Chateau Leoville Las Cases St Julien Classic Bordeaux Wine

Chateau Leoville Las Cases has one of the longest histories in the Medoc. This famed estate was the property a myriad of noble families. Previous owners were some of the most notable and wealthiest inhabitants in France. The final royal family to own the property is where the chateau draws its name from, the Las Cases family.

Through marriage, the estate becomes part of the de Gascq family. It was Alexandre de Gascq who renamed Mont-Moytié as Léoville, or Lionville. He gave the estate this name after owning a Bordeaux wine property in the Right Bank.

It was the goal of Alexandre de Gascq to turn Léoville into the best property in the Médoc. Some of his ideas seemed odd at the time, but they were all sound. He planted smaller grape varieties, trellising the rows with pinewood. de Gascq built new winemaking receptacles. The free run juice was barrel aged. This was done in oak barrels that were disinfected with sulphur.

When Alexandre de Gascq died, following almost 4 decades of acquisitions and planting, Léoville had become the biggest vineyard in the Médoc. It was over 300 acres! Even though the heirs of de Gascq allowed the property to remain whole, starting in 1775, Léoville marketed under four different family names, Monbalon, d’Abadie, Lacaze and Chevalier. Two of these were old winegrowing families, Abadie managed Beychevelle and Chevalier owned part of Gassies in Margaux.

The property was divided in 1840. Pierre Jean de Lascases, the oldest son received a share, which became Château Léoville Las Cases. His sister, Jeanne, passed on her share to her daughter, wife of Baron Jean-Marie Poyferré de Cerès, from a noble house in Armagnac.

The buildings of Château Léoville Poyferré and Léoville Las Cases were divided into two parts, sharing a common work and parking area, just as they are today. This is unique to the Médoc and to the entire Bordeaux appellation.

At the main gate to the property, which is where the famous logo resides, the gates open to a walled 53 hectare area. This imposing property borders the small St. Julien village on one side. On the other, the vineyards touch those of Chateau Latour.

The property came under the present ownership when at the close of the 19th century, Thoophile Skawinksi, the great-great grandfather of Jean-Hubert Delon purchased shares in the estate. Skawinksi began managing the property. He was succeeded by his heirs who still run the property today.

Currently, Jean-Hubert Delon and his sister Geneviève d’Alton own Leoville Las Cases. Delon also owns Chateau Nenin in Pomerol. Château Potensac located in the Medoc is his property as well.

One of the first “second” Bordeaux wines created is the second wine of Leoville Las Cases. Clos du Marquis had its debut in 1902. However, the estate does not consider this a second wine. The fruit source comes from comes from different vines and terroir than what is used to create the Bordeaux wine from Leoville Las Cases.

Starting with the 2007 vintage, the Delon’s began producing a true second wine, Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases. The source of the fruit comes from the young vines of the Las Cases vineyards. However, both terroirs and all three wines are produced by the same team and receive similar treatment in the vineyards and cellar.   

The Vineyard:

The largest vineyard plot of Léoville-Las Cases known as the Grand Clos, are located in the norther portion of the St-Julien with only the Juillac tributary separating its vineyards from those  of Latour. 97 Hectares are planted to 65 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.   The vineyard underwent major replanting during the 1950s after the frost. Today the vines average 30 years of age.

Grapes are harvested by hand, crushed and then may be fermented in temperature controlled wood, concrete, or stainless steel vats of varying size depending on the style of the vintage. Starting in 1987, Léoville-Las Cases began employing a state of the art, reverse osmosis machine to help extract excess water from the grape must.  Use of this technique is considered controversial by some people.  However today, that technology is by many of the top Bordeaux Chateaux. People questioning the technologies effect of wine need only to taste 1990, 1996, 2000 and other top years.  Those are all better vintages for Leoville Las Cases, than previous famous years like 1982. According to Delon, reverse osmosis is only used in select vintages.

Leoville Las Cases produces a structured style of Bordeaux wine. In the top vintages, buyers should be aware that these years of Leoville Las Cases take 15-20 or more years to develop and shed their tannic structure. At that point in time, the Bordeaux will wine display cedar, cassis, dark berries, truffle and tobacco notes in a style that often resembles a First Growth Pauillac. Yet, it is uniquely Las Cases.