Community Tasting Notes 18

• Juliansi Likes this wine: 89 points

  February 1, 2024 - Le Petit Lion comes from my favourite appelation, Saint Julien. It is the true 2nd wine of Leoville Las Cases of course. I read that it is an earlier drinking style and made more accessible younger, due to its significant proportion of Merlot.
  
  Couple of the lads, Nico and Tom thought.. is this a Saint Emilion? Well done lads, they caught the higher Merlot levels here, with the unique Cab 40% and Merlot 60% blend.
  
  I simply popped this an hour before dinner, and we left this to bottle-breathe for about 3 hours. Have to say it was barely ready, as the drying tannins were still ever-present.
  
  Vanilla and new oak on the nose, with plum aromatics developing. The Acidity M+ was perfectly paired with the crispy-skinned Porchetta. Medium length finish.
  
  Vintage 2015:
  This 2015 vintage was a particularly hot and sunny weather from early April, which set off a rapid and regular bud-burst. This was followed by beautiful weather at the end of May and early June, allowing both quick flowering as well as even ripening.
  
  Moderate heat-stress from mid-July, and then a welcome rainfall at the end of July through early August which allows an even colour change. This was then followed by alternating sunny and rain periods, over the final ripening stages. The mild September ensured grapes maintained an aromatic freshness.
  
  Geography:
  St. Julien is the product of its being sandwiched between Pauillac to the north and Margaux to the south. SJ thus receives a little less rain than in other regions in the Medoc located to the north, but more moisture than the estates located in the Margaux appellation to the south.
  
  July 2015 was the 4th ever hottest July recorded in Bordeaux over the past century! This produced small grapes with thick skins and a lot of tannin.
  
  Dinner at a'Roma dinings in Taman Paramount PJ, with white wine afficionados Tom and PMW, joined by Chong, Jackie, KN and Nico too. Happy Chinese New Year in advance lads.
  
  Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
  1st Feb 2024

  Comment

• markjanes wrote: 89 points

  August 21, 2023 - QN: still very primary, very young vine in nature with not a ton of oak. i'd give this time.

  Comment

• denniswdern@gmail.com Likes this wine: 93 points

  July 16, 2023 - Medium to deep ruby color. Medium aromas of black currant, blackberry, dried herbs and charred wood. Medium acidity, tannins and alcohol. Flavors consistent with aromas. Long finish.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

• Juliansi Likes this wine: 90 points

  December 15, 2022 - I am a huge fan of Saint-Juliens, which obviously includes the mighty Château Léoville Las Cases - So when I had the purchase some 2 years ago to purchase a couple of bottles of Le Petit Lion 2015, I could not resist.
  
  I like this, and at a price point of circa USD 70-80 for a second wine of such an illustrious maker like Léoville Las Cases, that's more then fair.
  
  Plenty of the LLC signatures and style in this early drinking wine, which can likely cellar safely for another 5 years too.
  
  It seems.. despite this being a left bank, the blend is 40% Cab Sauv and 60% Merlot! Ripe blackcurrant nose was quick to open, then came the sweet tobacco and more black fruit notes on the palate too.
  
  Tannins are not completely resolved but not intrusive.
  
  My bottle at a random night at home with the Brothers Kong, where we had this alongside its Grand Vin brethren, Léoville Las Cases 2004... What a treat!
  
  2015 is a stellar vintage... Dry weather over the summer with welcome rainfall at the end of July and early August, which allowed a quick and even véraison (grapes color change.) Whilst at harvest-time, the final ripening stages continued thru alternating sun and rain.
  
  My home, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  15th Dec 2022

  Comment

• Double-A Likes this wine: 93 points

  November 16, 2022 - Evolving and integrated, currant, peppercorn, toast, and Christmas cake nose. Neat and complete structure with balanced flavours and ample complexity; defined and lengthy finish, it certainly shows it's pedigree.
  4.5/5

  2 people found this helpful Comment

Pro Reviews 12

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2015
• Type Red
• Producer Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases
• Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
• Designation n/a
• Vineyard n/a
• Country France
• Region Bordeaux
• SubRegion Médoc
• Appellation St. Julien
• UPC Codes 3277034832656, 3364420088572, 3364420092654, 3388118594916, 3419466269550, 3450301136903, 3511061022247, 3550871209615, 3660989186569, 3700188037146, 3700447710223, 639737609424, 639737609646

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 37 (5%)
• In Cellars 463 (67%)
• Consumed 195 (28%)

Food Pairing

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