Chateau Lilian Ladouys
33% Cabernet Sauvignon
62% Merlot
2% Petit Verdot
Tasting notes
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 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
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.