Chateau Lanessan Haut Medoc Bordeaux, Complete Guide

lanessan-chateau

Learn everything about Chateau Lanessan, Haut Medoc with wine tasting notes, and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, the history of the property, and information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Lanessan History, Overview

The birth of Chateau Lanessan dates all the way back to 1793 when it was founded by Jean Delbos. Initially, the vineyard and estate were much smaller, as the property started out with 24 hectares. The impressive, classic chateau, with its Tudor, inspired influences was constructed in 1878.

Eight generations later, Chateau Lanessan remains in the hands of the Bouteiller family, which are direct descendants of the founder. This is quite a feat for a Chateau located in the Medoc, as most vineyards have changed hands several times.

Aside from their obvious passion for wine, equestrian activities have always been a part of the makeup of Chateau Lanessan. They have numerous stables, which were constructed at the same time as the chateau in the shape of a horseshoe. As horses and carriages played an important part in the history of Lanessan, the estate also maintains a museum devoted to historical carriages.

Chateau Lanessan has remained popular with wine lovers for its traditionally styled wine, which has always sold for a very consumer-friendly price. In an effort to increase quality, starting with the 2015 vintage, the owners of Lanessan brought in Hubert de Bouard, the owner of Chateau Angelus as their consultant.

In August 2022, Chateau Lanessan was sold to Treasury Wine Estates which added to its growing portfolio of Bordeaux vineyards as they already own Chateau Cambon La Pelouse and Chateau de Gironville in the Haut-Medoc appellation along with Chateau Bolaire, Bordeaux Superieur. Treasury Estates is clearly intense on growing their vineyard holdings as they have investments in Australia, Napa Valley and other appellations.

Chateau Lanessan Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 80-hectare vineyard of Chateau Lanessan is planted with 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37 Merlot, 8.5% Petit Verdot, and 2.5% Cabernet Franc. Out of its 80 hectares, 45 hectares are cultivated with vines. The vineyard is close to the St. Julien appellation. In fact, it’s just a bit south, as you drive up the D2, the Route de Medoc.

The terroir is mostly gravel-based soil. On average, the vines are 30 years of age. The vineyard is planted to a vine density of 10,000 vines per hectare. As we mentioned close to half of the land owned here is not used for vines. Instead, it’s reserved for natural forests, greenery, parkland, and horse riding trails.

While there are 45 hectares planted to grapevines, the remainder of the property features 20 hectares of parkland. Here you also find beautifully manicured gardens and even a large space for growing vegetables.

To produce the wine of Chateau Lanessan, vinification takes place in traditional, concrete vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in vat. The wine is aged in a combination of 33% new, French barrels, 33% one-year-old, French oak barrels, and 33% two years old, French oak barrels for an average of 12 months.

The production of Chateau Lanessan is large, making the wine quite easy to find in the marketplace. On average, close to 18,000 cases of wine per vintage are produced by Chateau Lanessan.

There is a second wine, Les Caleches de Lanessan which made its debut in 1999. They also own Chateau de Sainte Gemme, an estate that is also situated in the Haut Medoc appellation.

The best vintages of Chateau Lanessan are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2010, 2009 and 2005.

Chateau Lanessan remains a popular Left Bank wine with consumers, due to its traditional, Bordeaux-styled wine, low price, and ability to age for decades.

When to Drink Chateau Lanessan, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Lanessan needs some time before it can be enjoyed. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 90 minutes to 2 hours. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau Lanessan is usually better with at least 7-8 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Lanessan offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 7-20 years of age after the vintage.

Serving and Decanting Chateau Lanessan with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Lanessan is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. The wine of Chateau Lanessan is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.

Chateau Lanessan is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheese.

www.lannesan.com

Château Lanessan Wine Tasting Notes

19 Vintages 117,914 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2022
92
Blackberries, currants, tobacco leaf, underbrush, and fennel on the nose let you know the wine is going to be good. And with the first sip, you are not disappointed due to all the currants, roundness, and ripe, sweet, blackberries with freshness on display. Drink from 2026-2047. 91-93 Pts.

Blackberries, currants, tobacco leaf, underbrush, and fennel on the nose let you know the wine is going to be good. And with the first sip, you are not disappointed due to all the currants, roundness, and ripe, sweet, blackberries with freshness on display. Drink from 2026-2047. 91-93 Pts.

2,991 Views   Tasted
2021
89
Peppery, red fruits, herbs and underbrush open the nose. The medium-bodied palate is loaded with black currants, peppery herbs, green olives and dusty tannins. This is more in line with some of the Lanessan's that were produced in the past. Drink from 2024-2037

Peppery, red fruits, herbs and underbrush open the nose. The medium-bodied palate is loaded with black currants, peppery herbs, green olives and dusty tannins. This is more in line with some of the Lanessan's that were produced in the past. Drink from 2024-2037

169 Views   Tasted
Underbrush, tobacco leaf, peppery spice, red currants and crisp red plums form the core of the wine. Medium-bodied, bright, chewy and peppery, this is quite classic in style, with a nice sweetness to the bite in the red fruits found in the endnote. Drink from 2024-2040. 88-90

Underbrush, tobacco leaf, peppery spice, red currants and crisp red plums form the core of the wine. Medium-bodied, bright, chewy and peppery, this is quite classic in style, with a nice sweetness to the bite in the red fruits found in the endnote. Drink from 2024-2040. 88-90

1,992 Views   Tasted
2020
92
Flowers, cigar wrapper, mint, black, and red currants, and a hint of toasty oak create the perfume. On the palate, the wine is round, supple, fresh, and fruity with layers of sweet, ripe, clean, juicy currants with a touch of peppery spice in the finish. Drink it within a year or two of age, and enjoy it for at least 15 or more years after that Drink from 2024-2040.

Flowers, cigar wrapper, mint, black, and red currants, and a hint of toasty oak create the perfume. On the palate, the wine is round, supple, fresh, and fruity with layers of sweet, ripe, clean, juicy currants with a touch of peppery spice in the finish. Drink it within a year or two of age, and enjoy it for at least 15 or more years after that Drink from 2024-2040.

1,722 Views   Tasted
Toasty oak, dark red and black fruit, camphor and espresso come through on the nose. On the palate the wine is round, supple and structured. You find loads of sweet, ripe, fleshy fruits with a trace of cocoa in the finish. This should age quite nicely. 90-92 Pts

Toasty oak, dark red and black fruit, camphor and espresso come through on the nose. On the palate the wine is round, supple and structured. You find loads of sweet, ripe, fleshy fruits with a trace of cocoa in the finish. This should age quite nicely. 90-92 Pts

2,537 Views   Tasted
2019
92
Bright, fresh and vivid, with smoke, dried flowers, spice, tobacco and cassis on the nose, the wine is full of ripe, sweet, red and black fruits, espresso and herbs on the palate that offer staying power that keeps on going, right through to the finish. This should age quite nicely. Drink from 2024-2037.

Bright, fresh and vivid, with smoke, dried flowers, spice, tobacco and cassis on the nose, the wine is full of ripe, sweet, red and black fruits, espresso and herbs on the palate that offer staying power that keeps on going, right through to the finish. This should age quite nicely. Drink from 2024-2037.

3,874 Views   Tasted
With a dark hue, the wine combines wet earth, forest leaf, cocoa, dark red fruits and tobacco to create the nose. On the palate, the wine is round, full-bodied and loaded with sweet, dark red fruits and freshness. This should age quite nicely. 90-92 Pts

With a dark hue, the wine combines wet earth, forest leaf, cocoa, dark red fruits and tobacco to create the nose. On the palate, the wine is round, full-bodied and loaded with sweet, dark red fruits and freshness. This should age quite nicely. 90-92 Pts

4,896 Views   Tasted
2018
92
With a nice depth of color, you find smoke, grilled meat, spice, currant and tobacco notes on the nose before moving to all the round, rich, supple textured red fruits and ripe, chewy tannins. Give it 5-7 years in the bottle before pulling a cork and you will have a much better wine.

With a nice depth of color, you find smoke, grilled meat, spice, currant and tobacco notes on the nose before moving to all the round, rich, supple textured red fruits and ripe, chewy tannins. Give it 5-7 years in the bottle before pulling a cork and you will have a much better wine.

3,475 Views   Tasted
Smoky, dark red fruits, tobacco and black currants on the nose and you also find the same on the medium-full/bodied palate as it hits the right notes. The wine is bright, crisp and fruity, with loads of juicy currants in the finish. The wine was made from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. 91-93 Pts

Smoky, dark red fruits, tobacco and black currants on the nose and you also find the same on the medium-full/bodied palate as it hits the right notes. The wine is bright, crisp and fruity, with loads of juicy currants in the finish. The wine was made from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. 91-93 Pts

4,676 Views   Tasted
2017
88
Sharp red fruits with espresso and tobacco nuances bring you to a piquant layer of cassis with soft, gentle tannins and a medium-bodied finish. The wine was made from 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot.

Sharp red fruits with espresso and tobacco nuances bring you to a piquant layer of cassis with soft, gentle tannins and a medium-bodied finish. The wine was made from 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot.

4,023 Views   Tasted
2016
91
Medium/full bodied with a touch of oak, you also find black currant, cedar and tobacco notes. On the palate, the wine is round, juicy and fresh with a sweet, red fruit core of fruit from start to finish. There is some tannin giving this structure, so while it offers charm, it is going to need some cellaring before it hits its peak..

Medium/full bodied with a touch of oak, you also find black currant, cedar and tobacco notes. On the palate, the wine is round, juicy and fresh with a sweet, red fruit core of fruit from start to finish. There is some tannin giving this structure, so while it offers charm, it is going to need some cellaring before it hits its peak..

7,163 Views   Tasted
Made from a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, this medium/full-bodied wine is full of luscious fruits with silky tannins, juicy cassis, plums and tobacco. The wine has richness, length and sweet fruits that make it the best vintage of Lanessan I have ever tasted.

Made from a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, this medium/full-bodied wine is full of luscious fruits with silky tannins, juicy cassis, plums and tobacco. The wine has richness, length and sweet fruits that make it the best vintage of Lanessan I have ever tasted.

9,058 Views   Tasted
2015
90
Medium-bodied, fresh, and vibrant with a core of ripe, smoky currants, espresso, herbs, tobacco leaf, and red plums, Round and almost fleshy, the red fruits in the finish are soft and sweet, but a bit short. Drink from 2022-2035.

Medium-bodied, fresh, and vibrant with a core of ripe, smoky currants, espresso, herbs, tobacco leaf, and red plums, Round and almost fleshy, the red fruits in the finish are soft and sweet, but a bit short. Drink from 2022-2035.

3,689 Views   Tasted
Earthy, tobacco driven, dark red fruits with a rustic type of charm, although the wine seems cleaner, fresher and a bit softer than in previous vintages. Much of that credit for the improvement in the wine belongs to bringing in Hubert de Bouard as their consultant starting with the 2015 vintage. 88 - 90 Pts

Earthy, tobacco driven, dark red fruits with a rustic type of charm, although the wine seems cleaner, fresher and a bit softer than in previous vintages. Much of that credit for the improvement in the wine belongs to bringing in Hubert de Bouard as their consultant starting with the 2015 vintage. 88 - 90 Pts

6,740 Views   Tasted
2014
87
Medium bodied, bright, crisp, fresh, with a focus on its red fruit character, spice and earth notes. This should drink well early.

Medium bodied, bright, crisp, fresh, with a focus on its red fruit character, spice and earth notes. This should drink well early.

3,812 Views   Tasted
2012
85
Bright rustic, austere and on the lean, crisp, cherry side, the nose, with its earthy, tobacco and cassis leaning, was much better than the palate.

Bright rustic, austere and on the lean, crisp, cherry side, the nose, with its earthy, tobacco and cassis leaning, was much better than the palate.

3,433 Views   Tasted
2011
87
From 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, the wine will be aged in 33% new oak. This wine is lightly colored, medium bodied, and ends with fresh cranberry flavors. 86-88 Pts

From 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, the wine will be aged in 33% new oak. This wine is lightly colored, medium bodied, and ends with fresh cranberry flavors. 86-88 Pts

6,882 Views   Tasted
2010
88
Rustic tannins, dark cherries, herbs and cassis are found in this medium bodied, classic styled wine.

Rustic tannins, dark cherries, herbs and cassis are found in this medium bodied, classic styled wine.

5,539 Views   Tasted
2009
89
Sporting a new label, that will probably have older fans up in arms, this lightly colored, medium bodied wine offers earth, red/black fruit and cedar wood aromas, ending with a tangy, sharp, dark berry finish.

Sporting a new label, that will probably have older fans up in arms, this lightly colored, medium bodied wine offers earth, red/black fruit and cedar wood aromas, ending with a tangy, sharp, dark berry finish.

8,952 Views   Tasted
2008
86
Firm, bright, crisp and tannic, this is not much fun to drink today. Perhaps time will soften the strict tannins and add more to the very, fresh fruit and tobacco character.

Firm, bright, crisp and tannic, this is not much fun to drink today. Perhaps time will soften the strict tannins and add more to the very, fresh fruit and tobacco character.

4,753 Views   Tasted
2006
84
With a blackberry, herb and green leafy scented perfume, this young, wine is rustic and angular in nature.

With a blackberry, herb and green leafy scented perfume, this young, wine is rustic and angular in nature.

2,958 Views   Tasted
2005
88
Cassis, tobacco, ash, blackberry and wet earth aromas are easy to locate. Medium/full bodied with some rustic tannin remaining, this represents good value from the Medoc for fans of traditional Bordeaux wine.

Cassis, tobacco, ash, blackberry and wet earth aromas are easy to locate. Medium/full bodied with some rustic tannin remaining, this represents good value from the Medoc for fans of traditional Bordeaux wine.

9,660 Views   Tasted
2004
85
Medium bodied, rustic, more on the spicy, peppery, red fruit side of the style range, with green herbs and some dryness in the finish.

Medium bodied, rustic, more on the spicy, peppery, red fruit side of the style range, with green herbs and some dryness in the finish.

3,562 Views   Tasted
2000
82
Tobacco, old wood, cassis, green herbs, medium bodied with a rustic hard texture that ends with tart cherry and cranberry. I suspect this will age and continue to evolve in the same direction.

Tobacco, old wood, cassis, green herbs, medium bodied with a rustic hard texture that ends with tart cherry and cranberry. I suspect this will age and continue to evolve in the same direction.

8,423 Views   Tasted
1953
84
Wines like this prove why all of us should drink wines blind more often. While not the best old wine I've ever had, I was blown away by how good this small property was at close to 50 years of age. Still some structure and depth to the old girl, even if the wine was a little tart and slightly thin in the finish. Lots of barnyard in the nose along with wet forest notes

Wines like this prove why all of us should drink wines blind more often. While not the best old wine I've ever had, I was blown away by how good this small property was at close to 50 years of age. Still some structure and depth to the old girl, even if the wine was a little tart and slightly thin in the finish. Lots of barnyard in the nose along with wet forest notes

2,935 Views   Tasted