Today may see the final releases of the 2011 Primeur ‘campaign’.
After yesterday’s successes for Ducru Beaucaillou and Vieux Chateau Certan, today will see the release of the stables of Léoville Las Cases and Ausone. For Las Cases this means that we also have Clos du Marquis, which used to be considered to be the ‘second wine’, but as I said yesterday about Croix de Beaucaillou, it is really a different vineyard these days, and the second wines, the ‘selections out’ are respectively ‘Petit Caillou’ for Ducru and ‘Le Petit Lion’ for Las Cases. Both of these are available on request.
Clos du Marquis is a very fine Saint Julien in its own right. Léoville Las Cases is quite simply one of the best wines of the vintage. Firm and uncompromising, it will be longer-lived than many in this vintage.
Ausone is – Ausone. If you are lucky enough to be able to afford it, don’t hold back – this is well under the price of the 2008, and is also one of the most sought-after allocations in Bordeaux. Very limited volumes available.