Château Lilian Ladouys Saint-Estèphe Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel 2020

James Suckling

This is a young 2020 that is back ended with a serious finish of solid and polished tannins and plenty of juicy fruit. Medium body. Racy structured. Excellent length at the end. Try after 2025.

Antonio Galloni

The 2020 Lilian Ladouys is a real charmer, just as it was from barrel. Silky, aromatic and nuanced, Lilian Ladouys presents a profile redolent of red fruit, cedar, spice and crushed flowers. This mid-weight Saint-Estèphe is just gorgeous.

Jeb Dunnuck

Seemingly always terrific, the 2020 Château Lilian Ladouys shows the class of the vintage and has a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, yet silky, perfectly balanced style with tons to love. Darker fruits, damp earth, truffle, and beautiful spice-driven aromatics define this beauty, and while it's already accessible, I'm sure will evolve gracefully for 10-15 years.

Anthocyanes Yohan Castaing

"A very beautiful burst of black fruits, flowers (violet, almost iris), and minty touches. Superb nose. Juicy and fleshy, the mouthfeel is delicate, velvety, satin-like, with that very elegant aromatic profile still present. A truly beautiful wine that has now become a safe bet. It combines pleasure with aging potential (5 to 15 years). Excellent value for money."

Decanter

Juicy, well balanced, plenty of personality, with enough juice through the mid palate to balance out the big tannins that are pretty inescapable in any wines of ambition in 2020. The finish closes in sharply, but this is an enjoyable wine from the Lorenzetti-owned Lilian Ladouys (and for me one of the clear leaders of the new Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel category). 35% new oak, harvest September 15 to 30, 78% first wine.

Tastingbook.com

Wine Enthusiast

The combination of powerful tannins and equally generous black fruits is a fine harbinger for this wine's development. Big, bold, and juicy with a dense structure, the wine is for long-term aging. Barrel Sample: 93-95.

Vert de Vin Magazine

The wine has a ruby color of medium intensity. The nose is reserved at first, but gains from being aerated. It then expresses notes of wild strawberry, crushed strawberry, cherry, raspberry, creamy blackcurrant, morello cherry, cherry yogurt, blackberry and blueberry jam, combined with subtle spicy notes (licorice stick , clove, ground nutmeg, a sweet touch of cinnamon and vanilla), roasted (toasted hazelnut, caramel in the background), wild mint, chocolate cherry and flowers (violet, peony, cornflower) . The palate is enveloping and silky, with a soft and velvety, but assertive tannin structure, and a beautiful acidity. It expresses the flavors of wild strawberry, morello cherry, red cherry jam, creamy blackcurrant, redcurrant jelly, mint chocolate, macerated cherry in chocolate, as well as delicate and integrated notes of sweet spices (licorice , grated nutmeg, cloves, toasted vanilla), of torrefaction (mild coffee, toasted hazelnut), dried mint and flowers (violet, iris, cornflower). The finish is long, gourmand, with lots of fruit and a fine touch of cocoa in the background. A gourmand, complex and elegant wine, accessible from its youth, but capable of evolving for years.

Alexandre Ma

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

Fresh espresso, blackberries, flowers, spice box, chocolate and spearmint create the complex nose. On the palate, the wine really shines with its layers of ripe, sweet, fresh and vibrant cherries and blackberries, creamy tannins and hint of cocoa in the finish. And as good as this wine is, it sells for a song. Fans of Left Bank Bordeaux should be all over this gem. Drink from 2024-2040.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

This is superlative stuff, confident and enjoyable, although it has the slightly fierce tannins of St Estèphe, and needs to smooth out further with a few more years in bottle. Love the dark chocoalte and slate combination that slows things down, adding texture and restraint to the ripe berry fruits. 35% new oak, harvest September 15 to 30.

Markus del Monego MW

Expressive with freshness and convincing length.

La Revue du Vin de France

The 2020 lives up to its promises; it's a lovely wine with a shape that is both classic and indulgent, ready to be enjoyed. It has a nice volume, well-crafted tannins, and a smooth finish. A great deal.