Who makes it?

Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases is a ‘second wine’ of one of the famed Bordeaux Chateaus. This Chateau being Chateau Leoville-Las Cases owned by Domaines Delon. Also in this ‘stable’ is Chateau Pontensac from Medoc and Chateau Nenin from Pomerol. This wine is from the vineyards in Saint-Julien. 

Winelovers tend to look for these ‘second wines’ because they are either looking for wines that are ready to drink earlier, or because they cannot afford to stretch to the price tag of these more famous wines. 

Want to know about Bordeaux the city? Click here to read “Exploring Bordeaux – the city behind the wine”

How do they make it?

This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc in varying measures depending on the vintage. Some years the wine is Merlot dominant and others the Cabernet leads.  The vines currently have an average age of 40 years old. 

The wine tends to spend time in mostly seasoned oak with about 30% being new. 

What does it taste like?

Some vintages of this wine tend to get rather ripe at 14.5% while others don’t reach 14%.  There is usually a fullness to the body, fleshed out by that time in oak. Plus the finer tannins add weight and style. Expect to find a cedary cigar / tobacco character underlining black currant, cloves and blueberry fruit. There are layers to unfurl here, so take your time with it, even young it has plenty of complexity. There is a sage and nutmeg spice on the finish.

This could certainly benefit from at least a few years in the cellar now. But would be even better in about a decade.

What to drink it with?

The Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases is a great option if you are looking at a special dinner. Even something like Turkey with all the trimmings – gravy, stuffing, force meats, the lot. Or kangaroo or venison in puff pastry. Just a humble roast beef would also be good with this Claret.

click here to watch a video on why Bordeaux wines go well with Festive dishes: Why not put Bordeaux on your Festive menu?

Cheese

Mature hard cheese. Gruyere, Manchego, Comte or Wooky Hole Cheddar. 

Quickie review « Plush, full fruited and complex with a rather spicy sage fruited finish. A good mid term cellar candidate. »

Country of Origin: Bordeaux, France
Tasting Date: October 2023
Price:  UK £60+ | €55  |USD$ 55++ 
Drink: now – 10+ years 
Needs food: no
Source: tasting

If you like Bordeaux style red wines such as this Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases, why not check out:
Henschke reds for now or later

Visit domainesdelon for more.