Over the centuries, however, Lascombes has suffered a bumpy ride. Just in terms of vineyard alone, it has gone from 27 hectares in 1866 to a tiny 12 hectare in 1951, up to 50 hectares in 2004. The last decade has seen aggressive planting and purchasing, as well as renting 27 hectares of AOC Margaux from neighbouring Chateau Martinens, bringing it up to 117 hectares today.  It also has 6 hectares of AOC Haut-Medoc.

The chateau has managed to rack up a large number of ownership changes also – staying in the Lascombes family until just after the French Revolution in 1789, then passing through a good dozen owners until the modern era began with its purchase by American wine writer Alexis Lichine in 1952 (with investment from financier David Rockerfeller), then UK drinks giant Bass Charrington in 1971, and American investment group Colony Capital in 2001.