Château Léoville Las Cases Saint-Julien Tinto

Description

Château Leoville Las Cases is one of Bordeaux’s oldest estates. In the 17th century it was among the first to sell its wines, roughly at the same time as Château Margaux and Latour. It was one of the larger properties in Bordeaux, covering around 300 hectares of vineyards. By the time of the French Revolution it was divided into three separate estates: Leoville Las Cases, Leoville Poyferre and Leoville Barton. Interestingly, Leoville Las Cases and Poyferre, although now distinct producers, remain linked today—some of their buildings are contiguous and even the parking lot is shared, giving access to both châteaux, a unique feature in Bordeaux. The Delon family has owned Leoville Las Cases since the late 19th century. They were instrumental in consolidating the Leoville Las Cases name and were among the first to create a second wine, the Clos du Marquis. Many people consider Clos du Marquis to be the estate’s second wine, a point the Delon family disputes, arguing that it is a distinct wine with its own philosophy. The estate’s actual second wine is the Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases. With a rich history that could fill volumes, the truth is that this is a true “Super Second,” often surpassing Bordeaux’s top wines. It is always a masculine, powerful wine that ages wonderfully—a great wine even in less celebrated vintages. (Illustrative image)