Le Petit Lion - Château Léoville Las Cases

Yvesbeck.wine

91 / 100

byYves Beckthe3/20/2019

Rouge grenat soutenu aux reflets violets. Le nez du Petit Lion souligne son appartenant à la Famille de Las Cases. Il est subtil, frais et fruité au travers de notes de mûres et de cassis. La mise en bouche est rafraîchissante et crémeuse. Au palais, l'équilibre est le maître-mot ! Le vin est doté de tannins soyeux et puissants tandis que l'intensité aromatique se révèle en crescendo. La trame du Cabernet Sauvignon est remarquable est marque l'ensemble du palais. Un vin qui affiche les ambitions de son grand frère et qui est parfaitement réussi. Je l'avais noté 88-90 en primeurs ; aujourd'hui je m'aperçois que mon approche était bien sévère. 2021-2036 91/100

Jeb DUNNUCK

94 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/1/2019

The second wine of Léoville Las Cases, the 2016 Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases includes more old vine Merlot and is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc that spent 14 months in 30% new French oak. It’s a “Wow” of a second wine and has a big nose of crème de cassis, black cherries, forest floor, and tobacco, with some almost Pauillac-like lead pencil and minerality. Full-bodied, with bright acidity and remarkable purity as well as ripe tannins, it’s a 30-year wine. How’s that for a second wine?

Wine Spectator

90 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/5/2019

Solid, with dark plum and anise notes at the core, laced with mouthwatering briar and apple wood accents. Shows a textbook AOC profile, but not superdense, so drink as soon as this settles in while you wait for the big boys. Best from 2021 through 2030. 5,833 cases made. –JM

Jamessuckling.com

96 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/4/2019

Makes a classic impression from the outset with ripe but contained, red and dark-berry aromas, framed in cedar, blackcurrants and violets. The palate has exceptional depth and very focused, pristine red-plum and cherry flavors hold long and seamless into the finish. A vibrant young wine. Younger cabernet (54 per cent) meets old merlot (38 per cent) and cabernet franc (eight per cent) in this blend. Second wine of Leoville Las Cases. Try from 2023.

Vinous

90 / 100

byNeal Martinthe1/24/2019

The 2016 Le Petit Lion comes from the young vines in Léoville Las-Cases. It has great clarity on a nose of bright black fruit infused with pencil shavings; I appreciate the focus here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, slightly candied red fruit laced with Chinese five-spice and sandalwood, gently fanning out toward a focused finish with ample grip. Very fine.

Vinous

92 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe1/21/2019

The 2016 Le Petit Lion is a very pretty wine, but it is also going to need a few years to come into its own, as the tannins are quite firm post-bottling. There is good energy to the red cherry fruit, spice and chalky notes, but, at the same time, Le Petit Lion is a second wine that is going to need a few years to come into its own. Tasted two times.

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe11/30/2018

The 2016 Le Petit Lion is composed of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with notions of warm blackcurrants, blackberry pie, redcurrant jelly and tilled soil with touches of hoisin, Sichuan pepper, unsmoked cigars, red roses and smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, the palate explodes with vibrant red and black fruit preserves, with a wonderfully fine-grained frame and very long, lifted finish.

WeinWisser

17 / 20

the5/22/2017

Der «echte» Zweitwein von las-Cases mit 54 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 38 % Merlot und 8 % Cabernet Franc. Sehr klarer, purer, floraler Beginn mit duftigen Veilchen, dahinter Cassis und tabakige Würze, feinblättrig werdend. Amkräftigen Gaumen mit festgezurrtem Tanningerüst, im langen burschikosen Finale mit Baumnuss und Pflaumenhaut. Hier wurden die Trauben der jungen Cabernet Sauvignon- sowie der älteren Merlot-Rebstöcke assembliert.

Bettane & Desseauve

95-96 / 100

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/3/2017

Une merveille de vin de jeunes vignes ayant sans doute bénéficié des presses du grand vin, grand arôme de havane, race remarquable de terroir, souple mais vraiment plein, difficile de l’oublier…

Wine Advocate

88-90 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/2/2017

From the young Cabernet Sauvignon and some pockets of Merlot vines, the Deuxième Vin of Léoville Las-Cases, the 2016 Le Petit Lion, is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc matured in 30% new oak. It has a ripe, well defined bouquet, a distant tang of Japanese nori and even a cheeky touch of licorice. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin. It might just miss a little weight compared to its peers, but it is a nimble Le Petit Lion, light on toes thanks to the very fine tannin, linear and precise on the finish.

The Wine Cellar Insider

90-92 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/27/2017

Using 54% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot with 8% Cabernet Franc, this is almost a reversal of the blend created for 2015. Floral and cassis aromas, good depth of color with juicy, sweet, fresh with slightly strict Cabernet Sauvignon notes easily accessible. Classic in style, this will be even better with a few years of age. The wine is 13.4% alcohol.

Vinous

90-92 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe4/26/2017

The 2016 Le Petit Lion is plush, open and seductive. It offers striking freshness, with plenty of distinctly red ?flavors and silky tannins to match its creamy, nuanced personality. The 2016 is not a big wine, but it is charming and, above all else, absolutely delicious, especially if enjoyed within the first 10-15 years of its life.

matthewjukes.com

16,5 / 20

byMatthew Jukesthe4/25/2017

(54 Cabernet Sauvignon, 38 Merlot, 8 Cabernet Franc) | 30% new oak | 13.4% alc. | 40 hl/ha. 79 IPT Dry and quite powerful and also a little bit combative and feisty on the palate, this is a well-made wine but I wonder about the philosophy of making a baby Las Cases? Either way, it will require some time and also soften a touch in due course, but I feel that there will always be an excess of tannin on board in this vintage. 16.5+

Decanter.com

91 / 100

byJane Ansonthe4/24/2017

This is more of a Léoville Las Cases expression, while Clos de Marquis is more of a St-Julien expression. The blend is 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc, aged in 30% new oak. Even here the Merlot is 50-60 years old, together with young vines up to 20 years old, with a yield of 40hl/ha and representing 35% of the production. This has a stunning cassis mid-palate with a menthol freshness on the finish. It really does deliver a lot of the poise and power of the grand vin, but should be able to begin drinking in five to eight years. 3.69pH. Drinking Window 2024 - 2038

Jancis Robinson

16,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/21/2017

54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc. 30% new oak. 40 hl/ha. Very dark crimson. Sweet and fresh at the same time. Sinewy and round. Lip smacking. Just a little green note on the end. Real lift to this and not quite mouth-filling – just a little austere hole on the end but pretty good!

Wine Enthusiast

91-93 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/19/2017

Barrel Sample. Rich and packed with ripe tannins, this is definitely structured. At the same time, the fruit is so enticing. The combination makes for a wine that will be fruity, delicious and very drinkable.

Jamessuckling.com

93-94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2017

Linear and tight with firm yet silky tannins. It's very tight and structured, offering classic Bordeaux strength and personality. Full-bodied yet reserved. Second wine of Las Cases.