Château Lilian Ladouys Saint-Estèphe 2020 - Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

After passing Cos d'Estournel, and facing Lafon-Rochet, the two towers of Lilian-Ladouys emerge from an ocean of vines. This 47-hectare estate was bought by Jacky Lorenzetti in September 2008. Technical supervision, as at Pédesclaux, is provided by Vincent Bache-Gabrielsen. Dense and colorful, the wines are immediately seductive. The archetypal super-Bordeaux.

Decanter

About the wine:

Clean and crisp, delicate and satisfying. Silky and expressive, with a lovely chalky feel, well-integrated tannins and high acidity. Balanced on the palate, this is a well-crafted, charming wine. I like its soft framing, it still has definition and strength, but the fresh red and blue fruits and herbal accents are more in the foreground than the texture at the moment, giving plenty of nuance and detail. First year of organic conversion. 2024-2034

Guide Hachette des vins

About the domain :

In the 14th century, La Doys was a Lafite tenant farm. After enjoying its heyday at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, under the name of Ch. Ladouys, this cru had all but disappeared. It was resurrected (and renamed after his wife) by Christian Thiéblot in the 1980s, then by Natexis from 1989. In 2008, a new change of ownership with Jacky and Françoise Lorenzetti (Pédesclaux in Pauillac), who sold their real estate agency network to invest in the vineyard. They embarked on a vast program to restructure the 45 ha of vines.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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

About the domain :

Having had several owners who didn't always know how to exploit its potential, the discreet Château Lilian Ladouys was bought by businessman Jacky Lorenzetti in 2008. The latter, who subsequently acquired Château Pédesclaux in Pauillac and Château Lafon Rochet in Saint-Estèphe, has great ambitions for his vintages. Lilian Ladouys, which has been extensively remodeled in recent years, has found a very respectable cruising rhythm over the last few vintages. The wine deserves the attention of connoisseurs.

Wine Spectator

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

Barrel sample. The combination of powerful tannins and generous black fruit is a good omen for the development of this wine. Big, fat and juicy with a dense structure, this wine is destined for long ageing.

Vinous A. Galloni

About the wine:

Lilian Ladouys 2020 is a real charmer, just as it was in barrel. Silky, aromatic and nuanced, Lilian Ladouys has a profile that evokes red fruits, cedar, spices and crushed flowers. This medium-weight Saint-Estèphe is simply magnificent. 2023-2032

James Suckling

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

Its deep, brilliant color heralds its concentration. In fact, if the nose remains subtle at the time of tasting, it emerges racy, with the aeration of stone fruit scents. The palate confirms, dense, tight, with great tannin elegance. It deserves a Favorite, as in 2019! A fresh and sapid balance, what a success!

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Lilian Ladouys 2020 is a multi-faceted wine with no shortage of arguments, both olfactory and gustatory! It knows how to bring out the best in its terroir, while mastering the power it's known for. It goes even further, complementing power with finesse. A sort of Iron Man who dances the salsa. Reminds me of the Property Manager, by the way! This is undeniably a great Lilian Ladouys. You'll have to be patient, because he's armed with tannins. 2026-2045

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The wine has a ruby color of medium intensity. The nose is reserved at first, but gains in airiness. It then expresses notes of wild strawberry, crushed strawberry, cherry, raspberry, creamy blackcurrant, morello cherry, cherry yoghurt, blackberry and blueberry jam, combined with subtle spicy notes (licorice stick, clove, ground nutmeg, a sweet touch of cinnamon and vanilla), roasted notes (toasted hazelnut, caramel in the background), wild mint, chocolate cherry and floral notes (violet, peony, blueberry). The palate is enveloping and silky, with a soft, velvety yet assertive tannic structure and lovely acidity. It expresses flavors of wild strawberry, Morello cherry, red cherry jam, creamy blackcurrant, redcurrant jelly, mint chocolate, chocolate-macerated cherry, as well as delicate, integrated sweet spices (licorice, grated nutmeg, clove, toasted vanilla), roast (sweet coffee, toasted hazelnut), dried mint and flowers (violet, iris, cornflower). The finish is long, greedy, with lots of fruit and a fine touch of cocoa in the background. A gourmet, complex and elegant wine, accessible in its youth, but capable of evolving for years.