critic reviews
A blend of 57% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc, Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases 2021 has a deep garnet-purple color. It storms out of the glass with powerful notes of fresh blackberries and black cherries, plus suggestions of licorice, tar, rose oil, and bay leaves. The medium-bodied palate bursts with vibrant, forward black and red berry flavors, framed by ripe, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and fragrant. Impressive!
This has good depth of colour, with spiced tomato leaf on the aroamtics. It's austere, with tannic grip and estate signature, cassis and blackberry autmnal fruits, and a kick of espresso. This is the last Petit Lion with only Leoville Las Cases grapes, as from 2022 it is to become 2nd wine across both LLC and Clos de Marquis. 40% new oak.
The 2021 Le Petit Lion has a very attractive bouquet that, compared to the preceding Potensac, has much more vigor and clarity: blackberry, raspberry, crushed rock and light graphite aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a smooth texture, black olive and mulberry combining nicely toward a sapid finish that just needs a bit more refinement. A little chewy in texture, it could use another two years in bottle.
The 2021 Le Petit Lion is a strong effort, offering aromas of plums, cassis, licorice and sweet soil tones, followed by a medium to full-bodied, bright and fleshy palate framed by powdery tannins and concluding with a long, violet-inflected finish. As readers may remember, it's a mix of mainly young-vine Cabernet Sauvignon and old-vine, less optimally exposed Merlot in a block that borders Latour.