Château Léoville-Las-Cases
Léoville-Las Cases is from one of the oldest properties in the Medoc, known in the seventeenth century under the name of "Mont Moytié". Its reputation is affirmed in the middle of this century when marriage becomes property of Antoine Blaise Alexander Gasq, Lord Léoville, President mortar Parliament of Bordeaux. From Gasq devotes great energy to develop the thought, making many acquisitions, and innovative planting in the vineyard and the winery. At his death in 1769, the field reached close to 300 ha and the price of wine placed 2nd at the thought just after Lafite and Latour!
Confiscated and divided the Revolution, a quarter of the estate was sold and became Leoville-Barton. The remainder goes to the heirs Las Cases and is again divided by succession in 1840, to give Léoville-Poyferré - which becomes by marriage property of Baron Poyferré - and Léoville Las Cases, original field which is then owned by Pierre-Jean Marquis de Las Cases. The three vintages from Léoville are classified as second thought in 1855. Léoville-Las-Cases remains in the hands of the heirs Las Cases until 1900, when a civil society is formed allowing some heirs to monetize them.
Slightly more than half is then purchased by various personalities of the Bordeaux and Théophile Skawinski, domain manager. His son-André Delon, succeeded him. He gradually bought out the civil society to take the majority. These are today's heirs, Jean-Hubert Delon and his sister Geneviève Alton who are in charge. Jean-Hubert Delon, like his father Michel Delon died in 2000, plays an active owner, himself directing the property.
The vineyard of 97 hectares extends to serious soil and is spread over two main areas distinct:
- "Grand Clos" with more than 60 ha, located north of St Julien, adjoining Latour overlooking the Gironde; the great wine comes from this vineyard,
- A western plot between Barton and Poyferré, with about 20 h from which the Cru "Clos du Marquis'; these plots were not in the land registry of Léoville in the classification.
The supplement consists of land south and west of St Julien. The vines are Cabernet Sauvignon (65%), Merlot (20%), Cabernet Franc (12%) and Petit Verdot (3%). The average age of the vines is maintained at 30 and the next planting density of 8,800 vines / ha. The cultivation of vines is traditional.
The estate produces two large distinct wines associated with a specific terroir: "Château Léoville Las Cases," 2nd Grand Cru Classé, and, since 1902, "Le Clos du Marquis", both in St Julien appellation. Since the 2007 vintage, a second wine was created, "Little Lion Marquis de Las Cases", to further improve the qualitative aspect of great wines.
