Potential 100-Point Releases from Both Banks:

Ausone & Leoville Las Cases

Hello ,

Today brings two of the most anticipated releases of the 2025 En Primeur campaign, with iconic estates from both the Right and Left Banks finally entering the market. Château Ausone and Château Léoville Las Cases have each delivered wines that rank among the most celebrated of the vintage, drawing exceptional critical acclaim and considerable attention from collectors worldwide. Produced in limited quantities and already considered benchmarks of the campaign, these releases represent a fitting highlight as we approach the conclusion of the 2025 season.

Château Ausone 2025

One of the defining wines of the 2025 vintage, Château Ausone delivers a profound expression of its famed limestone terroir. In an extraordinary decision not seen since 1994, no Chapelle d’Ausone was produced, with the entirety of the estate’s production dedicated to the Grand Vin. Composed of 65% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon—the first inclusion of Cabernet Sauvignon in three decades—the wine combines remarkable purity, precision and energy. Harvested during the earliest picking season in the estate’s history, 2025 is a wine of finesse rather than power, offering soaring aromatics, exceptional detail and the structural backbone for decades of ageing. Already discussed as a potential 100-point wine, it stands among the most compelling releases of the campaign.

What the Critics Are Saying:

100 Points, Peter Moser, www.falstaff.com:

“Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, subtle edge brightening. Nuances of orange zest, ripe cherries, a hint of dark forest berries, floral touch, delicate precious wood spice, mineral nuances. Juicy, tightly meshed, red fruit nuances, fine spice notes, finesse-rich structure, elegant, well adhering, red berry on the finish, finesse-rich, mineral-salty, very good length, delicate style, delicate licorice, sure maturity potential.”

99-100 Points, James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com:

“A high-definition wine. Wow. The aromas are incredible, with roses, strawberries and crushed stones. So perfumed. It’s the magic of perfectly ripe cabernet franc. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and a firm and silky finish. Sublime length and mouthfeel. Cool, subtle, sophisticated and stunning. So much definition. 13.7% alcohol. A blend of 65% cabernet franc, 30% merlot and 5% cabernet sauvignon.”

97-99 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, www.thewinepalate.com:

“Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2025 Ausone needs a lot of swirling and coaxing, slowly unfurling to reveal notes of ripe blackberries, red currant preserves, and blueberry compote, plus nuances of rose bud tea, lilacs, crushed rocks, and underbrush, with a waft of lavender. The medium-bodied palate is simply electric with intense, energetic red and blue fruit layers, framed by very firm, very fine-grained tannins and incredible tension from the crisp acidity versus the concentrated flavors, finishing with epic length and depth. Stunning."

Château Léoville Las Cases 2025

The long-awaited release of Saint-Julien’s flagship estate has arrived, and it has more than lived up to expectations. Widely regarded as one of the wines of the vintage, Château Léoville Las Cases 2025 has earned some of the highest critical acclaim of the campaign, including multiple perfect scores and numerous 98–100 point ratings. Drawn from the legendary Grand Enclos and featuring 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, it captures everything collectors seek in great Las Cases: depth, precision, freshness and extraordinary ageing potential. The vintage also marks a historic transition as the first overseen by Arnaud Delon, ushering in a new chapter for the estate while maintaining the classical style that has made Léoville Las Cases one of Bordeaux’s most revered wines. Produced in limited quantities and already among the most sought-after releases of the year, this is a benchmark Left Bank offering.

Also Available:

Clos du Marquis was named after the historic Petit Clos adjoining the Marquis de Las Cases' residence and is one of Saint-Julien's most distinctive terroir wines. Produced by the same team and in the same winery as Léoville Las Cases, its vineyards lie among some of the appellation's most prestigious neighbours, including Léoville Poyferré, Beychevelle and Pichon Baron. Widely regarded as one of the strongest Clos du Marquis releases to date, it offers an introduction to the Léoville Las Cases estate at a fraction of the price.

Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases 2025, the estate’s second wine, once again punches well above its category. Benefiting from the precision of the new winery and an almost equal blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, it is a serious, vibrant and exceptionally polished Saint-Julien.

Château Nénin 2025 although belonging to the Delon family since 1997, is located on the other bank, on the Plateau of Pomerol. The warm, dry 2025 season produced a wine of impressive depth, silky texture and freshness. The merlot based blend (90%) showcases the estate’s gravel and clay terroirs with clarity.

What the Critics Are Saying:

Leoville Las Cases 2025

99 Points, Peter Moser, www.falstaff.com:

“Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Nuances of blackberries, cassis, blueberries and some nougat, fine precious wood spice, multi-faceted bouquet. Complex, taut, red berry nuances in the texture, ripe, present tannins, mineral, lemony-salty on the finish, has great animating power, red heart cherries in the aftertaste, will benefit from maturity.”

98-100 Points, Jeff Leve, wwwthewinecellarinsider.com:

“Deep and dark in color, it takes less than a second to know this is a wine that meshes power with concentration, sports a regal bearing, and delivers layer after layer of vibrant blackberries, cassis, currants, and black cherries with ease. The finish is long, expansive, mouth-filling, and powerful, with a strong mineral essence that adds sapidity. This is another Leoville Las Cases that will age and evolve for over 50 years.”

97-100 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com:

“Based on a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Merlot that's resting in 80% new barrels, the 2025 Château Léoville Las Cases is one of the wines of the vintage and just has an incredible sense of class, balance, purity, and richness. Harvest began on September 5th, the earliest ever for this estate, wrapping up on the 20th. Cassis, graphite, liquid minerality, and freshly sharpened pencil all define the nose, and it's full-bodied on the palate, with a round, layered mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. If this doesn't make your eyes roll back in your head, nothing will.”

Clos du Marquis 2025

93-95 points, Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com:

“Deep purple-hued and almost glass-staining, the 2025 Clos Du Marquis is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc that's being raised 16 months in 55% new barriques. Ripe black and blue fruits, graphite, and a crushed stone-like minerality all define the aromatics, and on the palate, it's full-bodied, rich, and concentrated, with ripe, polished tannins and a beautiful overall sense of purity and balance.”

Le Petit Lion 2025

93-95 points, Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com:

“A juicy, lively wine, the 2025 Le Petit Lion is the third vintage vinified at the new winery and is based on 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc that's being raised in 27% new barrels. The nose offers ripe red and blue fruits, flowers, violets, and a wonderful, almost Pauillac-like graphite character. Medium-bodied on the palate, it's balanced and lively, with ripe tannins, juicy acidity, and outstanding length.