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CHÂTEAU LILIAN LADOUYS

2016 Cru Bourgeois Supérieur Saint Estèphe

Grapes Cab Franc, Merlot, Cab Sauv
Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Sub-district Haut Médoc
Village Saint Estèphe
Classification Cru Bourgeois Supérieur
ABV 13%

62% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot. Darker expression than stablemate Pedesclaux, a bit more density and richness. Everything is slightly more forced and it doesn't have the same level of flow. It's almost 'new car' fresh. Nevertheless, it's a very solid effort for what has been modest pricing in past vintages. Drinking range: 2024 - 2036 Rating: 89-91 L&S (Apr 2017)


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The 2016 Lilian Ladouys is opulent and vivacious on a nose of red currant and raspberry fruit, well integrated oak and lovely rose petal aromas. The medium-bodied palate delivers supple tannins, well-judged acidity, good body and a grippy but detailed finish with veins of blue fruit. This is a joy to drink, but it needs a couple of years. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. Drinking range: 2023 - 2040 Rating: 92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Aug 2020)

A perennial overachiever, the 2016 Château Lilian Ladouys brings the goods in 2016 and has a complex, medium to full-bodied, character-filled style to go with loads of blue fruits, incense, dried herbs, and a hint of violets. A blend of 62% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot all raised in 30% new barrels, this charming, front end-loaded effort is well worth seeking out. It should keep for 10-15 years. Drinking range: 2019 - 2034 Rating: 92 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (Feb 2019)

The 2016 Lilian Ladouys is a blend of 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 62% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot picked between 3-17 October and matured in 30% new oak. It has a tightly wound bouquet with blackberry, wild hedgerow and graphite, plenty of fruit here with excellent delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with ebullient red berry fruit laced with white pepper and bay leaf, a touch of brown spice towards the generous finish. Very fine...this is a step up from the 2015. Drinking range: 2021 - 2040 Rating: 91-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2017)

Château Lilian Ladouys

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, 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 (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. The grapes are harvested by hand, with sorting as bunches and again by grape after the de-stemming, after which the they go into the vats by gravity for a cold maceration prior to the fermentation. Extraction is managed by gentle délestage. The wine is aged in barrel, with 40% new wood each year.

The vineyard certified 'Haute Valeur Envionmentale' level 3. From 2020 they began conversion to organics with 20% of the vineyard, and all being well will complete conversion in 2023.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
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