The wines of Léoville las cases: a review of their characteristics

Leoville las cases is a pioneer of wine production in the Saint-Julien region. Wine production at Domaine de Leoville dates back to the 17th century. The estate's name is linked to the history of one of France's most influential and noble families. Today, Le Grand Clos produces harmonious, well-balanced wines that improve with age, without compromising on excellence. These are wines that have achieved second-growth status in the 1855 classification. Here's an overview of the history of the estate, its vineyards and the quality of its wines

History of Domaine de Leoville

The region is world-renowned for its viticulture, and is home to the prestigious Château de Léoville las Cases, one of the Médoc's oldest wineries. The estate, located in the commune of Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, belongs to one of France's noble families. It was one of the largest in the region. However, following the French Revolution, which led to the seizure of property through expropriation, the estate was divided into three parts between 1826 and 1840. The current Château Leoville las cases represents 3/5 of the former Leoville estate. The other divisions are Château Leoville Barton and Château Leoville Poyferré. The same generation of winemakers has managed the estate since the late 19th century. It is run by Jean-Hubert Delon, who also owns Châteaux Potensac and Nenin. The estate can be recognized by the gate guarded by the famous lion statue featured on the estate's wine labels. The gate opens onto a 50-hectare vineyard entirely surrounded by fences, delimiting the property from that of neighboring Château Latour

Château Léoville terroir

The vineyards of the emblematic Domaine Delon cover 98 hectares planted with vines. The grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon Noir (66%), Merlot Noir (24%), Cabert Franc Noir (9%) and Petit Verdot Noir (1%). The terroir is at the origin of crus with full-bodied taste profiles suited to ageing. It is composed of sandy gravel and varying degrees of clay. The proximity of the Gironde and the sunshine guarantee favorable climatic conditions for grape ripening. The harvest is good unless temperatures exceed a certain threshold. This is a rare phenomenon that can lead to sugar build-up and a poor quality aromatic composition of the wine. Otherwise, to obtain a harmonious wine for ageing, the domaine adopts integrated viticulture and carefully considered fertilization, without the use of chemical weedkillers. The domaine produces three types of wine, all of which are well-balanced. These products have an excellent capacity to retain their chemical and oenological integrity for many years.
-First, there's the Grand Vin de Léoville du Marquis de las Cases, which is aged in new oak barrels depending on the vintage. This gives the wines a rich style, with rich, complex flavors and fine aromas.
-Clos du Marquis", Saint-Julien appellation wines, born in 1902, also have a unique personality.
-Petit Lion du Marquis de las Cas", a cuvée created in 2007. It has a full-bodied nose of black fruit, with hints of blackcurrant and cherry

Quality of vintage wines Château Leoville las cases

The estate has forged a reputation for great vintages, incredibly fresh and powerful, even if each bottle has its own complexity and personality. The older vintages have long since reached full maturity, but the younger wines also have remarkable ageing potential