In Bond Fine Wine. 2018 Château Leoville Las Cases, Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France. Second Growth • Red Bordeaux in 6x150cl. Top critic score: 99/100 (JA). 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 Molesworth (JMol) — 97–100/100 · Wine Spectator, 28/03/2019
This is backward and dense, with thickly layered plum, blackberry, fig and blueberry reduction flavors wrapped liberally in warm ganache and melted licorice notes. A long echo of smoldering charcoal emerges at the very end. There's a lot to resolve here as the rich and austere sides are still melding, but the extra amplitude doesn't distort anything; it just all goes to 11.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW (LPB) — 98–100/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 23/04/2019
'We produced great Cabernet Franc this year,' Directeur G'n'ral Pierre Graffeuille told me during my visit to Leoville Las Cases. Even though only 3% of the press wine was added back, he was also absolutely glowing about the quality of this too. And he should be'the finished blend for the 2018 Leoville Las Cases is yet another triumph for this great estate. Composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11%…
Neal Martin (NM) — 96/100 · Vinous, 21/03/2021 · Drink 2024-2050
The 2018 Leoville'Las Cases, which was picked at 35.5hl/ha and matured in 90% new oak, still shows the exuberant floral bouquet that I remarked upon from barrel, featuring violets and (less so) lavender scents that complement the multilayered black fruit. On initial pouring, after a 60 minute decant, it blossoms and evolves greater delineation and poise. The palate is beautifully balanced with si…