2017 Le Petit Lion de Lascases
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Tasting notes
52% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc. In 2007, Ch Léoville Las Cases introduced Le Petit Lion as their second wine. The higher concentration of Merlot used makes the wine more accessible, than the grand vin. TA 3.6 g/l, pH 3.67. Precise, very deep in colour. Concentration and purity of fruit, definitely in the mould of the grand vin if without the power. Just a little short on the finish. Not stunning value. (AWH)
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2017 Le Petit Lion is a gorgeous second wine from Léoville Las-Cases. Sweet, floral aromatics give the wine its perfumed, gracious personality. Classy, expressive, and refined to the core, the Petit Lion is a wine built on tension, energy and finesse more than anything else. It is a Saint-Julien that emphasizes classic structure and nuance more than power.
Coming from young Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot plus some older vines, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Le Petit Lion is composed of 53% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc. It is a little closed and broody to begin, opening out to offer notes of baked plums, warm black cherries and boysenberries with touches of garrigue, lavender, anise and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is built like a brick house, with firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the muscular fruit, finishing long with some mineral accents coming through. Needs a good 2-3 years in barrel.
Matured for 15 months in around 25% new oak, the 2017 Le Petit Lion has a perfumed, quite floral bouquet with pressed rose petals infusing the cranberry and wild strawberry aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red berry fruit, quite saline in the mouth with a very harmonious and quite persistent finish. This is an excellent Deuxième Vin.
About the producer
One of the leading estates in Bordeaux, Ch. Léoville Las Cases is one of the largest and oldest Classed Growths in the Médoc. Along with Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou, it is widely considered one of the best estates in Saint-Julien.