Chateau Leoville Las Cases 2019

Château Leoville Las Cases, Deuxieme Grand Cru Classe Saint Julien, Bordeaux, France, 2019

Grapes: A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 11% Merlot, vines average 40 years of age sourced from 98ha of vineyards, gravel over sand/clay soil, matured in French oak

One of the greatest and most consistent estates of the Médoc, Léoville Las Cases is in terrific form today. The core of the estate is the 50-hectare "Clos," surrounded by walls and bordering the Gironde to the immediate south of its neighbour, Latour. In the vineyards, where Cabernet Sauvignon rules, the team are experimenting with cover crops and biodynamic methods, and in the cellars and chai, winemaking remains very traditional. The 2019 is one of the very finest wines of the vintage, though as ever, it is not intended for consumers seeking immediate gratification.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"Deep purple-black to the rim. Dark and brooding with immense depth. Blackcurrant and graphite nuance. Beautiful lift on the palate, so much energy and power. Ingrained minerally freshness. Huge tannic base but the texture smooth and remarkably refined. Zest and force but absolute precision. Lingering and intense, stays on the palate for ever. One of the greats from this estate."

19/20 points, James Lawther MW, JANCISROBINSON.COM, June 2020 (Barrel Sample)

"The three top reds in this report (includes) Château Léoville Las Cases St.-Julien 2019 indicate where the bulk of the year's quality lies: the upper Médoc appellations situated on deep gravel soils that ripen later. Remarkably sleek and pure, considering the generally burly and obvious tannic profile of the vintage. Delivers a pure and unadulterated beam of cassis and plum reduction flavors inlaid seamlessly with a glistening iron girder that seems to have no end point through the finish, where violet, anise and black tea notes shimmer. Reserved overall, with a beautiful austerity, this is an example of how great terroir always shines through even in extreme years. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2030 to 2050."

98/100 points, James Molesworth, WINE SPECTATOR, January 2022

"The 2019 Léoville Las Cases is a brilliant young wine that will delight Bordeaux purists. Unwinding in the glass with scents of cassis, dark berries, cigar wrapper and pencil shavings, it’s full-bodied, layered and tightly wound, with a deep core of fruit, lively acids and an abundance of rich, powdery tannins. Concentrated and serious, much like its immediate neighbor Château Latour, it is likely to emerge as one of the vintage’s longest lived—and greatest—wines."

98/100 points, William Kelley, WINE ADVOCATE, April 2022

And many, many more highly rated reviews. Too many to list!