2020 Chateau Leoville Las Cases 'Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases' Saint Julien

One of the oldest Medoc estates, Domaine de Léoville belonged to some of the wealthiest and most influential noble French families before it was acquired by the Las Cases family. The estate was split up between 1826 and 1840 as a result of the French Revolution. (Expropriation of emigrants’ property and constitution of egalitarian redistribution). Château Léoville Las Cases was created, thanks to a kind of birthright, from 3/5 of the original estate and the heart of the domain.

The Grand Vin’s current terroir has therefore been at the historic heart of the original terroir since the 17th century. Pierre Jean, Adolphe, and Gabriel de Las Cases were successive heirs to the property until 1900 when Théophile Skawinski purchased a share in the estate and became its manager. Léoville Las Cases has now been managed by the same family since the late 19th century and is today represented by Jean-Hubert Delon, sole owner of the Château and proprietor of Château Potensac in the Medoc and Château Nénin in Pomerol.

The Clos encases a terroir of very great complexity. It is mainly composed of Quaternary gravel ("graves") over gravelly sand and gravelly clay subsoils. Leoville also finds clays that are variably deep and compact, but which sometimes break through to the surface. The proximity of the Gironde River has created a wide diversity of soils, formed over various geological periods by successive superimpositions.

Château Léoville Las Cases recently replanted several vineyard plots on its famous Saint-Julien terroirs. As these vines started producing fruit, the estate introduced a new second wine with the 2007 vintage.

Meet Le Petit Lion. Crafted with the same care as its prestigious siblings, this wine is all about fresh, ripe fruit flavors. It’s made to be approachable and ready to enjoy sooner, with a good amount of Merlot in the blend, giving it a softer, easy-drinking style. It’s Saint-Julien sophistication made simple.

2020 was a great year for Bordeaux. Vinous Media blessed this year with a 97-point review and said, "Two thousand-twenty is an exceptional vintage for Bordeaux, certainly the best in the 2018-2020 trilogy. Quality is very, very high."

50% Cabernet Sauvignon 44% Merlot 6% Cabernet Franc. A Petit Lion that is immediately seductive, thanks to its fulness and freshness. A perfect balance between lusciousness and tension, typical of the Léoville Las Cases terroir. A magnificent second wine of great persistence from dedicated parcels of young Cabernets and old Merlots.

Aromas of blackberries, blackcurrants, crushed stones, bark, and rose petals follow through to a medium body with very fine tannins that are nicely integrated into the wine. It’s firm and tight and will open nicely with bottle age. Pretty second wine of Las Cases. Try after 2027. ~95 James Suckling

The second wine of this great estate, the 2020 Le Petit Lion checks in as 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. It has the class of the Grand Vin yet is made in a slightly softer, more forward style and offers lots of black cherry and dark currants fruits as well as notes of lead pencil, dried tobacco, and loamy earth. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it's balanced, has ripe tannins, the hallmark purity of fruit of the vintage, and a great finish. I’d be thrilled to drink a bottle any time over the coming 10-15 years or more.~92-94 Jeb Dunnuck

The 2020 Le Petit Lion (the second wine of Léoville Las Cases, mainly from younger vines) is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 44% Merlot, aging in 30% new French oak barriques, weighing in with an alcohol of 13.61%, a pH of 3.69 and an IPT (tannins index) of 75. The Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested from the 17th to the 29th of September, the Merlot from the 10th to the 15th of September and the Cabernet Franc from the 15th to the 17th of September. Sporting a medium to deep purple-black color, it springs from the glass with vibrant notes of black cherries, redcurrant jelly and cassis, plus touches of lavender, fallen leaves and cinnamon stick, with a waft of black truffles. The medium-bodied palate has bright, bold black and red berry layers with a grainy texture and loads of freshness, finishing long with a spicy kick. A very impressive second wine! ~92-94 Wine Advocate

The 2020 Le Petit Lion du Marquis de las Cases is a very serious second wine. The aromatics alone are immediately enchanting. This mid-weight Saint-Julien is so expressive today. Crushed flowers, bright red-toned fruit, mint, rose petal and cedar are all very nicely lifted. Firm, but precise tannins lend energy and proportion. The Petit Lion is a blend of young vine Cabernet and old-vine Merlot from Las Cases. ~92-94 Vinous Media

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