Discover the wines of Château Léoville Las Cases
Microclimate
The Château is located in Saint-Julien and comprises 95 hectares. The Clos consists of a complex terroir of gravel with a clayey subsoil. Its proximity to the Gironde has provided a great diversity of soils over the past centuries. The river also provides a microclimate that allows the grapes to ripen early and protects them from frost.
Birthright
Domaine de Léoville has been owned by some of the wealthiest and most influential noble French families, before it came into the possession of the Las Cases family. As a result of the French Revolution, the estate was split in two between 1826 and 1840. Château Léoville Las Cases was established, thanks to a birthright, from an inheritance of three-fifths of the original estate and the heart of the estate.
The Delons
The château remained in the Las Cases family until financial difficulties forced them to sell it to several Bordeaux residents. Among them was German businessman Théophile Skawinksi. He then passed his share onto his heirs, the Delons. Slowly, they bought out the other shareholders and came into possession of the majority of the land. Jean-Hubert Delon succeeded his father in 2000 and is the fifth generation of the family to run the Château.
2nd Grand Cru Classé
The Grand Vin, Léoville du Marquis de Las Cases is classified as 2nd Cru in the Bordeaux Classification of 1855. However, the quality is said to be so outstanding that if the classification were to be revised, this wine would be classified as Premier Cru. This is the result of the exceptional terroir of the former Léoville estate. The Grand Cru has a complex, polished expression and a unique character.
Léoville’s second wine is the Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases. Vinification and ageing allow the wine to retain its fresh, ripe and fruity flavours throughout its life cycle. This wine is really designed as a second wine, meaning it can be drunk early on.
L'Aile ou La Cruisse
In 1953, Léoville de Las Cases featured in the iconic French film ‘L’Aile ou La Cuisse’. In this film, Charles Duchemin (played by Louis de Funès) has completely lost his taste, but he recognises the Grand Vin out of thousands.