Château Léoville-Las-Cases: Vineyards
Most of the vineyards of Château Léoville-Las-Cases lie in the northernmost tip of the St Julien appellation, abutting the waters of the estuary (as pictured), and only separated from those of Château Latour to the north by the Juillac, which drains into the Gironde. This position on the water’s edge is vital; although it is said that simply to be in sight of the water is enough, the leading estates of the Médoc – the first growths, and the true super-seconds – sit in this waterside position where the drainage is best.
Whereas the other Léoville vineyards, those of Château Léoville-Barton and Château Léoville-Poyferré, consist of a patchwork of numerous plots, those of Château Léoville-Las-Cases are largely concentrated in this single block. About half of the vines are located in the Grand Clos (pictured), a walled vineyard, the stone wall contiguous with that running around Château Latour (pictured below, beyond the vines of Château Léoville-Las-Cases). The highlight of this wall is the stone archway surmounted by the lion of Las-Cases (pictured on previous page) which also graces the label. The lion motif is strongly associated with the estate; it can also be spotted above the door to the château, and perched atop various buildings on the estate.
