2023 Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases, St Julien, Bordeaux

61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample.

Zesty and appetising but the acidity quite marked. Lithe rather than full, the tannins just a little chewy on the finish. Will hopefully fill out to cope with the acidity and tannins. 

Drink 2030 - 2040

The 2023 Le Petit Lion matured in 30% new oak for 14 months. It has an attractive, classic, well-defined nose of marine-tinged black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet entry, though the mid-palate needs more precision, and there is a very slight herbaceous element toward the finish. I feel that there is a wider-than-usual difference between this and the Grand Vin this year.

Drink 2026 - 2035

The 2023 Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases is deep garnet-purple in color. It features vivacious scents of redcurrant jelly, crushed blackcurrants, and kirsch leading to wafts of dried herbs and pencil shavings. The medium-bodied palate is racy and lively, with crunchy red and black fruits and a lightly chewy texture, finishing with an herbal lift.

The blend is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc. The alcohol is 13.5%.

Drink 2026 - 2033

The 2023 Le Petit Lion is perfumed and elegant, with beautiful red and blue fruits as well as some floral and graphite nuances. More medium-bodied, lively, and focused on the palate, it has the focused, elegant, perfumed style of the vintage, ripe tannins, good acidity, and outstanding length.

The 2023 Le Petit Lion is a rich, exuberant wine. Ripe dark cherry/plum fruit, mocha, spice, new leather, licorice and chocolate are all amplified. There's less Merlot and more Cabernet than in most years, but in 2023, the typical blend would have likely been too forward and ripe. A range of savory graphite, floral and mineral tones linger on the nuanced finish. I expect this will drink well right out of the gate. Since 2022, Le Petit Lion has been a blend of Clos du Marquis and Las Cases.

“Our harvest in 2023 was even earlier than in 2022,” Vice-Chairman Jean-Guillaume Prats explained at Léoville Las Cases. “Yields were 44 hectoliters per hectare, high for the estate, but not especially high for the appellation in 2023.” Las Cases has been one of the top wines on the Left Bank for decades. These days, it is less brooding than it once was, but there is still plenty of the vertical stature that is such a signature. For what it is worth, Las Cases remains a personal favorite.

Drink 2028 - 2043

Second wine of Leoville Las Cases. 61% cabernet sauvignon, 31% merlot and 8% cabernet franc.

This is very fresh and crunchy with blackberries, dark cherries and hints of crushed stones. It’s medium-bodied with impressive acidity and fine, silky tannins. Shows depth and structure, too. Bright and vivid on the finish. Lightly chunky.

Displays the tannic grip and heft that you hope to get in the 2nd wine of Léoville Las Cases, opening with a great dollop of spice, cocoa bean, espresso, black chocolate, black tea, and bright cassis fruit - will need a few years after bottling to fully open up.

Harvest September 9 to October 2, 30% new oak for ageing. Includes the vines for both La Petite Marquise and Le Petit Lion since the 2021 vintage.

Drink 2028 - 2040