James Suckling (91-92)

A solid red with dark berry and wet earth aromas and flavor. Full body, chewy tannins yet polished and balanced. Serious concentration for the vintage for this estate.

Decanter (94)

Inky in colour and with intense cassis flavours joined by olive paste notes, this has a gorgeous, balanced feel. It needs to be carafed for an hour or two if you are looking to drink it soon, although the tannins are already silky and the concentration on display is pretty seductive. Great stuff, with a menthol blast on the finish, just brilliant value for money. It stands out among the Lalande-Borie vintages and this has got to be the best buy of the lineup.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)

Bruno Borie's Merlot-based Saint-Julien Lalande-Borie is plump, juicy and inviting in 2017. Inky dark blue and purplish berry fruit, spice, licorice, menthol and chocolate are all pushed forward in an easygoing, racy Saint-Julien that will drink well right out of the gate. The 2017 spent 12 months in French oak, 40% of which was new. This is very nicely done and delicious.

Jeb Dunnuck (91-94)

A blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Château Lalande-Borie knocks it out of the park in the vintage and has a brilliant, full-bodied style as well as sexy notes of cassis, blueberries, violets, and spice box. With terrific ripeness, notable purity, and a balanced, layered texture, it’s going to drink nicely right out of the gate yet keep for two decades. It appears to be the finest vintage of this cuvée I’ve tasted.

James Suckling (92-93)

This is really well done with focus and precision, showing blackcurrant and blueberry character. Hints of stones. Medium-to full-bodied and linear with a fine-textured finish.

James Suckling (92-93)

This is really well done with focus and precision, showing blackcurrant and blueberry character. Hints of stones. Medium-to full-bodied and linear with a fine-textured finish.

Vinous - Neal Martin (90-92)

The 2020 Le Petit Ducru de Ducru-Beaucaillou, matured in 30% new oak for 12 months, is delineated on the nose with blackberry, wild hedgerow and a discrete marine/estuarine influence. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit and well judged acidity. It displays some "rondeur" towards the finish that suggests it will drink well after just a couple of years, yet there is certainly the substance to guarantee it will age well in the cellar, if you are that way inclined.

Vinous - Neal Martin (90-92)

The 2020 Le Petit Ducru de Ducru-Beaucaillou, matured in 30% new oak for 12 months, is delineated on the nose with blackberry, wild hedgerow and a discrete marine/estuarine influence. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit and well judged acidity. It displays some "rondeur" towards the finish that suggests it will drink well after just a couple of years, yet there is certainly the substance to guarantee it will age well in the cellar, if you are that way inclined.

Jeb Dunnuck (91)

The deeply hued 2021 Le Petit Ducru De Ducru-Beaucaillou (which got some choice lots of Merlot in 2021) is classy stuff, with red and black currants, sappy flowers, medium-bodied richness, ripe, polished tannins, and a supple, layered, elegant profile that has plenty to love.

Jeb Dunnuck (91)

The deeply hued 2021 Le Petit Ducru De Ducru-Beaucaillou (which got some choice lots of Merlot in 2021) is classy stuff, with red and black currants, sappy flowers, medium-bodied richness, ripe, polished tannins, and a supple, layered, elegant profile that has plenty to love.

Jeb Dunnuck (91)

The deeply hued 2021 Le Petit Ducru De Ducru-Beaucaillou (which got some choice lots of Merlot in 2021) is classy stuff, with red and black currants, sappy flowers, medium-bodied richness, ripe, polished tannins, and a supple, layered, elegant profile that has plenty to love.

Discover the exquisite Le Petit Ducru 2022, a paramount embodiment of French sophistication. From the acclaimed Bordeaux region, Le Petit Ducru 2022 is the second wine of prestigious Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. Holding a longstanding reputation for creating exceptional Bordeaux blends, the estate brings together finesse and intensity in the Petit Ducru. Produced under the expert guidance of winemaker Bruno-Eugène Borie, this claret is a masterful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Merlot, raising the bar for refinement and complexity.

This complex vintage boasts earthy undertones, mingling with vibrant black fruit notes, highlighting its superb balance and structure. Grown in Günz gravels, these vineyards' distinctive terroir imparts richness and depth to the wine, while ageing in French oak barrels lends subtle hints of spice and vanilla. Le Petit Ducru 2022 mirrors the meticulous crafting that defines Ducru-Beaucaillou's esteemed heritage, marking a splendid addition to any cellar.

Discover the exquisite Le Petit Ducru 2022, a paramount embodiment of French sophistication. From the acclaimed Bordeaux region, Le Petit Ducru 2022 is the second wine of prestigious Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. Holding a longstanding reputation for creating exceptional Bordeaux blends, the estate brings together finesse and intensity in the Petit Ducru. Produced under the expert guidance of winemaker Bruno-Eugène Borie, this claret is a masterful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Merlot, raising the bar for refinement and complexity.

This complex vintage boasts earthy undertones, mingling with vibrant black fruit notes, highlighting its superb balance and structure. Grown in Günz gravels, these vineyards' distinctive terroir imparts richness and depth to the wine, while ageing in French oak barrels lends subtle hints of spice and vanilla. Le Petit Ducru 2022 mirrors the meticulous crafting that defines Ducru-Beaucaillou's esteemed heritage, marking a splendid addition to any cellar.

Discover the exquisite Le Petit Ducru 2022, a paramount embodiment of French sophistication. From the acclaimed Bordeaux region, Le Petit Ducru 2022 is the second wine of prestigious Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. Holding a longstanding reputation for creating exceptional Bordeaux blends, the estate brings together finesse and intensity in the Petit Ducru. Produced under the expert guidance of winemaker Bruno-Eugène Borie, this claret is a masterful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Merlot, raising the bar for refinement and complexity.

This complex vintage boasts earthy undertones, mingling with vibrant black fruit notes, highlighting its superb balance and structure. Grown in Günz gravels, these vineyards' distinctive terroir imparts richness and depth to the wine, while ageing in French oak barrels lends subtle hints of spice and vanilla. Le Petit Ducru 2022 mirrors the meticulous crafting that defines Ducru-Beaucaillou's esteemed heritage, marking a splendid addition to any cellar.

Wine Advocate (92-94)

The 2018 Le Petit Lion is blended of 45% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Cabernet Franc, harvested from September 15 to October 4 with yields of 35.5 hectoliters per hectare. The wine has 14.47% alcohol and will be aged in barriques, 30% new. The finished blend was put into barrels last December. Deep garnet-purple colored, it gives a wonderfully perfumed nose of violets, star anise and fragrant soil over a core of plum preserves, blackberry pie and blueberry compote plus a waft of spice cake. The palate is rich, seductive and spicy with plush, rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and opulent. Love it!

James Suckling (95-96)

This is really beautiful with blackcurrants, spice, black olives and blueberries. Full-bodied with chewy tannins. It’s bright and focused. Excellent second wine from Las Cases. One of the best.

James Suckling (96-97)

This is very deep and rich with ripe tannins that take your down and through the palate. Full and layered. This is really plush and intense. Could be the best ever for the second wine. Goes deep.

James Suckling (96-97)

This is very deep and rich with ripe tannins that take your down and through the palate. Full and layered. This is really plush and intense. Could be the best ever for the second wine. Goes deep.

James Suckling (96-97)

This is very deep and rich with ripe tannins that take your down and through the palate. Full and layered. This is really plush and intense. Could be the best ever for the second wine. Goes deep.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92-94)

The 2021 Le Petit Lion is a wine of real breath and textural intensity. Black cherry, plum, leather, spice, menthol, licorice and graphite all build in the glass. The Petit Lion has the potential to be one of the Sleepers of the vintage. It has all the class and breadth of its bigger sibling, but in miniature. I loved it.

Decanter (94)

Fragranced and scented, so appealing, rich, vibrant, alive on the nose, black and blue fruits with purple flowers. Juicy and alive in the mouth, straight away the acidity makes the mark, clean and clear, with bite and tang, so thrilling, energetic and racy but then the tannins come in, slightly chalky, grippy and firm giving the texture - serious but with a touch of sweetness that gives a playful aspect. Well constructed, precise but weighty, intense and concentrated. A great wine that gives depth, complexity and persistence but with such great drinkability - and grand vin quality.

James Suckling (93-94)

This is very fresh and crunchy with blackberries, dark cherries and hints of crushed stones. It’s medium-bodied with impressive acidity and fine, silky tannins. Shows depth and structure, too. Bright and vivid on the finish. Lightly chunky. Second wine of Leoville Las Cases. 61% cabernet sauvignon, 31% merlot and 8% cabernet franc.

James Suckling (93-94)

This is very fresh and crunchy with blackberries, dark cherries and hints of crushed stones. It’s medium-bodied with impressive acidity and fine, silky tannins. Shows depth and structure, too. Bright and vivid on the finish. Lightly chunky. Second wine of Leoville Las Cases. 61% cabernet sauvignon, 31% merlot and 8% cabernet franc.

Vinous - Neal Martin (92)

The 1982 Léoville Barton has a slightly feral nose compared to its peers, probably due to some Brettanomyces, leaning towards Rhône in style, with hints of coffee granules that, frankly, are a bit off-putting. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly crunchy texture, plenty of black fruit intermixed with cedar and tobacco, showing some dryness on the finish. But this does improve markedly in the glass, cohering and the aromatics dispensing with some of their animal elements, prompting me to raise my initially parsimonious score. Tasted single blind at the 1982 dinner at Cornus in London.