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- "The palate is awe-inspiring... Yeah, it's good." Neal Martin
- "...the wine is elegant, gorgeous and juicy..." Jane Anson, Decanter
- "This is a truly amazing Las Cases and it is a ‘classic’..." Matthew Jukes
Tasting Notes -+
Colour Dark Red
Nose "It is initially tightly coiled on the nose and needed coaxing from the glass. There are scents of small black cherries, boysenberry, crushed violets and a slight flintiness that emerges with time. The definition is very impressive—you can almost pick the aromas out one by one." Neal Martin
Palate "The palate is awe-inspiring. The tannins are so filigree, in fact not dissimilar to their neighbor across the border at Château Latour. That seam of graphite lends this Léoville Las-Cases a Pauillac-like personality, but ignoring stylistic similarities, it is the intensity, depth and arching structure that astounds, with detail on the finish that rivets your feet to the spot." Neal Martin
Food Pairing Red meat dishes.
Cellaring 15+ Years
Notes The 2016 Leoville-Las Cases comprises 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc.
Winery -+
Château Léoville-Las Cases
Region -+
Saint-Julien
Saint-Julien is an appellation for distinctive red wines of the Haut-Médoc district of Bordeaux in the South West of France. The Appellation laws for Saint-Julien were created in 1936 and state that its wines must be made from grapes grown within the villages of Saint-Julien Beychevelle, or other specific parts of the areas of Cussac and Saint-Laurent. Some of the most renowned grapes approved for growth here are Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. Located between the more famous appellations of Pauillac and Margaux, this wine region is a respectable source of refined, aromatic wines which also carry tannic and masculine notes.
Producing over 450,000 cases of wine each year, Saint-Julien is divided into two vital areas, which include the riverside estates around the village of St. Julien and Southern estates around the village of Beychevelle. Home to over 26 vineyards spanning an area of 910 hectares, this area is the smallest of the major Bordeaux appellations in Médoc, but has the highest ratio of classified terroir of any Bordeaux region. The soil type of this region is made up of extremely fine gravel for the vineyards bordering the river and for those vineyards more inland, the gravel is mixed with clay, that produce grapes with a wide spectrum of explosive flavour.
Producing over 450,000 cases of wine each year, Saint-Julien is divided into two vital areas, which include the riverside estates around the village of St. Julien and Southern estates around the village of Beychevelle. Home to over 26 vineyards spanning an area of 910 hectares, this area is the smallest of the major Bordeaux appellations in Médoc, but has the highest ratio of classified terroir of any Bordeaux region. The soil type of this region is made up of extremely fine gravel for the vineyards bordering the river and for those vineyards more inland, the gravel is mixed with clay, that produce grapes with a wide spectrum of explosive flavour.
100*
points
Neal Martin
The 2016 Leoville-Las Cases comprises 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc picked between 30 September and 19 October, during which the harvesters were out in the vines for 16 days. It is matured in 90% new oak and delivers 13.60% alcohol and an IPT of 82. It is initially tightly coiled on the nose and needed coaxing from the glass. There are scents of small black cherries, boysenberry, crushed violets and a slight flintiness that emerges with time. The definition is very impressive—you can almost pick the aromas out one by one. The palate is awe-inspiring. The tannins are so filigree, in fact not dissimilar to their neighbor across the border at Château Latour. That seam of graphite lends this Léoville Las-Cases a Pauillac-like personality, but ignoring stylistic similarities, it is the intensity, depth and arching structure that astounds, with detail on the finish that rivets your feet to the spot. Then the finish is ultra-precise, one of the most mineral-driven that I have encountered in almost 20 years visiting the estate, plus it is endowed with one the longest aftertastes you will find in 2016. Yeah, it's good.
Drink Date: 2030 - 2070
Drink Date: 2030 - 2070
99
points
Decanter
Cabernet Sauvignon makes up 75% of the main blend, with 14% of 80 year old Merlot and 11% of Cabernet Franc, and aged in 90% new oak. It is hard to think of a vintage when this is not a great wine, but in 2016 it is exceptional, comparable to the majestic 1996. It has all the intensity, richness and depth, but it lets the light in. The yield is fairly high at 40hl/ha, with 3.66pH balancing a tannin index of 82IPT. This is the highest ever at this property and yet the wine is elegant, gorgeous and juicy, with an endless array of black fruits and graphite. The tannins are right there pushing at the front of the mouth, but remain pliable. No need to worry about this ageing long into the future. 98-100 points.
Drinking Window 2027 - 2050
Tasted by Jane Anson
Drinking Window 2027 - 2050
Tasted by Jane Anson
99*
points
James Suckling
A unique Las Cases that harkens back to some of the great classics such as 1985 or 1986 with its solid backbone of tannins and a walnut, licorice and blackcurrant character. Full and powerful, characterized throughout by a steeliness that shows its strength and energy. Better than the 2015. Ultra-classic. 98-99 points.
99*
points
Wine Enthusiast
Barrel Sample. Full of the ripest Cabernet Sauvignon, this is an impressive wine. Dark and tannic, it still has room for considerable fruitiness. It balances dense tannins and layers of black plum fruit along with the freshness of the vintage. Everything is in its place; it just needs time, plenty of time. 97-99 points.
20++/20
points
Matthew Jukes
Tasted with Pierre Graffeuille, commercial director. Very profound, very focussed and also amazingly exotic, there is a
mind-bending amount of class here and it is so dense and so classy that it completely baffles the palate. The weightlessness
and also intensity of the flavours are nothing short of amazing. The tannins are complete and not at all drying but
they are incredible and they will arm this wine for a fifty-year life. The colour and turbidity is insane, too. Sitting here
tasting this wine is a seriously unnerving out of body experience and I will make it my mission to taste (and drink) this
wine as many times as I can for the rest of my life! This is a truly amazing Las Cases and it is a ‘classic’, at the same time as
defining a new era of classicism in this commune. Phenomenal. 20++
mind-bending amount of class here and it is so dense and so classy that it completely baffles the palate. The weightlessness
and also intensity of the flavours are nothing short of amazing. The tannins are complete and not at all drying but
they are incredible and they will arm this wine for a fifty-year life. The colour and turbidity is insane, too. Sitting here
tasting this wine is a seriously unnerving out of body experience and I will make it my mission to taste (and drink) this
wine as many times as I can for the rest of my life! This is a truly amazing Las Cases and it is a ‘classic’, at the same time as
defining a new era of classicism in this commune. Phenomenal. 20++
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