Leoville Las Cases 2006

St Julien, Second Growth

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Tasting Notes

The 2006 Léoville Las Cases is muscular and uncompromising, unwinding to reveal aromas of dark berries, cassis, burning embers, espresso roast, exotic spices, loamy soil and toasty oak. Full-bodied, rich and extracted, it's a deep, brooding wine with considerable depth and concentration, framed by an abundance of sweet, powdery tannin. It possesses considerable potential, but it continues to require patience.

Score: 95

William Kelley, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2026-2066 18 August 2022

Bright, full ruby. Brooding aromas of cassis, black cherry, minerals, bitter chocolate, shoe polish and violet; more Pauillac than Saint-Julien on the nose. Then rich, lush and powerful, with impressive fullness and volume. As full and sweet as this is, there's no impression of excess weight and the back end shows a distinctly austere quality, even if the serious tannins are nicely buffered by the wine's rich middle. Really stains the palate with flavor on the aftertaste. Wonderfully ripe cabernet sauvignon here; in fact, most of the cab franc in 2006 was declassified into the Clos du Marquis.

Score: 94

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2009

Offers a pure nose of crushed raspberry and violet, with aniseed. Full-bodied, with beautiful, well-integrated tannins and a long, polished texture to the finish. Very beautiful. Harmonious and structured. Best after 2015.

Score: 95

James Suckling, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2015+ 31 March 2009

Fabulous aromas of mineral, currant and blackberry. Full and supersilky, with a long, long finish. Very fine tannins, even though there are loads of them. Long and round. Reminiscent of the excellent 1996 Las Cases, but better.

Score: 95 - 100

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 January 2007

Not surprisingly, Leoville Las Cases has produced another classic, potentially long-lived wine in 2006. Among the St.-Juliens, it, Ducru Beaucaillou, and Leoville Barton possess the potential for the greatest longevity. Interestingly, when I visited this chateau in January, proprietor Jean-Hubert Delon offered me two samples, one where the cork had been pulled immediately prior to tasting, and another that had been decanted four hours earlier. Both were superb, but the wine that had had extended aeration was clearly the finer offering. The opaque purple-hued 2006- only 40% of the crop made it into the final blend- exhibits a personality that mimics the superb 1996. Classic aromas of sweet black raspberries, kirsch, cassis, and subtle toasty oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine displaying moderately high tannin. This cuvee can often resemble a Pauillac wrapped in the St.-Julien appellation, and the 2006 is no exception. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, it will require significant cellaring before consumption.

Score: 95

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2019-2035+ 01 February 2009

Perfectionist owner Jean-Hubert Delon believes the 2006 Leoville Las Cases recalls the greatness of the 1986 and 1996. The natural alcohol came in at 13.3%, and only 40% of the production made it into the final blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Merlot, and a dollop of Cabernet Franc. This backward, deep ruby/purple-hued effort exhibits sweet, pure black cherry, raspberry, and cassis characteristics, soft, ripe tannin, and medium body. It reveals a strong similarity to its next door neighbor, Chateau Latour. The 2006 Las Cases will require 5-8 years of bottle age, and should drink well for 25-30 years.

Score: 93 - 95

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012-2037 30 April 2007

Tasted at the château. If somebody opined that this is the best wine of 2006, then I might not disagree. Jean-Hubert Delon has done wonders with a difficult vintage and produced a sublime wine that has the potential to surpass the 2005...it is that good. A deep purple, opaque core. The nose is stunning: sensuous cedary black fruits, crushed violets, and a hint of peppermint. Utterly seductive. The palate does not disappoint: beautifully balanced with perfect acidity, elegant sumptuous and vivacious. Certainly one of the best Las-Cases I have tasted at this stage, a Saint Julien to aspire to this year. Tasted April 2007.

Score: 96 - 98

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 24 April 2007

85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Merlot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc, cropped at 41 hl/ha. The brooding style of Lascases makes it usually one of the hardest wines to taste en primeur but the 2006 was pleasurably accessible due to an extra month’s elevage in barrel this year. Very healthy colour of deep dark crimson. A towering nose crammed full of ripe blackberries, licorice and espresso with some spice and white pepper. In the mouth it is layered and rich with broad shoulders and great vibrancy on the finish. Huge tannins (the IPT - tannin index - is higher than the 2005) but they are fresh and balanced by the sheer quantity and quality of fruit. Possibly the wine of the vintage?

Score: 93 - 96

Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2007

The glass already feels weightier than Clos du Marquis! Very deep purple right out to rim. Big, big difference between this and Clos du Marquis on the nose - completely different. Rather opulent even. Rich and very fine and intense and certainly pulling out all the stops! There’s finesse here. Even Las Cases is not trying to be big and tough this year. Trying for suppleness and fully ripe fruit. Very lively and fine tannins. Amazing nose even though not that much alcohol. Very neat long finish.

Score: 18

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2012-2026 01 April 2007