Château Léoville Las Cases

Château Léoville Las Cases originates from the massive Domaine de Léoville, which was one of the first vineyards planted in the Médoc during the mid 17th century. Following the French Revolution, the estate was divided into several parcels between 1826 and 1840, resulting in the three modern Léoville properties. Las Cases retained the historical heart of the original domain, including the manor house and the largest portion of the vineyard. The Delon family has managed the property since 1900, when Théophile Skawinski acquired shares. Today, Jean-Hubert Delon serves as the sole owner and representative, working alongside his son Arnaud Delon and Vice President Jean-Guillaume Prats.

The estate manages 98 hectares of vines, the most significant portion of which is the 55 hectare walled vineyard known as the Grand Clos. This site is situated on the northern edge of Saint-Julien, separated only by the Juillac stream from Château Latour in Pauillac. The terroir consists of quaternary gravel over subsoils of gravelly sand and clay. Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary variety, making up roughly two thirds of the plantings, followed by Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Winemaking practices emphasize precision through optical sorting and aging in oak barrels, a process the estate helped pioneer in the 18th century by using sulfur solutions to maintain barrel hygiene.

Classified as a Second Growth in the 1855 Classification, the château holds a reputation as a leading Super Second, a term used for estates that consistently produce quality comparable to First Growths. The portfolio includes the Grand Vin de Léoville du Marquis de Las Cases and the second wine, Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases, which was first introduced with the 2007 vintage. Additionally, the estate produces Clos du Marquis from specific vineyard plots located outside the main Grand Clos. These wines are characterized by their structure, mineral tension, and significant aging potential, often requiring decades of cellaring to reach full maturity.