Are you over 21 years old?
Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases Saint-Julien 2012
$90.70
Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases Saint-Julien 2012
$90.70
Saint-Julien
2012
2nd Wine
48% Cabernet Sauvignon
44% Merlot
8% Cabernet Franc
Region: Bordeaux
ESTATE HISTORY
One of the oldest Médoc 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.
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 Petit Lion shares the philosophy of its two elder siblings; it is vinified and aged in order to preserve its fresh, ripe fruit flavours throughout its life. However, it is designed as a second wine, and is therefore made to be more accessible and for earlier drinking, with a significant proportion of Merlot used in the blend.
TERROIR
Quaternary gravel ("graves") over gravelly sand and gravelly clay subsoils.
VITICULTURE
Sustainable farming. The soil is worked traditionally using the age-old knowledge of the terroir and integrated agricultural methods. Carefully selecting grafts from the best plants, mastering the plants' vigour, limiting the number of treatments and introducing hedgerows to encourage biodiversity are all decisions that contribute to the estate's goal: bringing out the best in each terroir for each vintage offered by Mother Nature.
WINEMAKING
Ageing: 90% new French oak barrels for an average of 18 months.
TASTING & FOOD PAIRINGS
90 points Wine Enthusiast/Roger VossThis wine is light and fresh, full of crisp and ripe black currant fruits that lie alongside gentle and open tannins. The wine has weight and a rich underlay, although it will develop well and relatively quickly with its bright fruits and acidity.