Chateau Lilian Ladouys 2018

JAMES SUCKLING: "Blackcurrant, bitter-chocolate, dried-lavender and graphite aromas. It’s full-bodied with firm, tightly knit tannins. Tight and mineral at the moment. Really well-crafted. Try from 2024."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Considerable renovation work is beginning to pay off in the quality of this latest vintage from this estate. The wine has depth, concentration, dark-chocolate flavors, rich tannins and equally rich blackberry fruits. With its high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon,the wine is set for aging and will not be ready before 2025."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Full-bodied, spicy, smoky and floral with layers of tobacco and black currants. Full-bodied, round, lush and loaded with sweet, juicy red and black fruits, give it time to come around, at least 6 years or so. The wine was produced using 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot."

WEINWISSER: "Dichtes Purpur mit zarten rubinroten Reflexen. Sattes Brombeerbouquet, dahinter Cassis-Likör, Lakritze und Heidelbeergelee. Am druckvollen Gaumen mit weicher Textur, fleischiger Extraktfülle und engmaschigem Tanningerüst, am Limit vinifiziert, daher auch die spürbare Adstringenz. Im gebündelten Finale ein Korb mit blauen Beeren, Brasiltabak und exotische Hölzer. Für die höhere Wertung reicht es heute (noch) nicht!"

DECANTER: "This was the first estate that Jacky Lorenzetti bought back in 2007, and it has recently been enlarged to 80ha with the addition of vineyards from both Tour de Pez and Clauzet (both high quality names, so not sacrificing quality for expansion). Taking into account the new purchases, Lilian Ladouys is planted as of 2018 to 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. The colour is rich and red, not as concentrated as some. There's a real bounce and juiciness through the palate, but also a sense of restraint and austerity. It feels ripe but not overripe, and well held together. A relatively gentle, appetising wine with a floral touch, this will be ready to drink relatively soon. Drinking Window 2024 - 2036"

JEB DUNNUCK: "A year-in, year-out value, the 2018 Château Lilian Ladouys checks in as 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot that was brought up in 35% new oak. Jammy blueberries, ripe cherries, damp earth, tobacco, and spicy wood notes define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a plump, rounded texture, opulent aromas and flavors, and a great finish."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart floral unterlegtes Kirschkonfit, frische Brombeeren, ein Hauch von Orangenzesten. Kraftvoll, straff, engmaschig, dunkler Nougat, präsente Tannine, die ein wenig trocken wirken, schokoladiger Nachhall."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "In 2018, the Lorenzetti family purchased two neighbor estates, Château Clauzet and Château Tour de Pez, adding these to the Lilian Ladouys vineyard to almost double its planted area to 77 hectares. These additional vineyards are composed of gravelly soils of the same level as the best blocks of Lilian Ladouys. Soils are a typically Saint-Estèphe mix of sandy-gravel and clay with some limestone deposits. It is planted at 8,500-10,000 vines per hectare, with an average vine age of 35 years in 2018. The wine will see 12 months aging in 35% new and 65% two-year-old barriques. The blend is 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, and it has 14.41% alcohol. From the lieu-dit Blanquet and with a deep purple-black color, the 2018 Lilian Ladouys gives up wonderfully spicy black fruit preserves notions: plum preserves, crème de cassis and blueberry with hints of exotic spices, menthol and violets. Medium to full-bodied, firm and fine-grained in the mouth, it has layer upon layer of rich, spicy black fruits with a lift to the finish."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This has a nice winey core of steeped red and black currant fruit laced with bay, charcoal, savory and olive notes. The fruit keeps pace through the mineral-edged finish, with a late tug of dark earth. Solid, if just slightly on the rustic side of the stylistic ledger. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2022 through 2031."