Cabernet Sauvignon. However, the winds of change are blowing through the gates of Château Lascombes. Since its acquisition in late 2022 by American billionaire Gaylon Lawrence Jr., the Margaux Second Growth has undergone a profound transformation. At the heart of this evolution is the introduction of La Côte, a 100% Merlot cuvée that represents not only a departure from estate tradition but a bold statement on the untapped potential of Margaux’s unique terroir.

Guided by the expertise of Axel Heinz—the celebrated winemaker who cemented the legendary status of Italy’s Masseto and Ornellaia—Château Lascombes is repositioning itself. By opting for a bottle-only release strategy for La Côte and strictly redefining the terroir for its Grand Vin, the estate is signaling a move toward precision, exclusivity, and a "terroir-first" philosophy that challenges the classical Bordeaux blending model.

Main Facts: The Birth of a Merlot Icon

La Côte Lascombes is the first new label to emerge from the estate since the Lawrence family took ownership. While Château Lascombes has historically been known for having a higher proportion of Merlot in its vineyards than many of its Médoc neighbors, La Côte takes this to the extreme. It is a monovarietal expression of Merlot, sourced from a specific 4.5-hectare parcel of 60-year-old vines.

The inaugural vintage, the 2022, was released on La Place de Bordeaux last September. In a move that distinguishes it from the estate’s flagship Grand Vin, La Côte is priced significantly higher—nearly double the cost of the Château Lascombes Grand Vin. Furthermore, Axel Heinz has confirmed that the wine will bypass the traditional en primeur (futures) system. Instead, it will be offered only as a finished, bottled product.

This strategy is designed to create a distinct identity for the cuvée. "We felt it’s a good way to sort of split [them] and give each of the main wines its own specific name," Heinz explained. By releasing the wine later in the season and only in bottle, the estate aims to provide a clear, independent path for La Côte, separating it from the speculative fluctuations of the en primeur market.

Chronology: From Tuscany to the Médoc

The journey to La Côte began in November 2022, when Gaylon Lawrence Jr. purchased Château Lascombes from the French insurance group MACSF. The acquisition was seen as a major move by the Lawrence family, who already owned the iconic Napa Valley estate Heitz Cellar. To lead this new chapter, they sought a winemaker with a proven track record of handling prestige and specific varietal excellence.

In early 2023, Axel Heinz was announced as the new CEO of Château Lascombes. Having spent nearly two decades in Bolgheri, Heinz was the architect behind some of the world’s most sought-after Merlot-based wines. His arrival in Bordeaux was met with intense curiosity: how would the "Master of Merlot" interpret the gravels of Margaux?

Upon his arrival, Heinz spent months auditing the estate’s 120 hectares of vines. While he initially had no specific intention of creating a pure Merlot cuvée, the discovery of four contiguous plots of ancient vines changed his trajectory. These vines, planted on a rare geological formation of blue marl clay over limestone, mirrored the conditions found in some of the world’s greatest Merlot sites, such as Pomerol’s Petrus or Heinz’s former charge, Masseto.

The decision to launch La Côte was not immediate. Heinz and his team spent the better part of a year evaluating the 2022 vintage—a year characterized by extreme heat and drought that, paradoxically, produced Merlot of extraordinary concentration and freshness. By late 2024, the decision was finalized: La Côte would become the estate’s "super-cuvée," a focused expression of a singular terroir.

Supporting Data: Terroir and Technical Precision

The differentiation between La Côte and the Grand Vin is rooted in soil science. While much of Margaux is dominated by the classic Garonne gravel that favors Cabernet Sauvignon, Château Lascombes possesses a highly fragmented and diverse vineyard map.

The "Blue Marl" Factor

The 4.5 hectares dedicated to La Côte are situated on a specific "côte" (slope) characterized by blue marl clay. This soil type is prized for its water-retention capabilities, which is crucial for Merlot, a grape that can struggle with hydric stress. The presence of limestone beneath the clay adds a mineral tension and acidity to the wine, preventing the 100% Merlot expression from becoming overly "jammy" or heavy.

Vine Age and Yields

The vines used for La Côte are approximately 60 years old. These deep-rooted plants offer a natural regulation of yields and a complexity of flavor that younger vines cannot replicate. Under Heinz’s direction, the selection process has shifted from a "cellar-side" decision to a "vineyard-side" decision.

Pricing and Market Positioning

The market data reflects the estate’s ambitious goals:

• Grand Vin (Château Lascombes 2023): Recently released at approximately £264 per case of six bottles. This price point was intentionally set below the current market prices of the 2022 and 2021 vintages to stimulate interest and reward loyal collectors.
• La Côte (2022): Positioned as a luxury "boutique" offering, its price point is nearly 2x that of the Grand Vin, placing it in competition with "super-second" labels and Right Bank icons.

Official Responses: Axel Heinz’s Vision

In discussions regarding the stylistic shift at the estate, Axel Heinz has been vocal about "shaking things up." His philosophy is centered on breaking away from the "classical" selection process, where second wines are often made from the "leftovers" or younger vines of the Grand Vin.

"It’s giving each wine its specifically dedicated terroir," Heinz told the drinks business. "In the case of Lascombes, it’s the heart, the most historic part of the estate which is right on the plateau… we are breaking away from [the old selection process] and trying to really define which terroir is dedicated to each specific wine."

Heinz emphasizes that the second wine, Chevalier de Lascombes, is also being elevated. Rather than being a byproduct, it is now treated as a wine with its own dedicated plots, ensuring it has a personality of its own rather than being a "diluted" version of the flagship.

This "parcel-by-parcel" management is a hallmark of Heinz’s career. By treating the 120-hectare estate as a collection of micro-terroirs rather than a monolithic entity, he is able to craft wines that are more precise and reflective of their origin.

Implications: A New Identity for Margaux

The launch of La Côte and the restructuring of Château Lascombes have significant implications for the Bordeaux wine trade and the Margaux appellation.

1. The "Right Bank" Influence in the Médoc

For decades, the Médoc has been the land of the blend. By releasing a 100% Merlot wine, Lascombes is challenging the regional hierarchy. It suggests that the Médoc’s clay-heavy parcels are capable of producing world-class monovarietal wines that can rival the greats of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion. This could encourage other estates with similar soil pockets to reconsider their blending ratios.

2. Disrupting the En Primeur Model

The decision to sell La Côte only in bottle is a tactical move against the volatility of the en primeur system. As many critics and consumers express fatigue with the futures market, offering a finished product allows the estate to control the narrative and the "moment of discovery." It positions La Côte more like a luxury goods release than a traditional agricultural commodity.

3. The "Heinz Effect"

Axel Heinz’s presence in Bordeaux is a magnet for international investment and critical attention. His ability to blend the "super-Tuscan" sensibility—which prioritizes brand power and hedonistic quality—with the historical weight of a 1855 Second Growth makes Lascombes one of the most watched estates in the world today.

4. Reclaiming the Second Growth Pedigree

Château Lascombes has, at various points in its history, been criticized for being too large or for producing wines that lacked a clear sense of place. The current regime’s focus on "historic heart" parcels and 60-year-old vines is a clear attempt to reclaim its status as one of the elite producers of the Left Bank.

Conclusion

The introduction of La Côte Lascombes is more than just the addition of a new label to a portfolio; it is a manifesto for the future of the estate. Under the stewardship of Axel Heinz and the Lawrence family, Château Lascombes is shedding its "industrial" past in favor of a surgical, terroir-driven approach.

By celebrating the unique blue marl of Margaux through a 100% Merlot lens, Heinz is not only "shaking things up" but also expanding the vocabulary of what a Médoc wine can be. As La Côte makes its way into the cellars of global collectors, it stands as a testament to the idea that even in a region as steeped in tradition as Bordeaux, there is always room for a new path.