James Suckling 93
The blueberry and blackberry aromas are certainly attractive here. Full-bodied and dense with a very velvety texture and a long, generous finish of ripe fruit and spice.
by James Suckling, JS, 2019.

Wine Advocate 91
The 2016 Lilian Ladouys is a blend of 62 Merlot, 32 Cabernet Sauvignon and 6 Petit Verdot aged in 30 new French oak for 15 months. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it sings of baked plums, crme de cassis and Black Forest cake with bay leaves, pencil lead and menthol. Medium-bodied, elegant and packed with vibrant flavor layers, it finishes long.
by Robert Parker, LP, 2018.

Wine Spectator 91
Very lively, featuring a fun mix of cassis, plum paste and cherry preserve flavors, framed with floral and mineral notes. The light-handed toast lets the fruit shine through the finish, with persistent chalky minerality.
by Wine Spectator, JM, 2019.

Vinous Media 91
The 2016 Lilian Ladouys has a tightly wound bouquet with blackberry, cedar and light mint aromas, quite potent with mineral scents developing with time. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin, rather foursquare and precise. More Pauillac in style than Saint-Estphe thanks to that graphite note on the long finish. Excellent. Tasted at the Cru Bourgeois tasting in London.
by Vinous Media, NM, 2018.

Wine Enthusiast 92
Now under the same ownership as vastly improved Chateau Pedesclaux in Pauillac, this estate is also on the upward quality curve. This wine has the structure and tannins of a classic Saint-Estphe as well as juicy, rich black fruits.
by Wine Enthusiast, RV, 2019.

Tasting notes
This a very linear and refined red with currant and lemon aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a bright finish. Shows focus and beauty. Elegant and long. Drink in 2020. p
Chateau Lilian Ladouys can be enjoyed somewhat early. However, the wine is often better with at least a few years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage. Chateau Lilian Ladouys is usually best enjoyed in the first 10-20 years of life.

Young vintages can be decanted for 1-2 hours. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Lilian Ladouys is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted braised and grilled dishes. Lilian Ladouys is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms and pasta.

Vineyard
The 47 hectare Left Bank Bordeaux vineyard of Lilian Ladouys is planted to 62 Merlot, 33 Cabernet Sauvignon, 3 Cabernet Franc and 2 Petit Verdot. This represents a major change in the vineyard that was previously dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Petit Verdot vines were also a new addition to the varietal makeup. The vines are old at close to 40 years of age. The oldest vines are 60 years of age. The vine density ranges from 8,000 vines per hectare to 10,000 vines per hectare. The terroir is typical of St. Estephe with its gravel, clay and limestone soils.

However, the makeup of their Left Bank vineyards and soils are slowly changing, due to exchanges with other Saint Estephe vineyards, giving Lilian Ladouys less limestone and increased gravel and clay in their soil. As the new vines age and are better integrated into the vineyard, the wine will show more richness and depth.

Vinification
To produce the wine of Chateau Lilian Ladouys, vinification takes place in temperature controlled, stainless steel vats. 48 vats in total are used. The vats range in size from 54 hectoliters to 172 hectoliters. Malolactic fermentation takes place in tank, with the exception of 10 of the fruit, which goes through malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels. The wine of Chateau Lilian Ladouys is aged on average in 40 new, French oak barrels for between 14 and 16 months.
The annual production of Chateau is close to 20,000 cases of St. Estephe wine each year. There is a second wine, La Devise de Lilian. The property is consulted by Emmanuel Cruse who owns and manages Chateau dIssan in the Margaux appellation.