The Château Lilian-Ladouys is a superb Saint-Estèphe. It reveals a tasty and crunchy structure made of ripe tannins, but also very refined oak, perfectly blended in an explosion of fruit flavours on the palate. The opulence and the length of this Saint-Estèphe is worthy of the greatest benchmarks of the appellation. The power of the wine is perfectly balanced by a wonderful sense of freshness and thus offers a wine of very great quality.
This lovely Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel in Saint Estèphe enjoys an enviable location on the Cos plateau, near to Calon, Montrose and Cos d'Estournel itself. The 80 hectare vineyard is 80% on gravel with a clay-limestone base, 20% on limestone-clay and is planted at 8500-10000 vines per hectare, with 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc. The history of the estate can be traced back as far as 1654, when the property was in the ownership of Jacques de Bercoyan, a Bordeaux magistrate. By this time it was already known as La Doys, an obvious precursor to the Ladouys name of today. The exciting modern history of the property began in 2008 when it was bought by Jacky Lorenzetti, and the family's investment was rewarded with the Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel classification in 2018. Since the purchase there has been many more deals to consolidate a coherent vineyard from the many parcels.
Lilian Ladouys is managed by Emmanuel Cruse and the consultant oenologist is Eric Boissenot. The work in the vineyard aims to make sure there is an even spread of bunches on the vines, and that these are well-ventilated (via leaf-thinning). The earth is ploughed, with either sowing of ground-cover between the vines, or leaving nature to its own devices, depending on the vigour of each parcel. Thanks to the appellation's limestone-clay subsoils, the wine's power is balanced out by a wonderful sensation of freshness.
Chateau Lilian Ladouys is matured for an average of 14 months in a superb barrel store (40-60% new oak depending on the vintage). Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot make up the majority of the blend, with the proportions varying from one year to the next. They are supplemented by Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The estate's wines go into gravity-fed vats and undergo vinification with a partially gravity-based system, which is more sensitive to the integrity and subtleties of the grapes and the wine.
92 Points - Antonio Galloni. "The 2019 Lilian Ladouys is absolutely beautiful, just as it was from barrel. The interplay of rich, radiant fruit and the savoury, earthy notes that are typical of Saint-Estephe make for a compelling, delicious and highly affordable wine to drink now and over the next handful of years.
