Critic Ratings & Tasting Notes
Jeff Leve – The Wine Cellar Insider 90-92/100
“Currants, tobacco leaf, and herbs pop in the core of the perfume here. Medium-bodied, forward, chewy, round, and fruity, leaving you with sweet cherries and crisp, vibrant currants on the backend. The wine blends 66% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. 12.9% ABV. Drink from 2027-2038.”
Decanter 89/100
“Floral elements and some ripe dark berry fruit aromas on the nose. Softly juicy — strawberry and cranberry — with a clean and focused expression. It’s lightly framed, sleek and straight, yet enjoyable. 3% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. Ageing: 30% new wood, 20% 400L barrels, 10% amphorae. pH 3.7. Organic.”
James Suckling 90-91/100
“Lots of red cherries, minerals and spiced berries. Medium-bodied with some stony tannins that are slightly chewy. Tight and juicy in the finish. 66% merlot, 17% cabernet sauvignon, 14% petit verdot and 3% cabernet franc.”
Falstaff 89/100
“Intense ruby, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. On the nose, a subtle herbal savouriness, cherry compote, a hint of plum and a leafy touch. Slender on the palate, with a subtle sweetness, integrated tannins and a hint of salt on the mineral finish.”
Vertdevin 93/100
“(AB) The nose is elegant, with subtle sweetness and a delicate airy character at the same time. It reveals notes of blackberry, violet and, more slightly, pulpy blackcurrant, combined with touches of crushed red berries, even lightly roasted, as well as hints of violet and racy minerality, with a discreet iodized touch. The palate is beautifully handled, supple and gourmand, with a juicy frame, a chiseled edge and a certain brightness. It expresses notes of juicy/pulpy blackberry, vibrant blackcurrant, and, more slightly, bright red berries, combined with touches of violet and lilac, as well as fine hints of saline/iodized minerality and delicate, elegant licorice notes. The tannins are sapid and silky. Acidulous persistence, finely sappy, with energy.”
A Saint-Estèphe wine for a great price
The property
The Château Lilian Ladouys, located in the Saint-Estèphe appellation in Bordeaux, is a historic estate whose origins date back to 1564. Today led by the Lorenzetti family, this estate benefits from a privileged location near prestigious neighbors like Lafite Rothschild. Under the impetus of Manon Lorenzetti, the château produces structured wines mainly made from merlot, cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot.
The vineyard
The vineyard of Château Lilian Ladouys, located in the heart of Saint-Estèphe, benefits from a 40-hectare terroir composed of gravel, clay and limestone. This mosaic of soils gives the wines their distinctive character and their aging potential. The proximity to the Gironde estuary brings a climatic influence favorable to the optimal maturation of the grapes, while the obtained organic certification testifies to a viticulture respectful of the environment.
The vintage
An exceptionally mild and wet winter favored the development of mildew, followed by a spring marked by significant rainfall in May, causing significant shatter and a reduction in yields. The summer, with 33% less rainfall, fortunately allowed for optimal maturation of the grapes. The harvest took place from September 26 to October 7, under conditions favorable to the quality of the grapes.
Vinification and aging
Aging in new wood (30%), 400-liter barrels (20%) and amphorae (10%).
Blend
Merlot (66%), cabernet sauvignon (17%), petit verdot (14%) and cabernet franc (3%).
