Leoville las cases wines: review of their characteristics

Leoville las cases is a pioneer in wine production in the Saint-Julien region. Its wine production at Domaine de Leoville dates back to the 17th century. The name of the estate is linked to the history of one of the most influential and noble families in France. Today, the Grand Clos produces harmonious, well-balanced wines, capable of improving over time and without compromising on excellence. These are wines that have been awarded second growth status in the 1855 classification. Here is a look at the history of the estate, its vineyards and the quality of its wines.

History of the Domaine de Leoville

The region is world famous for its viticulture and is home to the prestigious Château de Leoville las cases, one of the oldest Medoc wine-making companies. The estate, which is located in the commune of Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, belongs to one of the French noble families. It is one of the largest in the region. However, following the French Revolution, which led to the seizure of the property by expropriation, the estate was divided into three parts between 1826 and 1840. The present Château Leoville las cases represents 3/5 of the former Leoville property. Other divisions include Château Leoville Barton and Château Leoville Poyferré. The same generation of winegrowers has managed the property since the end of the 19th century. It is managed by Jean-Hubert Delon who is also the owner of Châteaux Potensac and Nenin. The estate can be recognised by its gateway guarded by the famous lion statue that can be seen on the estate's wine labels. This gate opens onto a fifty-hectare vineyard entirely surrounded by fencing and delimiting the property from that of the neighbouring estate, Château Latour.

Terroir of Château Leoville

The vineyard of the emblematic-looking Delon estate extends over an area of 98 hectares planted with vines. The grape variety is made up of black Cabernet-Sauvignon (66%), black Merlot (24%), black Cabert-Franc (9%) and black Petit verdot (1%). The terroir is at the origin of the crus with full-bodied taste profiles adapted to ageing. It is composed of sandy gravel and quantities of clay more or less deep. The proximity of the Gironde and the sunshine guarantee favourable climatic conditions for the maturity of the grapes. The harvest is good except if the temperatures exceed a certain threshold. This is a rare phenomenon which could cause an accumulation of sugar and a poor calibre of the wine's aroma composition. Otherwise, to obtain a harmonious wine for ageing, the estate adopts a reasoned viticulture, a well thought-out fertilisation, without the use of chemical weed killers. The estate produces three types of wines with a well-balanced blend. These products have an excellent capacity to preserve their chemical and oenological integrity for years. -Firstly, there is the Grand Vin de Leoville 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 flavours and a great finesse of aromas.
-The "Clos du Marquis", wines in the Saint-Julien appellation, born in 1902, which also display a unique personality.
-The "Petit Lion du Marquis de las Cas", a vintage created in 2007. It is a vintage with a brooding nose of black fruits, with notes of blackcurrant and cherry.

Qualities of vintage wines Château Leoville las cases

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