Château Lilian Ladouys: Vineyards
As the D2 courses northwards it leaves Pauillac right after passing Château Lafite-Rothschild on the left-hand side, and crosses a small strip of land free of vines, through which runs the Jalle de Breuil, which denotes the boundary between one appellation and the next. There in front of you is the magnificent edifice that is Château Cos d’Estournel; continue onwards as the road bends round to the left and soon, on the left-hand side again, you will see Château Lafon-Rochet. Then, instead of following the D2 round to the right, continue straight on. Château Lilian Ladouys lies a short distance along, on the right. If you buy into the belief that illustrious neighbours mean illustrious terroir, then Château Lilian Ladouys seems to be well-sited.
It is worth bearing in mind, however, that the vineyards of Château Lilian Ladouys are not gathered around the estate in a single, gravelly block. With the acquisition of 34 hectares of vineyards in 2018 the estate is today spread across 80 hectares, some of which are spread in a disparate fashion across the St Estèphe appellation, in more than 90 parcels. Clearly some lie within spitting distance of some of the aforementioned prestigious neighbours, such as Cos d’Estournel, but some are also rather more distant and less favoured.
