2016 Le Petit Lion de Lascases

The second wine of Léoville Las Cases, the 2016 Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases includes more old vine Merlot and is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc that spent 14 months in 30% new French oak. It’s a “Wow” of a second wine and has a big nose of crème de cassis, black cherries, forest floor, and tobacco, with some almost Pauillac-like lead pencil and minerality. Full-bodied, with bright acidity and remarkable purity as well as ripe tannins, it’s a 30-year wine. How’s that for a second wine?

The 2016 Le Petit Lion comes from the young vines in Léoville Las-Cases. It has great clarity on a nose of bright black fruit infused with pencil shavings; I appreciate the focus here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, slightly candied red fruit laced with Chinese five-spice and sandalwood, gently fanning out toward a focused finish with ample grip. Very fine.

Makes a classic impression from the outset with ripe but contained, red and dark-berry aromas, framed in cedar, blackcurrants and violets. The palate has exceptional depth and very focused, pristine red-plum and cherry flavors hold long and seamless into the finish. A vibrant young wine. Younger cabernet (54 per cent) meets old merlot (38 per cent) and cabernet franc (eight per cent) in this blend. Second wine of Leoville Las Cases. Try from 2023.