2022 Lilian Ladouys (St-Estephe)

The 2022 Lilian Ladouys retains a somewhat understated bouquet with blackberry, damp loam and wild hedgerow scents that need quite a bit of coaxing from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with an herbal opening and grippy tannins, but a vegetal element, albeit minor, knocks it off course on the finish. This is quite rustic. It will be interesting to see how this will develop. Tasted three times. 88 points

The 2022 Lilian Ladouys is distinguished by its intensely aromatic, savory bouquet. Medium in body, with lovely persistence and fine balance, the 2022 is very nicely done. Pungent aromatics give this a decidedly eccentric character. 91 points

Great aromatics here, touch of austerity to the architecture but the tannins soften through the palate to show a creamy, silky texture, plenty of grip, spiced blackberry, fennel and cherry pit, fresh lift on the finish, this is one to look out for, with an unusually high amount of Petit Verdot in the blend after losing 30% of the crop through hail and frost in northern St Estephe. 33% new oak, 400l barrels for 20% of the wine, clay gravel soils over limestone, Jacky Lorenzetti owner. 93 points

A Merlot-dominant blend, the 2022 Lilian Ladouys offers up rich aromas of dark berries, violets, charcoal and rose petals, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy palate framed by rich, youthfully firm tannins that assert themselves on the finish. Impacted by hail and with a very elevated pH of 3.95, this is something of a blunt instrument. 88-90 points