In Bond Fine Wine. 2005 Château Leoville Las Cases, Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France. Second Growth • Red Bordeaux in 12x75cl. Top critic score: 98/100 (RP). Sold in bond by Albany Vintners, independent fine wine merchants.
Chateau Leoville Las Cases is widely regarded as one of the greatest wines of the Medoc, a top Second Growth with quality that often rivals the First Growths. Originally part of the Leoville estate before it was divided into three. Located in the northern part of Saint Julien, its walled Grand Enclos vineyard borders Chateau Latour in Pauillac, benefiting from similarly exceptional deep gravel and clay soils, yielding powerful ageworthy wines. The estate is owned and managed by the Delon family with Jean-Hubert Delon at the helm. Leoville Las Cases is typically dense and structured in its youth, requiring time to fully reveal its complexity but have recently increased the percentage of Cabernet Franc in the blend to enhance aromatic complexity, freshness and elegance in the blend. Las Cases has produced a string of outstanding vintages, including 1982, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2016, and…
James Suckling (JS) — 100/100 · Wine Spectator, 31/03/2008 · Drink 2017+
This is breathtaking. Black in color, with incredible aromas of crushed blackberry, mineral, licorice and lead pencil. Full-bodied, with a mind-blowing texture of seamless tannins that coat every millimeter of the palate. Goes on and on, with licorice, currant and flowers. Time will tell if it's better than the 2000. Best after 2017. 20,000 cases made.
Robert Parker (RP) — 98/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 30/04/2008 · Drink 2020-2060
Another titanic effort from the Delon family, the 2005 Leoville Las Cases is probably the greatest wine made at this estate since Jean-Hubert Delon's father produced the 1986 and 1996. Only 37% of the production made it into the 2005, a blend of primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with less than 13% Merlot and Cabernet Franc. An inky/ruby/purple color is accompanied by reticent aromatics that, with cons…
Robert Parker (RP) — 94–96/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 30/04/2007 · Drink 2018-2050+
The 2005 Leoville Las Cases is revealing more power, weight, and richness than it did last year. Made from 37% of the total production, it is a blend of 87.6% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc. A dense ruby/purple hue is accompanied by abundant amounts of sweet black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, pain grille, graphite, and crushed rock-like characteristics. The high tanni…