A transatlantic
Love Story
USA loves Bordeaux
For Gaylon Lawrence, Jr. becoming owner of Lascombes was “a childhood dream and a rare opportunity“. This, of course, brings us back to Alexis Lichine, the phenomenal connoisseur, storyteller, promoter of wine, creator of joyful occasions and awakener of curiosity, who is credited with igniting interest in fine French wines in America and pioneering wine tourism.
A Dreamer of Wine
In a fascinating supplement devoted to him in 1958, The New Yorker recounted the reaction of the “Pope of Wine” when his assistant on the other side of the Atlantic, Pierre de Wilde, told him one April day in 1952 that Château Lascombes was for sale:
“Lichine knew that the wine trade had turned away somewhat from the estate in recent years.
But he also knew that Lascombes was potential ‘big league stuff’.
And that human skill can go a long way as long as the essential ingredient is there: the terroir.
This was one of the highest quality wines in the entire Médoc.”
” He soon completed his round of financing, with American investors who were also great wine connoisseurs, and aware of the rare distinction of having their names on the wooden plaque that would soon take pride of place in the Lascombes winery.”
— The New Yorker
“A Dreamer of Wine” supplement, May 1958