Bordeaux second growth Chateau Leoville Las Cases has released its second wine, Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases.
The release of the wine, from the 2007 vintage and priced at €16.20 a bottle, was announced yesterday.
Le Petit Lion will be produced from younger vines from both of the estate’s established vineyards, and is intended to be approachable from an early age, the 2007 containing 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Yorick D’Alton of the Delon family, owners of the chateau said, ‘To preserve qualitatively the Grand Vin, Chateau Leoville Las Cases decided to create a second wine with the 2007 vintage.
‘As a second wine it is easier to drink, and you can drink it earlier. It has a significant presence – over 50% – of Merlot.’
The property said that it expected to release about 2000 cases a year.
Until recently, the estate had produced two wines, Leoville Las Cases and Clos de Marquis.
No further details on the release of the 2008 and 2009 wines have been announced.
Written by James Lawrence
