Cassis, jammy blackberries, graphite, tobacco leaf, and earth characteristics all emerge from the 2018 Léoville Las Cases Le Petit Lion, and it has a terrific sense of elegance and purity, while still showing ample density and length. With building tannins, it's fresh, clean and pure on the palate, with a great finish. This beauty will keep for 25-30 years. It’s a match for just about every other estate’s top wine out there. The blend is 45% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 13% Cabernet Franc that’s still aging in 30% new barrels.
93-95 points, Jeb Dunnuck (May 2019)
The 2018 Le Petit Lion is blended of 45% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Cabernet Franc, harvested from September 15 to October 4 with yields of 35.5 hectoliters per hectare. The wine has 14.47% alcohol and will be aged in barriques, 30% new. The finished blend was put into barrels last December. Deep garnet-purple colored, it gives a wonderfully perfumed nose of violets, star anise and fragrant soil over a core of plum preserves, blackberry pie and blueberry compote plus a waft of spice cake. The palate is rich, seductive and spicy with plush, rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and opulent. Love it!
92-94 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Issue # Interim - Apr 2019)
The 2018 Le Petit Lion is a magnificent second wine. Aromatic, sweet and pliant, the 2018 is also remarkably light on its feet, something that is especially notable given the alcohol at 14.5%. Silky, giving and super-expressive, the 2018 has it all. The Petit Lion is 45% old-vine Merlot, 42% mostly younger vine Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Cabernet Franc. More importantly, it is a real overachiever in 2018.
91-94 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Apr 2019)
Plenty of blue fruit and hints of hazelnuts and walnuts. Full-bodied yet very tight with very fine tannins and a fresh finish. Tight second wine of Las Cases.
92-93 points, James Suckling (Apr 2019)