Ch. Cissac,
Haut-Médoc. Cru Bourgeois
Supérieur
Château Cissac is notoriously slow to develop and regularly needs 10-15 years to soften and reveal its true character. Owned by the Vialard family, who are dedicated to their wine producing, this is Cru Bourgeois that consistently out-performs its classification. Since the 2000 vintage the wines have undergone more modern extraction methods giving the wines more fruit and more balanced tannins. Cissac's vineyards comprise Cabernet Sauvignon 75%, Merlot 20% and Petit Verdot 5%. The wines ferment and macerate for 30 days in wooden vats before 18 months’ wood ageing, 30% new. Production averages 25,000 cases per year.
Ch. Léoville Las Cases, St-Julien. Deuxième Cru Classé
Château Léoville Las Cases is one of the largest and oldest classified growths in the Médoc. It is the largest of the 3 Léoville properties and now without doubt the leading estate in St-Julien
Léoville Las Cases's 97 hectares of vineyards are superbly sited on gravelly-clay soils with the largest plot being surrounded by a stone wall and stretching between the village of St-Julien and Château Latour. The wine is a Cabernet Sauvignon dominated blend (65%), and is matured in oak barriques (70-80% new) for 18 months.
Léoville Las Cases produces arguably the most exotically perfumed wine in the Médoc and this can be partially attributed to the must being fermented at lower than average temperatures, which leads to its youthful aromatic richness being retained. On the palate it is powerful and concentrated and marvellously well-balanced.
Léoville Las Cases is a 2ème Cru Classé in name but produces 1er Cru Classé quality wines.