A complex Saint-Estèphe wine with a silky feel
Sensory Features: Ripe black cherries, new leather, spring flowers, and graphite nuances all emerge from the 2022 Château Lilian Ladouys, a medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated Saint-Estèphe that has ripe tannins, nicely integrated background oak, and a layered, balanced profile that will evolve gracefully going forward. It’s always a good value, as well as a worthy addition to any cellar, and the 2022 is no exception.
Grape Varieties: 52% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon & 8% Petit Verdot
Estate: The origins of Château Lilian Ladouys date back to 1564, when the property was the fief of Jacques de Bercoyan, Lord of Lafite. The estate entered a new chapter in its history when it was bought by the Lorenzetti family in 2008. Since 2018, Manon Lorenzetti has been at the head of Château Lilian Ladouys and has injected a dynamic energy into the estate, which has made it a leader in the Saint-Estèphe appellation. In 2019, the winery underwent an extension and renovation by the architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Following the new classification established in 2020, Château Lilian Ladouys has been consecrated Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel.
Vineyard: Château Lilian Ladouys 2022 is a Saint-Estèphe wine that stems from 80 hectares of vines resting on clayey gravel typical of the appellation. The vineyard has been certified HVE level 3 (Haute Valeur Environnementale – High Environmental Value) since 2018 and has been converted to Organic Agriculture since 2020.
Vintage: The year 2022 was marked by unstable weather conditions, particularly in April when a frost episode impacted certain plots of the vineyard. Although the vines withstood the scorching summer of 2022, a hailstorm destroyed two thirds of the terroir. Despite low yields, the grapes were of very good quality.
Winemaking & Ageing: Gentle extraction. The wine was racked in December. Aged in barrels (20% in 400-litre barrels) in order to achieve an ideal balance between tannic softness and aromatic complexity.
