Château Lilian Ladouys 2019

The freshness and balance of a Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel from Saint-Estèphe

The estate
An estate with great history, the origins of Château Lilian Ladouys date back to 1564, when the property was a fief of Jacques de Bercoyan, lord of Lafite. The estate has recently entered a new phase of its history, following its acquisition by the Lorenzetti family in 2008. Since 2018, Manon Lorenzetti has been at the head of the Château Lilian Ladouys, investing in the property her own dynamic energy, which brought the estate to the highest levels of the Saint-Estèphe appellation. In 2019, the cellar underwent an extension and renovation, designed by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Following the new classification of 2020, Château Lilian Ladouys has been designated Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel.

The vineyard
Located in the Saint-Estèphe appellation, the Château Lilian Ladouys vineyard covers 80 hectares of vines planted in clay and limestone subsoils. Certified HVE level 3 (High Environmental Value) and in conversion to organic farming in 2020, the vineyard has been placed under the direction of Vincent Bache-Gabrielsen, advised by oenologist Éric Boissenot.

The vintage
2019 will be remembered at Château 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%).

The tasting
Tasted en primeur and as soon as the blends were created, the Château 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.