The 2022 Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases is the second wine of Château Léoville Las Cases, one of Saint-Julien’s benchmark classified growths. Built from a Cabernet-led blend—55.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38.5% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc—it comes in at a stated 15% alcohol and was aged with a meaningful but not overwhelming 39% new oak. In 2022, the wine also incorporates the second selection of Clos du Marquis, a notable detail for collectors tracking how the blend evolves.

This is an excellent release by any second-wine standard, with multiple strong 94-point reviews. James Suckling calls it a study in structure and precision, saying “Minerality is the word here,” with “crunchy and al dente” fruit and “everything in its place.” He advises patience and suggests it will gain length and complexity with a bit of bottle age, recommending drinking from 2028.

Decanter likewise lands at 94 points and emphasizes both perfume and weight, describing it as “scented and expressive,” with “purple flowers, blackcurrants and mocha aromas,” then “intense and concentrated on the palate.” The review notes a darker, more serious side—“dark and brooding”—but also stresses refinement: “tannins are super fine and well integrated,” concluding with “great potential for ageing.”

Jeb Dunnuck (94 points) frames it as a polished, terroir-marked Saint-Julien, highlighting “cassis, graphite, crushed stone, scorched earth, and violets,” alongside “nicely integrated oak and fine tannins.” Wine Spectator’s 94-point note focuses on momentum and classic Médoc signatures, calling it “ripe and well-defined” and driven by “iron streaks” that carry black fruits, finishing with “anise and iris notes… and a flash of ink.”

Wine Spectator’s drinking window of 2026–2038 looks realistic, though the wine’s concentration suggests it should reward waiting early on.