A fresh and clean red with blueberry, plum and light walnut aromas and flavors. Medium body, integrated tannins. Tight.

The 2015 Château Lilian Ladouys is a blend of 62% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. It has a broody, earthy, very Saint Estèphe bouquet that was showing a great deal of new oak when I tasted it. The palate is medium-bodied with soft tannin on the entry, quite masculine and foursquare, plenty of fruit with strong tobacco notes coming through on the finish. If I am being honest, I was just hoping for a little more from this ever-improving Cru Bourgeois under the guiding hand of Emmanuel Cruse, though I feel that it is just slightly compromised by the September storm clouds.

A bright, high-pitched style, with blood orange and red currant fruit inlaid with a singed balsam note. Stays a bit taut but shows length, suggesting this may fill in a bit more.

64% Merlot - most unusual in this commune. Thanks to recently exchanged parcels.
Very lifted nose. And then a little austere on the palate. The fruit weight is a bit lacking. Did the rain dilute this?