2019 Chateau Lilian Ladouys Saint Estephe

Winemaker Notes:  Tasted as a wine future and as soon as the blends were created, the Chateau Lilian Ladouys 2019 impressed the technical teams of the estate with its great freshness and velvety tannic structure. The wines present an ideal balance, reminiscent of the great 2016 vintage.

2019 will be remembered at Chateau Lilian Ladouys as a vintage marked by significant climatic contrasts. During the summer, the thermal amplitudes made it possible to obtain high-quality polyphenols as well as excellent aromatic maturity in the fruit. Very small in size, the harvested grapes showed an excellent ration of marc to juice.

The blend Merlot (59%), Cabernet Sauvignon (37%), Petit Verdot (3%), Cabernet Franc (1%)

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Wine Enthusiast - "This full, sumptuous wine brings together ripe tannins and ripe black currant fruits. Its richness, mitigated by the tight acidity and tannins, is full of promise for a long-term future. (93-95pts)"


Vinous - "The 2019 Lilian Ladouys has a powerful, quite burly bouquet, a mixture of red and black fruit, wine gums, touches of blueberry and violet. It feels more Margaux than Saint-Estèphe! The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, fine grip, just a hint of piquancy and a lovely estuarine/briny influence that defines the classic finish. I prefer the palate to the aromatics at this juncture, but overall this is promising. Tasted thrice with consistent notes. (92-94pts)"


Decanter - "A new Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, freshly minted this year (from the 2018 vintage). I would put this right up there with the best vintages from Lilian Ladouys. It feels extremely silky, with such plump blackberry fruits that you could almost drink it straight away but there are tannins here, and the body of the wine closes down as it travels through the palate, suggesting it intends to get serious about ageing potential. Excellent quality overall, easy to recommend, although acidities are a touch higher than this in 2018 which may not please everyone. 1% Cabernet Franc completes the blend, 30% new oak. 3.84pH. The harvest took place between 25 September and 9 October. Recently enlarged to 80ha with the addition of vineyards from both Tour de Pez and Clauzet (both good quality estates)."


James Suckling - "This is very refined and balanced with soft, silky tannins and a fresh, clean finish. It’s medium-bodied and round with integrated tannins. Spice and forest-floor character. (92-93pts)"


Jeb Dunnuck - "Always including plenty of Merlot, the 2019 Château Lilian Ladouys emerges from a gravelly site in Saint-Estèphe. Its deep purple color is followed by a big, juicy bouquet of ripe black cherries, kirsch, blueberries, leafy herbs, and cedar pencil. Nicely textured, medium to full-bodied, and with some chewy tannins which will be more integrated from bottle, it shows the fruit purity and sexiness that's the hallmark of the vintage, has good balance, and a great finish. (91-93pts)"


Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Lilian Ladouys comes bounding out of the glass with expressive scents of crushed blackberries, cassis and boysenberries with touches of dried Provence herbs, charcoal, clove oil and espresso. The medium-bodied palate is charged with energy, offering firm grainy tannins and electric freshness to support the tightly wound black fruits, finishing with loads of invigorating herbal and mineral sparks. (91-93+ pts)"