Château Lilian Ladouys Saint-Estèphe 2019 - Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

After passing Cos d’Estournel, and facing Lafon-Rochet, the two towers of Lilian-Ladouys rise from a sea of vines. This 47-hectare estate was purchased by Jacky Lorenzetti in September 2008. As at Pédesclaux, Vincent Bache-Gabrielsen oversees the winemaking. Dense and colorful, the wines are instantly captivating. The archetype of a super Bordeaux.

Decanter

About the wine:

A new Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, in pristine condition (starting with the 2018 vintage). I would rank it among Lilian Ladouys’ best vintages. It is extremely silky, with blackberries so plump that you could almost drink it right now, but there are tannins, and the wine’s body closes up as it progresses across the palate, suggesting it intends to get serious about its aging potential. Excellent quality overall, easy to recommend, although the acidity is a bit higher than in 2018, which may not appeal to everyone. Recently expanded to 80 hectares with the addition of vineyards from La Tour de Pez and Clauzet (two high-quality estates).

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

In the 14th century, La Doys was a farmstead belonging to Lafite. After enjoying its heyday at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries under the name Château Ladouys, this estate had virtually disappeared. It was revived (and renamed after his wife) by Christian Thiéblot in the 1980s, then by Natexis starting in 1989. In 2008, there was another change of ownership with Jacky and Françoise Lorenzetti (Pédesclaux in Pauillac), who sold their network of real estate agencies to invest in the vineyard. They undertook a vast restructuring program for the 45 hectares of vines.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

The 2019 vintage is beautifully silky, with smooth fruit and a lovely roundness. It’s a well-structured wine, best enjoyed relatively soon, though it can also age for a few years in the cellar. A great value.

About the estate:

After passing through the hands of several owners who did not always know how to realize its potential, the unassuming Château Lilian Ladouys was purchased by businessman Jacky Lorenzetti in 2008. Lorenzetti, who subsequently acquired Château Pédesclaux in Pauillac and Château Lafon Rochet in Saint-Estèphe, has grand ambitions for his wines. Lilian Ladouys, which has undergone extensive renovations in recent years, has found a very respectable rhythm over the past few vintages. The wine deserves the attention of wine lovers.

Wine Spectator

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

Produced on a large 77-hectare estate, this wine is dense, well-structured, and bursting with flavors of black coffee and spices, complemented by rich tannins. Notes of blackberry shine through its texture, promising excellent aging potential. Best enjoyed starting in 2026.

James Suckling

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

The Lorenzetti family was absolutely right to purchase this "sleeping beauty" in 2008 and to showcase the estate’s expertise. This 2019 vintage once again reveals the full potential of this château. The nose offers subtle aromas of overripe black fruits. The attack is clean and leads into a full, ample palate that is already charming and supported by a lovely structure. The extraction is perfectly controlled, delivering round, medium-grained tannins. The overall impression is voluptuous and elegant, yet not lacking in body. Ready to drink in a few years or suitable for aging. We’re left wanting more.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

This bouquet offers plenty of freshness, floral notes, and red berries. It also reveals hints of graphite. On the palate, it’s savory and crisp, thanks to a refreshingly briny note on the attack. This Lilian-Ladouys is deeply imbued with its terroir, which lends it freshness and power through precise, tight, and well-integrated tannins. It is certainly one of the estate’s most accomplished wines. 2026–2044

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

With a beautiful deep color, the wine immediately captivates with its notes of black cherry, blackcurrant, thyme, mint, tobacco leaf, spices, and smoke. Medium-bodied to full-bodied, fresh and vibrant. The fruit, with its hints of chocolate and mint, lingers in the long, slightly earthy finish. This wine will age and develop for at least two decades or more. Best enjoyed between 2025 and 2040.