Château Lascombes: Alexis Lichine
The Ginestet family maintained ownership of the estate throughout World War II, when it was run by Charles Mallet (died 1950); in the latter stages of this conflict it was one of several properties in the region to be utilised by Allied forces as a regional headquarters. By this time, however, the vineyard was tiny, and fragmented. It may well have floundered altogether – it would not be the only classed growth from the 1855 classification to disappear had it done so – but rescue came in the shape of Alexis Lichine, who purchased the 12 hectares of vineyards in 1951, only one year after acquiring Château Prieuré-Lichine. In doing so, Lichine had fulfilled a lifelong ambition (which he presumably relived with the acquisition of Château Lascombes) to own a classed growth Bordeaux châteaux.
The Lichine era was a time of revitalisation for both Château Prieuré-Lichine and Château Lascombes. With his consortium of American backers he had the financial wherewithal to turn both properties around, in the case of Lascombes acquiring land to expand the vineyard, planting an additional 12 hectares of vines. There was certainly an improvement in quality at Château Lascombes, although that is not to say the wines were offering a serious challenge to their peers. During the 1960s Alexis entered into an agreement with the proprietors of Château Ferrière to also tend their vines, the fruit vinified in the cellars at Château Lascombes, effectively giving the property a deuxième vin. There was still much room for improvement though, but it would not be Lichine who would see this through.
