Little Lion - Léoville Castle Las Cases - Saint-Julien 2014 11166fe81142afc18593181d6269c740

Wine Spectator

89 / 100

byJames Molesworththe8/31/2017

Juicy and friendly, with lots of plum and boysenberry compote notes leading the way, backed by just enough brambly grip to stay honest. Flecks of anise and mesquite line the finish. Best from 2018 through 2024. 8,335 cases made.

Wine Advocate

88 / 100

byNeal Martinthe3/31/2017

The 2014 Le Petit Lion retains that earthy bouquet that I remarked upon when I tasted this Deuxième Vin from barrel. Tightly wound black fruit, mixed with a hint of shucked oyster shell surfaces from the glass. The palate is well balanced with supple tannin, well-judged acidity, an almost sorbet-like freshness with touches of blood orange tincturing the slightly tart, but pleasing finish. This has turned out admirably in bottle.

Jamessuckling.com

93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/16/2017

A pure and fragrant red with currant and berry aromas and hints of stones. Medium-bodied, dense and very pretty with ultra-polished tannins. I like the subtle fruit and wet-earth undertones. Second wine of Las Cases. Drink in 2019.

Vinous

91 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe2/6/2017

The 2014 Le Petit Lion du Marquis de las Cases is soft, slender and very pretty. Crème de cassis, violet, dark spice and menthol are nicely delineated in this attractive, midweight Saint-Julien. The 2014 is a very pure, if somewhat compact, expression of this great estate.

Le Point

15 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/21/2015

Epices, fruits noirs, bouche souple, gourmande, douce, assez merlot mais dans la finesse. Bien réussi.

Vinous

87-89 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe5/11/2015

The 2014 Le Petit Lion du Marquis de las Cases is open-knit, gracious and quite pretty, but also understated and therefore completely different in style than the Grand Vin. Dark red plum, spice, new leather and cedar grace the silky finish. The 2014 is mostly old-vine Merlot that the winemaking team deemed not suitable for the Grand Vin, along with younger-vine Cabernet Sauvignon. The blend is 57% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc.

The Wine Cellar Insider

88-90 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/5/2015

Boasting tobacco, cassis and cherries, this wine possesses the backbone to age a bit. Blending 57% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 14.2% alcohol. 88-89 Pts

Wine Advocate

86-88 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/30/2015

The Le Petit Lion 2014 is a blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 57% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc cropped at 33 hectoliters per hectare from the young vines within Léoville Las-Cases and old Merlot vines that Jean-Hubert deems unfit to put into the blend of the grand vin. It has a much more earthy bouquet compared to its peers and perhaps does not quite possess the same level of delineation. The palate is better. Here we find a little more precision that was missing from the aromatics with touches of bay leaf and black tea infusing the black fruit. It gets better with acquaintance and should be intriguing to revisit.

GaultMillau

15,5-16,5 / 100

the4/30/2015

Nez gourmand, beaux fruits noirs épicés, quelques touches
de fleurs. Grain Fin, belle patine avec un toucher de
bouche suave et une rectitude épatante en fin de bouche lui
apportant une linéarité et un côté aérien. Très beau Petit
Lion, charmeur même, qui nous fait rugir de plaisir. Coup
de coeur.

Asian Palate

91 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe4/20/2015

An elegant, perfumed Petit Lion that is polished and well crafted. Plenty of ripe, juicy red berries here with velvety tannins. A pretty, aromatic wine with a large percentage of Merlot. These are younger vines from the Las Cases vineyard. 57% Merlot with the rest being mostly Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.2% alcohol that is not felt on the palate. 6-7,000 cases made.

Decanter.com

16,5 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/17/2015

57% old-vine Merlot gives this wine good floral fruit and lengthy, firm finish. Drink: 2018-2024 (88)

Jancis Robinson

16,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/16/2015

Young vines plus old Merlot from Las Cases. 57% Merlot. 
Silky sweet. Polished and forward. Very glamorous. Great for an airline? GV?

Jamessuckling.com

90-91 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/10/2015

A dusty and pretty red with currants and berries in addition to hints of dried Asian mushrooms. Medium to full body, firm tannins and a fresh finish.

timatkin.com

93 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe4/7/2015

Wine Enthusiast

93 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/1/2015

92–94. Barrel Sample. Smooth Merlot has given this wine power and a sense of weight. The freshness and ripe black-fruit flavors come from the Cabernet. It's structured while still boasting fresh fruit and ample acidity on the finish.

Wine Spectator

89-92 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2015

Pure and well-cut, with a beam of unadorned red currant and cherry fruit coursing along, carried by a mouthwatering iron note.