Château Leoville Las Cases
Château Leoville Las Cases

Château Leoville Las Cases

Château Léoville Las Cases is a wine estate located in Saint-Julien-Beychevelle in the Gironde. In the Saint-Julien Médoc AOC, it is classified as a second growth in the 1855 classification. The estate comprises 97 hectares of vineyards. The vineyard adjoins that of Château Latour, separated by the small Juillac stream. At the heart of the estate lies the Grand Clos, a 50-hectare vineyard entirely enclosed by walls, with its entrance guarded by the famous lion adorning the estate's bottle labels. The vineyard of Château Léoville Las Cases has a grape variety composition of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. The second wine is 'Le Petit Lion'. It has been produced since 1902.

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The history of Château Léoville Las Cases

  

This château is recognizable by its stone gateway topped with a reclining lion watching over the vineyards and its enclosing wall connecting the village of Saint Julien to Château Latour. Classified as a 2nd growth in the 1855 classification, the vineyard is located in the commune of Saint-Julien-Beychevelle in the heart of the Saint-Julien appellation.

This château resulted from the dismantling of the former Château Léoville in 1840 between Pierre-Jean de Las Cases and his niece, wife of Jean-Marie Poyferré, which became Château Léoville Poyferré (the third part having been separated in 1826 by the family's purchase, which gave birth to Château Léoville Barton).

Since the end of the 19th century, the Delon family has owned the property, and today Jean-Hubert Delon manages the château. The Delon family also owns Châteaux Petit Marquis, Potensac, and Nénin.

Although imaginary regarding the geography of the place, the cult line by Louis de Funès in the 1976 film "L'aile ou la cuisse" ("The Wing or the Thigh") contributed to the fame of this château: "This wine benefited from a beautiful southwest exposure, on a slope with a good gradient. It's a Saint-Julien, Château Léoville Las Cases 1953!"

  

What are the characteristics of Château Léoville Las Cases wines?

  

With an area of 98 hectares, the vineyard's grape variety composition consists of Cabernet Sauvignon (66%), Merlot (24%), Cabernet Franc (9%), and Petit Verdot (1%).

The terroir is highly complex, composed mainly of Quaternary gravels on a sandy-gravel and clay-gravel subsoil. Clays of varying depth and compactness, sometimes even surfacing, are also present. Additionally, the river creates a particular microclimate that allows for very early ripening of the grapes and protects the vineyard from frost. This mix of soils directly influences the development of the vine and the quality of the grapes.

 

The best vintages of Château Léoville Las Cases

  

The best vintages are as follows: 1945 – 1959 – 1961 – 1982 – 1986 – 1990 – 1996 – 2000 – 2001 – 2005 – 2009 – 2010 – 2015 - 2016 - 2018 -2019

Find here the details of all vintages.

  

Food and wine pairings

  

The wines of Château Léoville Las Cases pair perfectly with game, grilled meats whether red or white, and hard cheeses. For desserts, this red wine will pair perfectly with chocolate or coffee specialties.

  

What is the second wine of Château Léoville Las Cases?

  

Created in 2007, the "Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases" is the second wine of this château. It is produced from the youngest vineyard plots located in the Clos de Léoville and uses a higher proportion of Merlot in its blend compared to the grand vin.

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