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| Community Tasting Notes (average 92.2 pts. and median of 95 pts. in 20 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by englishman's claret on 7/23/2023 flawed bottle: This example of the 1945 Leoville Las Cases doesn't linger, unfortunately, despite starting out with a dramatic, griottine, cedar, pencil-filled personality. Despite its dynamism, it's quickly overpowered by volatile acidity which ultimately is difficult to see past. (1583 views) | | | Tasted by vagrantone on 6/18/2023 & rated 96 points: Mid-shoulder fill level.
Cork, remarkably, came out in one piece.
Fantastic deep hue showing only moderate aging; more like a 30 year old Medoc wine.
I found no VA on the nose; only tertiary notes and great class.
Still a noticeable tannin structure holding everything together.
More authoritarian than charming but still imposing; not likely to change much over the next 10+ years...
Re-tasted several hours later. It has opened up a little more; showing more generosity with a recognizable St Julien character coming through with black fruit, cedar and spices.So impressive. (793 views) | | | Tasted by misterstarre on 11/2/2019 & rated 94 points: This has an absolutely gorgeous nose with some unusual aromas. Off the bat, there was a distinct hit of banana bread. It was definitely bananas! Also, cinnamon-spice, dark fruit, molasses, and a touch of VA, which got a little more pronounced after about 25 minutes. My impression was that this would be sweet, and was it ever. To the eye, this doesn't look like a wine harvested about the same time as the Japanese surrender in WWII. Ever so slightly orange at the rim, it was rust-red and clear to the core, with hints of magenta and slight (slight!) browning. Tannins are much resolved, and the wine has a delicate feel in the mouth -- something that would escalate as the wine fell apart a little after a half an hour. Maybe 'falling apart' isn't fair, but it definitely lost power after a time. As for the taste, sweet menthol, subdued cassis, a raisiny, balsamic reduction note, plenty of cedar, a touch of forest floor, and something bright and red poking out that wasn't distinctly any one identifiable berry, and which brought a little bright acid to the party. This bottle was in great shape (see pic above with roses in the b/g), and this wine was thoroughly enjoyable, and although not particularly profound, still very elegant and complex. I'd say it's about 10 years past my spot and on won't hold onto it's fruit for much longer than 10-15 years more, when it may evolve into a more tea-like phase. (2641 views) | | | Tasted by yuti1225 on 8/8/2019 & rated 95 points: Wet wood, earthy, with high acidity at first. The smooth and silky sweetness balance out the acidity later on. The classic flavors of cabernet sauvignon remains. The sweetness vaguely remains in the finish but long. (2634 views) | | | Tasted by Boone's Farm on 6/16/2019 & rated 94 points: Stunningly fresh and vibrant for a 74 year old wine. Dark fruit, bramble, and wet earth with a hint of leather. A classic flavor profile for a Leoville las Cases. Long on the palate. Drank along with a 1945 Brane-Cantenac. Surprisingly, as good as the Leoville was the Brane-Cantenac was even better! (2637 views) | | | Tasted by dcwino on 6/21/2014 & rated 95 points: Impromptu gathering (Washington DC): Top shoulder fill and still sound cork. Upon opening noticeable VA from the bottle. With a bit of air, bright red fruits, a hint of cherry preserve, light caramel, slightly hint of balsamico and leather. Fully integrated harmonious palate, exceptional concentration, sweet and sour fruit driven palate impression , bright acidity due to VA and fully integrated tannins. Noticeable VA which is not so unusual considering how old the wine is. If you enjoy old clarets, this will be a good wine to seek at auction. (8472 views) | | | Tasted by dream on 2/8/2014 & rated 95 points: A very good bottle here. Quite mature in its flavor profile with lovely notes of truffles and dry, dark fruits with strong notes of graphite minerals. The tannins are soft and resolved and the testure of the wine is firm but velvety with VG complexity on the finish where the graphite minerals take center stage. Very fine, mature Claret! (7460 views) | | | Tasted by Jeremy Holmes on 2/2/2014: Gave it a 6 hour ‘Audouze’ and it was humming when we got to it. Smells like an old chesterfield lounge with notes of leather, sweat and teak. It has a delicious sweet core of fruit and plenty of true, savoury tertiary character. There is a salty seaweed note and it finishes with a kiss of acidity and sweet resolved tannins. A cerebral wine that absolutely draws you in with every sip. (6101 views) | | | Tasted by dchain on 3/1/2013 & rated 96 points: Dinner with the boys at Caprice, Four Seasons. One of five bottles picked up at an Acker auction last year. One consumed already and I knew this was the bomb. Tonight's wine of the night amongst a trio of 61 First Growths which was a bit of a surprise. Mid-shoulder but original bottling so these things are to be expected. Still dark ruby on pouring, nose immediately open, rich leather, dark cherry, tabacco, very spicey, wonderfully complex and seemingly much younger than its 68 years! On the palate, rich and deep, again could be something from the 80s. Better than the 61 which I find has a certain dry edge at the end. This goes on and on, deeply satisfy and thought-provoking. JK's (special surprise guest appearance from NY!) comment "the 45s are the best wines of the 20th century" and he has drunk enough of the great vintages of the 20th century to say that with some authority. Help up very well in the glass and went down a treat. Really happy I still have 3 left! (7184 views) | | | Tasted by GuWin on 1/11/2013 & rated 97 points: Léoville Las Cases Grand Tasting (At Kim Aa's place, Ulvøya, Norway): Fabulous. Wonderful color, deep warm red with brick red rim. Warm aromas of barnyard and leather. Compact and solid, smooth as velvet, with powerful tannin structure. In amazing shape (3861 views) | | | Tasted by LWI on 1/11/2013 & rated 97 points: 20 Vintages of Château Léoville Las Cases: Although mid-shoulder fill this one had surprisingly much red, fine long brim, meat juice and forest floor on the nose, and – surprisingly – some mint as well, complex; very clear fruit, tannins still lively. Long, complex, and intense wine. (8254 views) | | | Tasted by dln646 on 12/9/2012 & rated 98 points: The wine pours brick red with a tawny rim. It is faintly mist from sediments but still mind-bogglingly clear and brilliant-looking taking into consideration its oldness.
At this point Las Cases 1945 is wide open, layered and yet heavenly compact. The bouquet is filled with suspended dried fruits, figs, cassis and sweet marmalade. An additional layer emerges with subtle aromas of almonds, herbs and earthy gaminess. There's a very apparent mint aroma in concert with a complex two-sided minerality of smoke and metal. Absolutely absurd!
Like a gentle hug, the mouth feel is soft and caressing. These tannins have matured into excellence! At the time writing they're slippery smooth, soft and voluptuous. All seems unbelievably integrated and in balance. The amount of flavor intensity is spot-on with the remainder of the wine, and so is the complexity and the grand acidity. The formation is truly indescribable. On the mid-palate the wine shines with cherry-like fruit, some oak spice which later transits into a majestic length of extra fruit and slight tobacco hints.
Whenever an extraordinary wine comes across your palate, you get a tingly warm feeling through your body. Words aren't usually enough to describe it's completeness, and same goes with Château Leoville Las Cases 1945. This wine is enough to make any wine lover sentimental. The tasting's exemplar of this bottle is simply first-class - Mis en bouteille au château and top shoulder, two factors which comes through in my score. The wine keeps me company for a whole while, without ever really dying. I'm determined that this wine, and its longevity, will see its 100th birthday, to some extent still kicking. It's smooth, elegant, aristocratic, but most importantly still balanced. In 'The 1000 Finest Wines Ever Made' this ranks in at place number 129 at 97 points - unambiguously I'm upping this Leoville Las Cases 1945 because it just doesn't get much finer than this. http://quaffable.org/?p=269 (2849 views) | | | Tasted by Anton_Wallin on 12/9/2012 & rated 97 points: Probably one of the most memorably bottles I have ever tasted. Still alive with really interesting tannin structure.
This is a re-note from a 7 year old papper.. (843 views) | | | Tasted by SimonG on 5/15/2012 & rated 87 points: JSM@RSJ Pre2000 Right Bank Offline (RSJ Restaurant, London): Blind. Mid garnet. Quite relaxed and mellow nose. A touch of mint. Quite full, sweet-fruited and rounded on the attack though it drops away to a fairly short finish. Decent acidity with a slightly tobacco and cedar quality to the finish. (*)**1/2 (4077 views) | | | Tasted by G_H on 5/5/2012 & rated 80 points: Mature Bordeaux with the SWO wineclub (Christian's House): I can actually copy the tasting note from Ken. Metallic, rather short finish, and all the fruit is gone. Not fun but a historic vintage (3217 views) | | | Tasted by Loren Sonkin on 12/13/2010: Kemp's 65th including some 1945 wines.: Not as youthful as a bottle I had earlier this year. Truth be told, I had doubts about that one's authenticity. This seemed more believable. The nose is very nice. Earthy, come cassis, green tobacco, and a sweaty quality. Very complex. The palate was not quite as good, but certainly still alive and drinking well. Lots of forest floor qualities intermixed with bits of cherries. Nicely balanced and a wonderful tribute to Kemp's birth year! (4279 views) | | | Tasted by Lord Rayas on 4/25/2010 & rated 79 points: MNSC - Kevin (French Window): metallic, short finish, lack of fruit. not particularly enjoyable (3904 views) | | | Tasted by rjonwine@gmail.com on 11/9/2008 & rated 78 points: Mischa's Round Robin Dinner (Lavanda Restaurant, Palo Alto, California): Dark red violet color; plum and maderized nose; cherry, baked red fruit palate; medium finish (3545 views) |
| By Neal Martin
Vinous, Remember, Remember: 1945 Bordeaux (May 2020) (5/1/2020)
(Léoville Las-cases Léoville Las-cases Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Kapon
Vintage Tastings, State of Bordeaux, Day Two (4/4/2006)
(Leoville Las Cases) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (11/9/2008)
(Château Léoville Las Cases) Dark red violet color; plum and maderized nose; cherry, baked red fruit palate; medium finish 78 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and Vintage Tastings and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Château Léoville Las Cases Producer website - Read more about Chateau Leoville Las Cases
A visit to Leoville Las Cases -https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/08/leoville-du-marquis-de-las-cases.htmlRed Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanMédoc Vins du Médoc (Conseil des Vins du Médoc) - Read More about the Medoc
VdB
The eight precisely defined appellations of the whole of the Médoc (from Blanquefort Brook to the north of the Bordeaux built-up area, almost to the Pointe de Grave) may claim the Médoc appellation. But there is also a specific territory in the north of the peninsula which produces exclusively wines with this appellation. In the great majority, the Médocs come from the north of the peninsula. The great individuality of this region is that the number of vines has increased more recently here than elsewhere, apart from a few isolated spots where vines have grown for many years. Today, the size of the small estate has brought about the development of a powerful co-operative movement. Four co-operatives out of five belong to the group called Unimédoc which ensures aging, bottling and marketing a large proportion of their wines.St. Julien VdB
Read more detailed information on St. Julien and its wines The seventeenth century pioneers Traces are to be found of a Saint-Julien de Rintrac, perhaps Saint-Julien's earliest name, as from the thirteenth century. But we have to wait until the seventeenth century pioneers, urban and rural aristocrats, discover the exceptional merits of these terroirs.
Traces of this system still exist today in the structure of estates within the appellation: by the side of the two villages of Beychevelle and Saint-Julien, the large estates are heavily preponderant, representing more than four fifths of the total surface of vineyards.
The terrain is practically identical over all the commune. Only the proximity of the estuary, sometimes close, sometimes further away, can cause slight variations in climate. In fact, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle's layer of gravel takes the form of a huge rectangle over 3 miles long and 2 miles wide. And the alluvial deposits are particularly well fragmented into ridges of Garonne gravel of the early Quaternary. Accordingly, the vines are safeguarded from stagnant water.
The wines from the Saint-Julien appellation may be recognized by their unparalleled bouquet, particularly harmonious and mild. They have a fine deep colour and combine the finesse of their aromas and a solid constitution. They have body, are very rich in flavour and have a delicious and delicate bouquet.
Production conditions (Decree dated November 14, 1936)
In order to have the right to the Saint-Julien appellation of controlled origin, red wines must:
- come from the commune of Saint-Julien and from precisely defined parcels in the communes of Cussac, and Saint-Laurent, "excluding the parcels situated on recent alluvium and sand on impermeable subsoils",
- satisfy precise production conditions: grape-varieties (Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet-Franc, Carmenère, Merlot Noir, Petit Verdot, Cot or Malbec), minimum of sugar (178 grammes - 6.27 oz. - per litre of must) degree (an acquired 10°5) base yield (45 hectolitres per hectare). |
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