Chateau Lilian Ladouys

Château Lilian Ladouys is a left-bank Bordeaux wine estate in Saint-Estèphe and like many wineries in the region, its grand vin is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant red blend. The estate has several centuries of history, rising in prominence in the early 20th century, and was classified as a Cru Bourgeois Supérieur estate in 1932, and again in 2003 before the classification was annulled in 2007.

The estate has a recorded history dating back to the middle of the 16th century when it was known by the name La Doys. From the 18th until the 20th century, it was owned and run by the Barre family, who built the château and raised the prominence of the wine, earning it Cru Bourgeois Supérieur status. Unfortunately, quality declined during the World Wars and pieces of the property and vineyards were sold off. It was left in a state of disrepair until Christian and Lilian Thiébolt bought it in the 1980s, renovated the winemaking facilities, replanted the parcels of land and gave the estate its modern name. The estate is now owned by Jacky and François Lorenzetti, who also own Château Pédesclaux and are co-owners of Château d'Issan.

The vineyard covers roughly 50 hectares (123 acres) and is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The grapes are fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, with 90 percent undergoing malolactic fermentation in tanks and 10 percent in French oak barrels. The wine is then aged for an average of 15 months in oak, of which 40 percent is new. Château Lilian Ladouys makes a second wine called La Devise de Lilian Ladouys.