Other Vintages
Chateau Lilian Ladouys label

Chateau Lilian Ladouys 2015

  • Producer Chateau Lilian Ladouys
  • Blend 3% Cabernet Franc
    33% Cabernet Sauvignon
    62% Merlot
    3% Petit Verdot
  • Country France
  • Region Bordeaux
  • Appellation Saint-Estephe
  • UPC 0 15643 50862 2
Red Wine

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Item# 1846-15

Product Ratings

James Suckling 92pt
Wine Enthusiast 90pt

Tasting notes

This 2015 vintage shows a deep garnet color with magnificent purple tints. It reveals fresh aromas of peppermint along with sweet orange peels and cocoa notes. After aeration, fragrances of white flowers, blueberry, light vanilla and Mirabelle plum compote exhale. The ample and rich attack, develops raspberry and cedar aromas. A chalky tannin texture, given by the clay and limestone bedrocks where Chateau Lilian Ladouys' Merlots marvelously blossom is followed by a fresh and velvety finish.

Blend: 62% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc

Chateau Lilian Ladouys can be enjoyed somewhat early. However, the wine is often better with at least a few years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage. Chateau Lilian Ladouys is usually best enjoyed in the first 10-20 years of life.

Young vintages can be decanted for 1-2 hours. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Lilian Ladouys is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted braised and grilled dishes. Lilian Ladouys is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms and pasta.

Vineyard

The 47 hectare Left Bank Bordeaux vineyard of Lilian Ladouys is planted to 62% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. This represents a major change in the vineyard that was previously dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Petit Verdot vines were also a new addition to the varietal makeup. The vines are old at close to 40 years of age. The oldest vines are 60 years of age. The vine density ranges from 8,000 vines per hectare to 10,000 vines per hectare. The terroir is typical of St. Estephe with its gravel, clay and limestone soils.

However, the makeup of their Left Bank vineyards and soils are slowly changing, due to exchanges with other Saint Estephe vineyards, giving Lilian Ladouys less limestone and increased gravel and clay in their soil. As the new vines age and are better integrated into the vineyard, the wine will show more richness and depth.

Vinification

To produce the wine of Chateau Lilian Ladouys, vinification takes place in temperature controlled, stainless steel vats. 48 vats in total are used. The vats range in size from 54 hectoliters to 172 hectoliters. Malolactic fermentation takes place in tank, with the exception of 10% of the fruit, which goes through malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels. The wine of Chateau Lilian Ladouys is aged on average in 40% new, French oak barrels for between 14 and 16 months.

The annual production of Chateau is close to 20,000 cases of St. Estephe wine each year. There is a second wine, La Devise de Lilian. The property is consulted by Emmanuel Cruse who owns and manages Chateau dIssan in the Margaux appellation.