My WOTN, but the ‘00 will eventually eclipse this. Beautiful dusty nose. Green pepper, blackberry, black cherry, library leather palate. Only thing holding back a higher score is a somewhat short finish vs the ‘00. 94
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Just classic, well made Bordeaux at its peak. Beautiful nose of cedar, graphite, and red fruits. On the palate this is really, really nice, with pencil shavings, more cedar, and dark cherries. Tannins are fully integrated and it's in a sweet spot where the fruit and secondary characteristics are dancing together seamlessly. I'm sure this can hold for a long time, but for my tastes, I'd suggest drinking now.
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Dîner de Noël des anciens C&S (Restaurant Bagatelle): Nez racé, rapidement situé en Bordeaux rive gauche. La bouche est droite et très classique, je pensais à un Pauillac 1996. À bien y penser, il avait ce côté austère noble du millésime, avec un super équilibre, une fraicheur adéquate. Très bon. 93 pts
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From the nose of mint, pepper and cedar with fresh tobacco, I quickly guessed.. Left Bank, but perhaps not in the strongest of vintages. Perhaps a 2002? Turns out it was significantly more mature.. Its a 1988. Once again coincides with birthday-boy LF's birthyear.
The wine is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. It stays for 18 to 20 months in oak barrels on average 90% new.
Romz had only popped-poured this just before dinner, worrying that it would disintegrate due to its age and vintage. It definitely did not, with the roasted capscicum notes and blackfruits as well well as dried flower palate. Such vibrance and strength in this wine.
Fine tannins, medium and well balanced acidity made this very enjoyable. As this developed in the glass, there were even more pencil shavings and cedar notes. Lovely!
Leather and sweet spices on the medium-long length finish, with such beautifully integrated components especially the oak and acidity.
In the Bordeaux classification, this is a 2nd Grand Cru Classé Saint-Julien.
In fact, many describe this as a “Super Second” as Las Cases is adjoining with Château Latour in Pauillac, obviously having exceptional terroir.
Since 1901, the Delon family has been uncompromising in achieving consistency in the quality and purity of its wines. At Léoville Las Cases' 55 ha's, the terroir is perfect for blossoming Cabernets whose average age is over 52 years old.
Its been run by the same family for decades now. Today, Jean-Hubert Delon, sole owner, is the representative of the family tradition. The Delon Family also owns Clos du Marquis, Château Nénin and Château Potensac.
Thanks again to Romz for sharing this!
Hello.. Bourdecembre, and happy birthday brother LF! Maillard Grill, Kuala Lumpur 30th Nov 2023
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LF’s birthday celebration at Maillard. Our 3rd red tasted blind. My bottle which I PnP right before dinner. This bottle has much better provenance vs the last one we had back in March. Elegant notes of roasted capsicum, some barnyard, lifted aromas of dried flowers & fruits, tobacco, mushroom, & forest floor. Coincidentally our 1st bots were all 1988! This has much fresher and juicy acidity, elegant fine palate & elongate finish
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Outstanding fully mature left bank with abundant pencil shavings, tobacco and cedar notes interlaced with mature plum and cherry fruit that gained weight with a couple hours of air. At peak.
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Celebrating K (Chicago, IL): Wow -- an approachable bottle of LLC, and a late-release, single owner bottle to boot. Leather and red fruit, with a lovely delicacy that might as well be atypical for the estate. Earthy but clean, and tannins that aren't overbearing. Showing quite youthful as well. An excellent rendition.
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Beautifully matured with elegant aroma of perfumed violet, sandalwood, some undergrowth and herbaceous, dried red berries, blackberry, lovely arrays of sweet spices and cedary notes from wood all mingling perfectly with the deep graphite, tobacco, chocolatr and leathery charms that is as good as it gets. With just medium body and noticeable grainny tannin.
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This wine continues to evolve and is aging nicely. My last tasting was back in 2010 and the wine's profile has improved since then. Notes of blackberry, cherry, bramble, hint of crushed pepper. The tannins are soft and well integrated with long finish. Part of NV Leoville-Las Cases Collection Miroir Millesimes Secrets 6-pk Set. Paired with grilled bistro filets.
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Another ex-Chateau bottling. LLC is one of those producers that I always hear completely raved about and I always find myself thinking they are good and you can see the great wine making but I am not sure their style is completely in my wheelhouse. Still - this was one of those wines where it almost didn’t matter. Decanted for some period of time before we drank it which really helped. Drinking quite nicely. Well structured and very vibrant and just quite interesting and compelling.
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Dense, expressive nose of cherries, cassis, ink, sous-bois and fine leather. Medium to full bodied, with subtle cassis, leather, exotic spices and toasty background. Perfectly matured and complex, this very elegant bottle provides much pleasure now, but can easily be had over another decade.
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15032023 - Khai’s Bday lunch celeb at Wun Nam. Special birth-year vintage bottle treat for the birthday boy.
Initial funk quickly replaced with a nose of dried fruit, plenty of of secondary & tertiary notes - dong quai, angelica roots, dried licorice and pencil shavings.
It is like walking into a traditional Chinese Medicine Hall from the 80’s. Surprisingly still energetic with mid+ acidity & resolved tannins. Clean palate with plenty of tertiary notes. Best to drink up now as it quickly declined within 30 mins in the glass.
Bottle popped 30 mins before lunch and served without a decanter
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Saturated cork. Opened two hours before serving and decanted for an hour. Light sediment. Surprisingly dark clear garnet in the glass. Intriguing woody nose. Initial intensity broadens out into a sensual, poised, rich palate. Sigh of satisfaction. There's no need to make up flavour-similies; this just tastes of genuine classical old-style claret. Which is really like nothing else. Gorgeous.
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Ex-chateau, recorked in 2014, perfect condition. Classic claret here: undergrowth, leather, black fruit, grippy tannins in the gums upon opening, nice acid. After 30-60 minute decant the tannins take backseat. Touch of sweetness at front of palate, and good acidity (but not out of balance) stands out at finish. Finesse and beauty, classic. Beautiful bouquet all night but especially first 2+ hours. After 2.5 hours in decanter nose nose and palate got a little plummy and jammy, clearly heading downhill, where fine wine all kinda converges as it goes downhill. But hey this almost 35 years old. I've got a few more bottles, if I can remember this note, decant for a bit but it has a ~2 hour expiry for max enjoyment.
Stating the obvious: drink up. This the 3rd of these that I've drank in last year or so from same ex-chateau case, all pretty similar. Great consistency.
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Looks pretty youthful in the glass. Nose wafts out of the glass (Zalto Bordeaux) - dried plum, cedar, old leather, mint, pipe tobacco, graphite, oolong - smells like a college library might have done in the 1950s (I’m guessing)
Palate dishes up the dried plum and some blackcurrant - fine tannins roll across the tongue - still some good crunch - this was initially quite lean but broadened out a smidge just as my glass was running out.
No upside here
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34th of 36, opened an hour, soaked cork, level into neck, in line with July 19 bottle, neither stellar nor a dud, usual grace and class in this fine but not top vintage, decent fruit, nicely layered, acid lift but lacking roundness and volume of better vintages, no upside but no rush. F+ (18).
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I was quite surprised by how youthful this bottle is (I only opened the bottle an hour prior). I had this with a bottle of 1995 Chateau Margaux (decanted for 3 hours). Medium-bodied and well balanced, a very elegant wine. In terms of color and taste, this outshines the Margaux.
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A very good wine from a difficult vintage. Still holding up very well and is very much in its drinking window. Need to decant 2hours prior to get maximum enjoyment.
Full of quite intense spice - cinnamon, cloves and white pepper, it has sinewy tannin with a refined backbone. On which one gets ripe currant, tobacco, cassis and a hint of menthol. A solid finish without any fireworks.
Drink now or 5+ years.
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Beautiful nose that evolved over 4 hours in the decanter from funky to floral and soft.
Flavors are graphite and herbal with a tobacco leaf and well structured. Finish is luxurious and long. Nicely integrated that supported and was strengthened by the deep, fatty, rich beef of the tomahawk Ribeyes.
Acidity perfectly balanced and sliced the meat better than the cutco serrated steak knife.
Maybe it is not a 95, but if not, somebody please recommend a 95 point wine...
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Great aromatic profile and strong tobacco notes. Somewhat muddy flavours - not as precise as some. From magnum. Still going strong and in long drinking window.
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Beautiful nose, floral, dark fruits, forest floor, strong notes of cab franc greenness coming through, almost mistook for right bank in a blind taste. It's a tough vintage, but highly recommended.
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Firm, classic, old-school styled wine with good concentration and a focus on its bright, crisp, herb and cedar accents. Better on the nose, with its peppery leaf, mint, cedar, tobacco and bright currant aromatics than on the crisp, sharp red berry and cranberry palate. The finish delivers a crunchy blast of red fruits, The wine is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. 12.75% ABV.
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Another one of our head to head Latour vs. Las Cases tasting events. This time, it was much too close to call. Up to this point, Latour has won most of the vintage comparison tastings that we have done. However, on this night LLC held its own against its first growth next door neighbor. Disclaimer: Served non-blind, both the Latour & Las Cases were decanted 1 hour prior. The Latour was purchased on-site from the Latour cellar directly in Pauillac and the LLC was sourced via local US retailer. The Latour wins hands down on the nose. I could smell it all night long without ever taking a sip. Sheer nobility with the classic Latour tension that I love so much once that tension is released in the glass. However, the LLC wins on taste and finish, especially the longer it sat in the glass. My guess is that ultimately the Latour is the better wine, but at this stage the LLC is more in its sweet spot and fully mature. If it were physically possible, I would love to taste the LLC exactly where it is today and the Latour in 5-8 more years of evolution. Nevertheless, it is always fun to taste these two side by side.
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Delicious and mature LLC. I have not tasted many 1988, but I have always been positively surprised by this vintage which remains in the shadow of the glorious 1989 and 1990. This is elegant, profound, and very finely balanced. The tanins have melted and are very supple. A very nice wine in any aspect, now fully mature. It does not have the depth or intensity of 1982 or 1986 LLC, but it is nevertheless very pleasant.
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- Garnet color. It's balanced and has flavours of raspberry and blackberry with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a medium finish - Great bottle of wine. This wine is ready to drink.
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Showing its stuff. Beautifully elegant with a long finish. Lots of bright red berries and lead pencil shavings. Structured with ample acidity. Balanced with a sturdy frame. Lots left in this 2nd growth. Love the elegant power of this Las Cases. Drink now-2030.
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The las cases 88 is still surprisingly fresh and vibrant for a 32 year old wine displaying aromatics of tobacco, cigar, bay leaves and cassis. Fine and vivid acidity on the entry followed by blue and red cassis fruits, spices, slate, leather, tobacco and drying tannins on the finish. This is still going strong and will last for several more years to come.
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During a blind tasting dinner. Wonderful nose of cigar box, tertiary Medoc aromas with earth and forest. Very precise and light on the palate with a classic touch of green peppers. I guessed Medoc 30 years old. This is another wonderful showing of this wine like the one's I had in the past. I think the 1988 LLC is one of the best wines of this vintage which I dont like that much. The wines are often too meager.
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Wine Night Commanderie @ GWC!: Black fruits, cigar box, truffles, earth, black tea notes and slightly green. Nicely matured Bordeaux. Good acidity and very lively. Quote: The late Michel Delon always thought that this was the greatest vintage he had produced. I would have to agree with that. One of my top 3 reds for the night (a tie with the Hosanna 2000). Open up!
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This bottle won from auction was disappointing compared to the last bottle which was ex-chateau. Classic old bdx, blackberries, old leaves, some leather. Fruit is beginning to thin out while acid remains high. Improved with air.
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Nez austère sur le cassis, le bois précieux des notes fumées, légèrement poivronnante sans que ce soit dérangeant. Je suis surpris par le peu d'évolution, c'est très jeune et l'aromatique n'a quasiment pas bougé en trois jours ! Bouche fidèle au nez, de la classe de la présence. L'acidité m'a paru parfaitement intégrée et confère une belle droiture au vin. La texture est jolie avec des tannins polis, légèrement présents. Bonne finale sans être renversante du fait du manque d'expressivité malgré une bonne longueur.
C'est bien bâti mais en l'état je reste sur ma faim comparé au 85 et au 89. Il lui manque clairement la complexité aromatique et le délié qu'apporte l'évolution. A encaver pour les 20 ans des petits enfants nés en 2040 ?
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the last of my bottles and drunk alongside the 1994 - surprisingly similar but definitely the better of the two, the 1988 was lovely: certainly mature but complex and long and one of the best 1988's
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Lucky enough to find another bottle of this beauty for a good price, I pulled the trigger and didn't wait long to open it up. What an absolutely elegant wine, fully mature at this time but showing no signs of slowing down, this has lovely balance between red and blue fruits and earthier tones. We let this decant for about an hour before drinking, and it got better over the course of the afternoon as the bouquet opened up started to show off its tertiary notes. This bottle is superior in every way to the 82 LLC that I had, which is going for more than double the price of what I paid for this 88 at auction. The choice between the 2 could not be more clear, as this is the best wine made at the estate in the 80s IMO.
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Purchased in secondary market, but turned out to be in good condition. Visually presented as an aged wine, but I would not have guessed 80's. Nose was sweet cassis, dry pine, white pepper. A very well balanced wine with plenty of red and blue fruit, cedar, tobacco, along with moderate acidity and structure. My bottle was drinking great but felt a little flabby going into the finish. I would say drink now, but perfect bottles probably have many years left.
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This was fantastic from the first pour. Deep ruby still, looking young and fresh. Lovely nose of cassis, leather, touch of clove/honey. Ripe healthy fruit. Would be impossible to guess this as an 1988 if drunk blind as it was beautifully ripe and balanced. Medium bodied in a good way with lovely freshness but also plenty of crunchy fruit. Some tobacco and I felt it was quite a Pauilliac expression from Las Cases this year. Wonderful length and very uplifting and morish! Picked up at $125/bt at auction which was a screaming good buy for this drinking experience. Las Cases does take its time to come round and there is plenty of life left in well stored bottles. Fantastic!
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Fantastic bottle tonight, cork was fully saturated but intact, capsule and bottle around the cork were a little powdery but this was fully mature and ready to go after an hour decant. Nose of smoked meats, leather, bell peppers, savory spices, cedar in an intoxicating bouquet. This wine was both rustic and elegant, hitting all the notes that makes Bordeaux lovers keep on coming back to this often fickle region for these wines, as there is nothing better when they are hitting on all cylinders IMO. If you can get this for under $200, go out and get it now, it's a fantastic wine.
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1988, Château Léoville Las Cases, Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, Frankreich. Mittleres Rubin, erste Reifetöne. Was für ein Nobles Bordeaux-Parfum, Zedernholz, Waldboden, Kräuter, Pfeffer, Leder, eine kleine Droge. Im Gaumen gradlinig und mit viel Präzision, mittelkräftig, mit feinen, noch immer prägenden Tanninen, diese umgarnen die rote Beerenfrucht, die Säure zieht diese im Abgang ausgesprochen lange hin, endet auf eine noble Alt-Bordeaux-Note. Nicht super dicht aber dennoch wunderbar aktuell. Bis 2030. 18 vvPunkte (91/100). vvWine.ch
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'Size Matters': Berry Bros. Magnum Tasting (Berry Bros., Central, Hong Kong): Small pour from a magnum opened but not decanted for 2 hours. Dusky but clean and semi-transparent ruby. Nose is more open than the 1983 but quite austere except for lovely cedar but sullen fruit. Palate is similar rainy vintage austerity but in a linear way I am partial to. Much Less length and resonance than the 1983.
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33rd of 36, decanted an hour, perfect level, partly travelled cork, neither stellar like my Feb 17 bottle nor a relative dud like June 18, fully mature with black fruit flavours tending to mulberry, usual class and complexity and greater persistence than length, nice acidity balancing rather dense earthy flavours, top wine in a good but not great vintage, no rush but no particular advantage in holding. F+ (18).
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Among 5 top growth Bordos, this was just a bit off the rest. Level was low neck and the cork was a bit loose, but it didn't seem to affect the wine. Slightly lactic character which blew off, but beautiful rich plum aromas, a bit of vanilla and soft tannins. Fully mature.
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Bardot Brasserie Léoville Las Cases Vertical Dinner (Las Vegas, NV): This deep red/garnet wine is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Classically structured, it is a full-bodied offering that delivers a package of dark plums, anise, tobacco, smoked meat, leather and dried herbs. Freshly acidic and with nicely integrated alcohol, it wraps its flavors with supple tannins and stays solid on the mid-palate. Finishing long and smooth, this well-cellared bottle is quite impressive. Comparably cellared specimens should show well for several more years. Drink now-2030.
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Good but lacked the fireworks I expected from a wine of this repute. Tannin and softness at perfect levels now but lacked complexity - on the way down? Gamey flavours, leather, some cocoa, meatiness - very savoury.
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Dense, expressive nose of cherries, cassis, ink, sous-bois and fine leather. Medium to full bodied, with subtle cassis, leather, exotic spices and toasty background. Perfectly matured and complex, this very elegant bottle provides much pleasure now, but can easily be had over another decade.
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I actually opened this bottle 4 months ago but just posting now. This was one of the most full bodied powerful Bordeaux wines I’ve ever had. Every sip was absolutely full of blackberry, tobacco creme de cassis, hints of spices and truffles. This wine was not cheap but worth the money.
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Flint stone, dried meat, delicate bell pepper and also a bit syrah ish (like the Leoville Barton 88 in the same flight). This one was perhaps the most elegant of the three Saint-Juliens with nice concentration, multi layered, deep structure and good length.
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Joanne Bordeaux Trip 2018 (Bordeaux): (Limited Notes and no official scores, as this was blind tasting with Jean Hubert Delon.) The '88 was gorgeous in it's maturity; earthy, meaty with depths to spare. There was a bit of rusticity here, which came across as quite pleasing.
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Lead pencil, initially slightly more obtrusive tannins than the Barton, smooths out, more black fruits, perfect equilibrium, such a class act and a complete wine, this just edges out the Barton but it was a close call.
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32nd of 36, decanted an hour, perfect cork and level, not corked but pronounced bottle stink which never entirely resolved even on half decanted into a half bottle and drunk the following night, drinkable but way off normal and especially my last bottle in Feb 17 which was the best yet and marked VF. This one just about VG (16).
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A really interesting wine. paired to braised beef seasoned with herbs de provence and the pairing worked really well, because they accentuated some interesting savory notes that were already present in the wine. dark red fruit, plenty of acidity, and enough smooth tannins to give it some backbone with a prominent and delicious kalamata olive and thyme note running through each mouthful. very much alive and in a great spot for drinking now, should probably open these by 2020.
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Fantastic nose with cassis, fresh herbs, leather, still Young! Full bodied, with loads of cassis, very rich with tannin that require food. Red and dark berries on the palate, balanced, rich and long, great stuff!
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Weekend at Magog; 9/22/2017-9/25/2017 (Magog, Quebec): Very dark red color. Decanted 1 hour, drank 2 glasses over 90 minutes. Ever mindful that there are no good wines, only good bottles; today's bottle was a striking example of that. The change from the pretty, yet more austere bottles yesterday, to todays flashy little gem. A treat to drink this again today at lunch. This bottle was simply beautiful, displaying bright berry fruit, soft silky tannins, leather, cedarbox and forest floor with a more perfume nose. The was in a perfect place, elegant, bright, but fully resolved and nuanced, witha long finish. 94+ to 95pts today.
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Another wonderful showing of this bottle. Still deep color. Wonderful Medoc nose of earth, dark fruit, pine, cedar, incredibly sophisticated. Medium bodied palate with mature tannins. Great texture, long finish. Text book Claret.
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Weekend at Magog; 9/22/2017-9/25/2017 (Magog, Quebec): Medium plus dark red color, 2mm clear margin. PNP, drank several glasses over 2 hours from 2 different 750ml bottles. Starts off with cedar and fine wood notes, dried forest floor, reticent cherry in the background, lovely mint, sauvage later and minerals. The palate is mature, medium body, not entirely austere, but steering that way. Mushrooms, cedar, dried cherry fruit, dusty fine grain tannins, smoked meat, elegant, earthy and medium on the finish. A very nice wine that is mature, ready to go and will not likely get better. As some others have noted, the structure is there to age, but the fruit can not support it. Pretty now, take advantage. 92+pts.
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It's been a to hour journey, where the wine has develop from good to excelent. Dark burgundy coulor. Balanced palate with wet wood, smoke, black berries, cherries, tobacco, and a secondery nose of sweetness that is difficult to catch, in direction of vannilla and caramell. A fruity taste with pepper in the finnish. Medium body with a long aftertaste. Integrated tannins. Very good wine.
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Took 90+minutes, and closer to 2 hours, to really open up, but this is just classic Bordeaux and really enjoyable to drink with and without food. I wish it didn't take 30+ years from LLC to come around, but when it does it is really good. Should try this vs. the '89 some time. A-
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Difficult to rate this wine -- it provided pleasure and had typical las Cases cherry and vanilla fruit, but it was a brut and lacked finesse. Cellared since original release.
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Still lively and spritely. Deep garnet. Very well balanced but not soft. Tannins are still there and give a gentle grip on the palette making the wine feel fresh despite its complexity. Beautiful nose of mushrooms, dark chocolate and rich berries. Great length and good depth. Very very enjoyable now. Have not enjoyed a Bordeaux this much in long while.
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opened 2 hrs before drinking, wine was super smooth, balanced, deep and very long, in summary a perfect bottle. I do not think that this will get a lot better
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A(ccuracy)=2: Mid neck fill; intact moist cork; Medium deep garnet, just hint of amber in rim; distinct, focused casis, cigar box nose. B(alance) =3: Excellent harmony, though still surprisingly firm and tight. C(omplexity)=2: Just entering tertiary; multidimensional but not quite layered. D(epth) =2: Supple, even, medium length and lasting finish.
WineTally Score [2,3,2,2]=9/10
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31st of 36, decanted 90 minutes, perfect cork and level, sensational bottle, much more weight of fruit and purity than previous bottles giving even more pleasure to what has always been a fine complex and classy wine, no austerity or angularity here, plenty of life yet! VF (18.5).
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30th of 36, decanted 15 minutes, perfect level but travel fully up cork, not as convincing as bottle noted 6/15, multi layered, but muted and diminished drive, just a touch odd so hopefully a one off. still VGI (17).
Decanted 1 hour. Slow to unfurl, but very high quality once it had decided to show its all. Next time, needs double decanting several hours before drinking. Old-fashioned LLC austerity with cedar initially, combining later with sweetness and fine tannins. Lascases as it should be -- uncompromising and authoritative. A neglected vintage, better than 1989 IMO for this wine and for Latour.
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Decanted for two hours. Classic bordeaux with tobacco, licorice, soil, iron, graphite and blood. Palate was smoothe with good amount of fruit and some secondary character. Drinking at its peak.
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No slouch at 28, and a really classic, if not austere, rendition of this really terrific claret. Lots of tobacco leaf, some vegetal notes, very pure cassis and some dustiness. Super elegant on the palate with good acid, beautiful mouthfeel, and a fairly long finish. A little less concentrated then I would prefer, but this is still really good now and probably for the next 5 years, but certainly at its peak.
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Opened and decanted for >3 hours. In the beginning wasn't sure that the wine was going to come around but it really did. Nose of earth, mushrooms, maybe a bit of forest floor. Raspberry, soft, lovely. Some cigar box. Nice long finish. Good wine.
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PnP. The wine started a bit austere but evened out with an hour of air. Presented in a very classical style, the wine was well balanced with good freshness and finely grained tannins. Tannic spine still rather prominent. It's currently in the sweet spot of having the complexity of a range of tertiary characteristics while still having just enough fruit to keep things enjoyable. At peak now but I wouldn't hold on too much longer to this as the fruit is starting to fade.
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Drank a glass from my coravin. Mature nose of black fruit, tobacco and coffee. Blackberry fruit still evident, along with notes of cigar box, spice and forest floor. Still good acidity. Tertiary elements dominate this wine now, but not particularly well-structured as I'd expect from this great wine. Tannins are soft and mostly resolved. Still an enjoyable wine, if not particularly stellar. Drink now or soon
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During a LLC tasting dinner with ex chateau bottles, hosted by Directeur General Pierre Graffeuille, double decanted. TN: This was clearly the WOTN. It started with the nose. So incredibly complex, so clean and fresh, amazing for at 30 year old wine. Dark fruit intermixed with a very interesting medicinal touch, pine, anise. People of the tasting could not get enough of it. Medium bodied palate with great freshness and soft tannins.
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Occasional dinner group; TOP Bordeaux 1988: Luxurious and mature bouquet with dark and some red forest fruits, cigar box, coffee and some graphite. On the palate dark and red forest fruits, sweet spices, graphite and some ok bell pepper. Beautifully fresh acidity and soft tannin with still a good bite. Exclusive wine with still several years of future. Until 2019?. 93+ for tonight.
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From Imperial. Uncorked 12 hours before drinking and decanted 30 minutes prior to serving. Classic mature bordeaux with a powerful nose. Deep red almost purple colour and good fruit still evident. Gentle tannins suggest the wine has further to run. A delicious bottle of wine.
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Great fill. Decanted 30 minutes and drank over the next hour. Very nice wine, showing nice secondaries and was great with food. A little light in the mid-palate is the only thing to pick at but this is nice, mature Bordeaux that should hold for a while. A-
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Wine-Septet meeting hosted by Yair (Hotel Montefiore restaurant): uncorked 2 hours prior to drinking I am generally not a big fan of this vintage, i find most wines have lost a good deal of whatever fruit was there, to remain rather tannic and dried out. Nevertheless this Las Cases expressed a very good Saint Julien aroma. On the palate it lacked the complexity and structure which this wine has in better vintages. Perhaps earlier opening and decanting could improve my impression.
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Another superb bottle. Compared to my last note in mid-Feb this goes up a notch because of the vibrancy of the fruit, the wine is vibrant and engaging unlike a lot of 1988s which are flagging. This wine has an exquisite ashtray and cigar box entry, but the mid-palate fruit is really singing. And the tannins are mercifully and soothingly resolved. This wine had good tension and typicite as you would expect but the stern tannins have beaten a dignified retreat. This is mature claret right out of the very top drawer.
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29 th of 36, decanted 60 minutes - much better bottle than my February note and back to peak form, just how balanced and nuanced was brought out by comparison with Barton 88 which although more impressive in mid palate weight of fruit simply lacked multi layered dimension and persistence of this Las Cases. Very fine (18.5/20).
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Fully resolved and in a perfect place it is dominated by notes of tobacco and freshly tilled earth. On the palate it is wonderfully svelte in a medium-bodied format. It is clear that 1988 is a vintage, which in general won't make old bones, so this is a Lascases that you can pop and pour with enormous pleasure. The fruit is there but it just takes a back seat to the secondary/tertiary flavour profile. For those who complain that Lascases is never ready to drink this and the 1985 are the wines to show what It is all about. This is a lot cheaper than the 1985 and probably in the top five wines of the vintage.
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28th of 36, hour decanted, perfect fill, notes mostly fine or better (cf my June 2013 note) - this bottle not up to usual run, somehow diminished and fruit just fading a little, not a patch on next night's GPL 89. At best very good indeed (17/20).
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We popped and poured, and from the get-go the nose and palate were classic LLC: tobacco, earthy - freshly ploughed fields earthiness - perfectly resolved tannins, elegant mid-length finish.
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Top shoulder/base neck. Run up to top of cork. Decanted an hour. This was good, elegant with a decent but short finish. Good food wine but would be drinking now. Remaining bottles have better fill levels. B+/A-
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Popped and poured at room temperature. Very nice, and even better with 30 minutes of air. Dark, cool fruit. Solid nose. Lighter in style but very nice balance and was great with food. Should hold but in a great spot now. A-
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I am generally not a big fan of this vintage, i find most wines have lost a good deal of whatever fruit was there, to remain rather tannic and dried out. That said the LLC showing this evening was very pleasing. after 7 hrs of slow ox and a double decant this quickly showed mature fruit notes with clean flavors. Surprisingly approachable and with good grip on the back end of the flavor profile. Not a monumental LLC but one that is soft pleasing and ready to drink. This should be good for another 5 = years if not more. Modern, polished and got even better over the evening. one of the first bottles to be polished off -always a good sign.
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Regular dinner group (@ EM): Beautiful and mature bouquet with some pleasant barnyard, smoke and tobacco. On the palate everything beautifully integrated, still some red and black forest fruits, fresh acidity and tannin with still a light bite. Completely ready now and no real hurry.
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Slow oxygenated for 10 hours. Excellent showing for this wine. Cedar, leather, earthy Bordeaux nose. Mature palate with notes of pepper, tobacco, and cherry all melded together. I say this wine is at peak but like most LLC will hold for years.
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This bottle seemed quite mature when looking at the other recent tasting notes here. The cork had soaked almost all the way through and it's a wonder we got it out in one piece. But still a stunning wine!
Nose is full of Bordeaux. Cedar, pencil shavings, yellow bell pepper, newly cut grass, and mature fruit. Quite light body, but with a superb concentration. Distinct acidity and a quite dry, astringent finish. The wine just keeps going and takes forever to fade out.
Not enough time with the wine to score, and possibly an early matured bottle.
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Bordal chez Jean (Bordeaux '88 surtout) (Geneva): Couleur grenat moyen, bords orangés. Nez discret même après une aération prolongée. Notes de poivrons typiques du millésime. En bouche, le vin est de constitution moyenne, la matière est un peu fluide. L'acidité est aussi marquée. Finale moyennement longue. #4
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A wonderfully drinking wine. Decanted for 45 minute before serving. Dark garnet with just faint signs of age at the edges. An ethereal bouquet of tobacco, dark cedar, clean, damp moss and a hint of blackberry in the background. Totally balanced with a long, deep finish.
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Decanted one and half hour.. This wine needs time to open up and deliver its goodies! Lovely, vibrant tannins are layered and sweet. Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc are both great... Very very nice!
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Magnum, resting in my cellar since release. Immaculate bottle, low neck fill, cork we'll saturated. 2 hour decant. Dark garnet color. Nose of sweet dark and red fruit. Multilayered secondary nuances. More of same on the palate with some oak, smoke. Smooth, tannins resolved. Everything in balance. Long finish. Delightful wine.
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1988 Red Bordeaux, with Richard Brazier (Handford Wines, London): Dark red in colour. Light touches of brown but really not a colour for a 25yr old wine (an 88 vintage hallmark) Open on the nose, peppery, youthful in a way but very classic nose, light fruit and no signs of any secondary elements. On the palate it has a proper weight of fruit across. Still it is in a way a backward wine as the fruit is not very giving. In general it gave a charmless feel… Feels like a good wine in hiding and we hope the future would be brighter for it… Forget for 5 yrs and this has a lot of life to go post that. 91-92 for now.
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My WOTN. Wonderful dark colour, hardly any sign of age. Quite spicy on the nose, herbal, forest floor, tobacco, red fruit. Still quite tannic, good character of fruit, spicy, fresh, again a little lean, but much more elegant, round and almost silky in comparison with pretty much any other wine of tonight's tasting. Pretty long finish. Good future given the colour, grip and tannins. 93+
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Typhoon Usagi Survivors' Dinner with VK, TH and PH (At home): Wow. My first time drinking the 1988 vintage, but not my first time finding out that Leoville Las-Cases made a string of outstanding, classic wines in the 1980s. Bright notes of fruit intermingled with spring flowers, minerals, iron and hints of tar on the nose. Plush and expansive on the palate, there is a beautiful complexity to this wine that really gives off class. There is a faint herbaceous note which sometimes crops up in the less-than-stellar vintages from the 80s and early 90s, but otherwise this really is a terrific wine that seems at its peak of drinkability.
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Nose of sour cherry, cedar, mild funk, wet leaves and feint tar and tobacco on the pour of a 4 hour decant. First taste - tightly wrapped flavors, sweet but chewy tannins and slight mid to back palate astringency, aftertaste fine. 20 minutes of glass time gave layers of rich, juicy blackberry and four fruits jam, cassis, roast plum, graphite and wet stone with sweet, well-integrated tannins. Continued to become more well-defined throughout the bottle - a superb year for Las Cases. Although not the deepest or longest Leoville, it is drinking beautifully, given lots of air and patience with glass time. Many years remaining.
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nearly to ready , i think 3 years is try again , smell is good , terror , black current, cassis , in mounth is yummy , aftertaste is long , good finish
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First bottle from third case, mature colur with some development on rim, not too dark, classy structure on nose and palate with secondary flavours now dominant, cedar, graphite, some leather overlaying blackcurrant fruit, medium full on palate, persistent, excellent grip and balance should ensure long life, just lacks the generosity of better vintage and hopefully a more involving bouquet, like the 62, will develop with time. Fine plus (18/20).
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La Commanderie de Bordeaux à Vancouver - 1988 Horizontal (Boneta): Not as expressive as the Mouton. Shyer nose but did open up after a few minutes in the glass. Fresher nose with beautiful graphite, tobacco and darker fruits. Hints of bell pepper too. Rich dark fruit and very well structured on the palate. Showing extremely youthfully on the palate with firm and hard tannins and a drying sensation on the finish. This was quite different compared to the others in the flight as this was firmer and more masculine. Needs time. Excellent. 92+
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La Commanderie de Bordeaux: 1988 Horizontal (Boneta Restaurant - Vancouver, BC): Tasted blind. Great nose with tons of graphite and cedar upfront, followed by rich black cherry, cassis, and a touch of fresh mint. Plenty more lead pencil on the palate, along with rich black cherry, leather, spicy black pepper, asphalt, mint, raspberry, with a touch of green bell pepper. Lots of acidity, with a long length finish ending on notes of leather and black cherry. This was showing very youthful, with lots of underlying structure and hard tannins. There's a nice richness to the fruit here. No debating that this was left bank in my mind...reminded me of LLC so that was my best guess. Every once in a while you nail it. Fantastic.
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orange, red, in color. dark berry, pepper, spice, earth, cedar, on the palate. cedar, pepper, earth, black currant, blackberry, on the palate. medium acid, light to medium tannins on the finish.
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medium bodied. definitely more alive in comparison to the bottle we had back in 2010. really went well blackberries some currants also. lasted longer this time.
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Light earthy herbaceous nose; blackberry; tannins not fully developed and not fully integrated; acidity a bit too noticeable; round and soft and elegant but needs time.
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Sweet earthy blackberry nose; a bit watered and lean on the mid palate; light blackberry fruit with a rather sweet finish; tannins were a bit astringent suggesting the 2 hr decant was not enough.
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Dark ruby with a garnet rim. Roasted oak and toast with hints of cedar, leather and plum in the background. Cool, firm graphite frame and nicely integrated tannins build the frame for rich fruit that is highlighted by appetizing acid. Long classy finish.
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- Ruby color and aromas of blackberry. It's in total harmony and has flavours of vanilla, oak and hazelnut with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a long finish - Clean as a wistle. What a treat tompop a box of 24 old wine from a not great year and find such perfect harmonic beatybof a wine. And this worry on CT about Bordeaux getting to old ... Marvelous.
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Clear purple in colour, with some brick showing on the edges. Clean nose of currents, cedar, and leather. Dry, med acidity, med body, red current, raspberry, cedar, and leather on palate. med finish. Great wine. Love bordeaux wines with some age. so many levels to the wine, that I don't feel I am able to describe everything I smell and taste.
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Clear intensive red, some rust at the edges. Rasperry, chocolate nose. Elegant and long finish with hints of sweetness and well integrated acidity. Decant for at least one hour. Great wine now and will last until at least 2025.
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Decanted and drank over 3 hours. A very pretty nose of red fruit, some iron notes and leather. The nose was not huge, but present for sure. The palate matched with a clean silky texture, nice acidity, integrated tannin but with a somewhat shallow mid palate. For me, this did not get noticeably better with air, maybe slightly. In a good place right now, but will clearly hold for several years.
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Very good but you can feel the 'edgyness' of 1988. This has still some very strong tannin and in a way is a bit rough. We decanted it for 30 minutes but it could have used 2 hours easily. Ripe fruit, forest floor, wet wood. Very nice but not yet at it's peak.
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Snug but fully saturated cork; lilac, peat and currants on decant - 3 hour decant - glass nose: cedar, roasted blackberry jam, fresh cedar, light pencil and feint menthol and some quickly fading funk. Clear, med-dark color; no bricking. Sweet, nearly fully integrated tannis pull together the layers of dark berry, cassis, light black jam, cedar, and feint oak with roast plum through a med-long finish; all drenched the palate and became increasingly defined, rich and juicy while drinking the bottle. In a prime drinking window that should last, as is, for another 4-5 years. This classic Bordeaux is spectacular.
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Right out of the bottle (and a 55 degree fridge), this LLC's fragrant nose gives off soy-tinged dried flowers, sweet currants, plums, tobacco leaf, eucalyptus, and pencil lead. On the palate, the attack shows tart currants and puckering acidity that lasts throughout. Transition to and through the mid-palate is seamless... with fine grained tannins kicking in then giving way to a long, lithe finish where dried flowers, more bright red berries linger. General impression is that of an aged but dense Bordeaux that is very acidic on the palate and without a whole lot of fruit.
Hours later, the nose is much the same but the wine, in its warmer state, comes off a little darker and less acidic on the palate. The tannins are front and center at this point with the acidity riding right behind it. The fruit however, is still quite lightweight overall and doesn't pull its weight relative to the other elements. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hoping for more and while the nose was wonderful, the rest didn't quite add up to the experience of other reviewers. My bottle was simply good and no more than that.
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Four guys, four wines; 12/19/2011-12/20/2011 (Seattle, WA): Dark maroon with a touch of bricking around the rim. The nose was very shy at first, but opened nicely in around 45 minutes to show dark fruits along with earthiness and tobacco. Still quite full bodied, and it shows some pleasantly surprising red fruit as the nose led me to believe this would show some darker elements. This has a spicy green pepper element running through the mid palate. This is not for everyone, but it is something that while in balance, I really enjoy in Cab based wines. Still showing some nice acids, but tannins have mostly resolved. Very soft mouthfeel. Good showing.
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Terrific, complex wine that still has rich dark fruit with strong hints of tobacco, leather and smoke. Impressed how smooth and velvet-like the wine drank. Everything with this wine was integrated and delicious...a real treat.
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I love this wine! You can therefore imagine my disappointment when upon opening and sipping this from magnum, the wine had faded considerably. The bordeaux nose was still there and its color, though a bit brown around the edges, still looked good. Upon tasting the wine, however, most of its fruit had dissipated. A real shame! If you have this wine, time to drink up!
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What a nice bottle. Classic nose but maybe more Pauillac than St Julien with lavender, violet, cigar box. some bell pepper and a rich cassis. Pretty similar on the palate, slightly grainy texture, elegant. Rich without being very powerful. Really good.
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Rated as the favorite in the group, the Las Cases displayed dark fruits, smoke, and oak on the nose which gave way to a palate with a slight tinge of acidity and well integrated tannins. The wine is drinking very well, but the fruit has begun to give way suggesting that it has peaked. Moderate finish, but a great overall wine.
Very good wine but the fruit appears to have begun declining. Excellent balance and length with some herbaceous character reflecting the cool year. Opened overnight suggesting double decanting would be of value.
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Château Léoville Las Cases Back Vintage Dinner (Chambar Restaurant, Vancouver, BC): Elegant nose of pencil shavings, spice, cherry, fig, and soil. had a bit of funk present at first which blew off with some air. Graceful, focused palate dominated by cherry, along with more earth, plum, asphalt, cigar leaf, tobacco, and a touch of mint. Very well integrated, with soft tannins. Medium+ finish, ending with tart cherry and mint. This is in a good spot right now and is drinking very well.
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The cork crumbled when we opened the bottle and it was double decanted to remove as much cork as possible. Fortunately, the wine was excellent. Beautiful nose hinting at both the fruit and earth. This still taste young and should last for some time. Excellent fruit; dark cherries, currants and strawberry melded with tobacco, cigar box and earthy flavors revealing the terroir. Silky and consistent tannins. Complex, it improved with time in the glass.
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Late Mar 2011: rubin red color; intense aromas/flavors of chocolate, coffee, black and red currant, noble wood and some cherry; noble cassis flavored coffee beans on the palate; well-integrated tannins; medium/full body; round texture.
The quintessential Claret: outstanding, mature.
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Shama's LLC Offline (The Square, London): Again, quite a leafy herbaceous nose. Reasonably high acidity with restrained fruit. Very 88. Classic food wine. Uncompromising, take it or leave it sort of wine. I like it. Developing nicely with air. Something endearing about this. Lovely. ****
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.................. wrong again! (I expected this to be the least satisfying of a trio of 1995, 1996 and 1988 LLCs opened this week. But it is delicious, better in my view than the '95.) Not decanted, but given 3 hours out of cellar at room temp. Wet cork all the way up, but no deterioration in the wine. Old-fashioned metal capsule has done its job well (not lead but heavier than modern capsules). Initially rather old-winey on nose and palate, slightly musty and gamey. But this blew off, leaving a sweet rounded wine, good black fruits, even a hint of the sweetness of over-ripe blackberries shining with gossamer after the first frost. No harsh tannins, no 1988 hardness, a really enjoyable wine; needs drinking in next few years. My memory is failing -- we opened six of these back in August with a very similar note. A very fine 1988.
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A lovely aged bordeaux, with all the tobacco, leather you'd want. The fruit however seemed subdued perhaps its on its way down. Regal but not exceptional.
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Opened six bottles for dinner at the Burgoyne with the Donnersmark party. All were in excellent shape, levels base neck at worst. One had a loose cork, but the capsule had kept the wine in good condition. Decanted for three hours. Nose mellow. Not a trace of the 1988 hardness or bricky sharpness of other medocs (Lafite for example). Tannins completely resolved. Lovely sweet rounded wine, not profound but very satisfying. A hint of old winey taste. Excellent with roast grouse. Remaining six bottles should be drunk in next 3-5 years.
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This bottle was purchased on release and was in perfect condition. The red/purple center and the light red rims suggested that this wine still had plenty of time. The nose was full of red currents, herbs, and forest floor scents.
In the mouth, the wine was very light and didn't show much body at first. This, again, is another wine that needs at least 2 hours of air to really show its beauty. As it aired, the herbs in the nose receded into the background and were replaced by red fruits. In the mouth the rounded tannins grew to provide an impressive mid palate and a long finish. A lovely wine that is coming into its prime. It can be imbibed now (with decanting) but should last an additional two decades.
In short, it might be described as a "classic" Bordeaux as opposed to wines from the hot years.
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A solid mature bordeaux - very smooth and refined but the fruit seemed a bit underwhelming. Decanted 45 minutes but would probably have been better to drink right away.
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Nothing jumped out about this wine but that's what made it enjoyable. the wine had great structure. had hints of berries. very light and perfect with the food we had.
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now THIS makes me understand what Bordeaux used to be and why people spent so much money. fresh and pure, but very much secondary, with aromas and flavors of tobacco and leather, some dark cassis fruit on the finish. the wine is nowhere near tired, but i do think it is basically resolved and ready to drink. just delicious wine, a real treat.
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Paired with Pichon-Lalande 1988. The Pauillac is more like a Saint-Julien and vice versa. Masculine, Cabernet, depth, athletic, lead pencil, cedar, very good but not as fascinating as the Pichon.
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Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of briar patch, tobacco, saddle soap, black berries, black cherries and a dash of dried herbs. Flavors of black berries, black cherries, plums and a bit of currants. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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Nose : blackcurrent, earth, graphite and tobacco. In the mouth, the wine is very concentrated with very pure, very well defined aromas.Tannins are powerful but velevty but nor vegetal neither woody unpleasant hints. The wine is also beautifully balanced. 1988 has a reputation for having produced tannic and coarse wine. This is a perfect example of great claret. Maturation has taken time, but the wine is now perfect to drink and can probably last some time.
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White Truffle dinner at Chez Patrick Sun Street (Chez Patrick Restaurant Sun Street. Hong Kong): It had all the recognizable characteristics of this great wine, very typical St Julien especially on the nose, so fragrant and approachable right away. As I wrote, we probably did not do it justice having had 6 bottles prior to this one, and it really was top quality. From what I remember, raspberry was definitely something very pleasant that came at first, still nice and long after taste for this wine that probably still has at least 10 years or more of superb showing.
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Bordeaux Verticals (Oslo): Very deep color, but also some browning. Mushroom nose. Moderate body, slightly short. A touch of black currant. Actually, a bit disappointing.
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The breeders (Halle): This wine is peaking or maybe peaked a year or two ago. still vibrant and fresh. Whatever people may say about bordeaux (overpriced, overhyped, over...), Las Cases has produced masterpieces the last couple of decades, that can only be rivaled by the best winemakers around the globe. The elegance, relative power, and balance of this wine is extraordinary, considering the vintage. I wish I had more of this (certainly at the price paid at that time). Although this was extraordinary the 1994 Las Cases drank side by side impressed me more, although other people at the table preferred this (more tertiary 1988.
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Marine Room Leoville Las Cases Vertical Dinner (Marine Room Restaurant, La Jolla, CA): Decanted and serially tasted after approximately two hours. Deep-to-opaque garnet robe. Moderately intense nose showing black and red fruit elements (black currants and cranberries) along with bramble/garrigue aromas. Full-bodied on the palate, with medium, slightly dry tannins and flavors similar to the nose. The middle palate is full and the finish long, albeit a bit dusty. This is a nicely structured, "classic-styled" Bordeaux which is likely on plateau. Drink now-12/20.
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Drank after the '88 Cos and this was relative monster. Much better balance, some spice to go with the dark fruits. Nothing like '82 or '85, but a good drinker anyways.
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Elegant, smooth, ligth nose of herbs,gentle, howeve, it needs to decant for at least 2-3 hours before drinking then becomes nicer and better. A good one for drink right now.
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Masculine, rich but dry, powerful, iron and gravel, spices and blackcurrants, cool, amazing depth, lead pencil, great style and class. Personifies Saint-Julien and 1988.
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While not wildly aromatic, the nose has hints of rich black fruit. The palate achieves a nice balance of fruit, acid, and resolved tannins, although the finish is quite short. A very pleasurable, classic claret.
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Popped and poured. Garnet red in color with some lightening at the edges. Aromas of black currant, black cherry and smoke with secondaries of earth and leather. Silky, medium-full bodied, mouth feel followed by a long finish.
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You bring 'em - we'll drink 'em (Fayette Street Grille): Bob Hughes leaned across the table and said "graphite" when describing the nose - I agree. Mouth-filling flavors of red cherries, road tar and leaves with acidity and very present tannins - wonderfully lithe mouthfeel belies the obvious power of this. Just a great bottle of wine. When taking a few bottles out of my inventory after getting home - I noticed I brought this wine to the same venue a few years ago to a memorable dinner we had in honor of David's beloved dog, Atlas - it's wonderfully fitting that David would bring this same wine tonight and it showed so well. WOTN
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gorgeous wine. red brick color, ample nose of tobacco, leather, autumn leaves, and a core of dark fruit still remaining in the back end. On the palate, surprisingly light and airy, and medium body, which to me is more attractive. It had all the qualities of a grand Bordeaux with a beautiful silky texture. A surprise indeed.
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Bud Starr's September Tasting (Bud Starr's Clayton, MO): Very round, ripe, and lush -- just a bit of heat too -- a California-styled Bordeaux, which took me to Leoville Las Cases. Some black walnut again. Lots of Cabernet fruit on the nose with some leafy scents. Greenish but at the same time very lush in the mouth. A good showing for 1988 here. A good package overall -- but maybe just a bit foursquare.
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Tasted blind between a set of other reds, mainly italian Still concentrated with obvious lighter rim. Very strong lead pencil on the nose. Shouts old Medoc after one sniff. Evolves over time and add more grafite, roasted coffee-bean like notes Taste is a mix of satin, Bordeaux elegance but with power and length that demonstrated the quality of the wine. Assumed Pauillac PS: also tasted this evening was Angelus 93. Had surprising cabernet nose but was clearly lighter, a little diluted compared to the las cases. Quality shows in the comparison.
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Slightly surprised when this turned up in a mixed case I bought from BBR - perhaps I shouldn't have been on account of ordering the said mixed case half-cut, and also splashing out on a couple of lesser vintage Haut-Brions. This is why I should not be allowed to use the internet unsupervised. But, after dealing with the financial irresponsibilty, this was pretty delicious and a worthy starter for my brand new Riedel Sommelier Black Tie bordeaux glass. Lots of age and maturity, lovely on the nose, left me wanting more.
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Deep garnet, brown at rim; intense tar, black currants, plums, wood smoke, damp earth; restrained ripe berry, cherry, medium-full body, good acidity, firm tannins, long finish. Decanted 1 hr. Mature yet youthful. A concentrated, complex nose, sexy palate and seriously long finish. Drinking well now and for another decade. Delicious with t-bone. WOTY.
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Business dinner at Michael Mina's, Bellagio - The wine steward's recommendation. Everyone enjoyed this wine. Classic French Brodeaux - great nose, nice color and clarity, a waterfall of flavors on the nose and palate with rounded tannins and balanced acidity and alcohol. The finish lasted forever. A great collector, but ready for consumption now.
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KSC02 does Dallas, Part 2 (Daniele Osteria, Dallas, TX): WIML94. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of thistle, smoke and rich dark fruits. Flavors of black cheries, a hint of dark currants and some juicy plum. Medium acidity and tannins, medium to full bodied. Good balance here. Drink or hold.
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Fantastic purity in scent (cedar, tobacco, blackcurrant), taste (sour cherry, blackcurrant, cedar) and delicious aftertaste. No Blockbuster, but the most perfectly rounded wine. Layered taste reminiscent of 1970 Castillo Ygay, but finer. 94P
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Serious bordeaux (as in very good, but not very sexy). Very young and fresh considering the vintage. Nose upon opening cherry, leather, herbs, earth, even some licorice; after an hour or so very strong lead pencil, after 2/3 hours, mokka and coffee aromas, after 4/5 hours meaty aromas. Lovely! This wine is perfect right now, but can surely be cellared for another 5 years.
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Dark garnett color, no hints of any bricking. Still young and fresh. Classic bordeaux, currants, smoke, cedar, but clean and nice integrated tannins. Very tasty, drinking well now, may not get better but will be good for another decade.
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This was great. Leathery, spicey, mineraly. Nice fruit. Soft. Complex and subtle next to the 95 Las Cases we drank it with. By the end of a 3 hour meal it was still (In my opinion if not my brothers) holding it's own against the 95. Although it was very close.
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Chicago's Best Bordeaux Tasting Ever? (Ken's Home): Tight, but with more swirling got black cherry, mineral and some earthy notes. A nice wine with good acid level and fruit, but a touch lean in the middle. Maybe not showing its best?
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Great Wines of Bordeaux dinner (Ken Kailin's): Blind. Full bright crimson red. Big aroma of acidic red fruit with huge green pepper notes. Spicy big bold black fruit on the palate. Drinking well now.
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Traveling Methuselah's (The Murray's!): This offered a classic nose of cedar, pencil lead, earth and dark fruits. The palate was delicate, very smooth... sexy even. A classic Las Cases with tons of cedar, fruit and a long smooth finish. Fantastic balance. I simply loved this wine.
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Tasted blind at Jim's. The wine had been decanted and open for several hours. I had the last glass. No mistaking its origins. Fading to the rim, distinctive nose of lead pencil, currant and cedar. Fruit receding and a little dusty, the tannins were seemingly outrunning the fruit. I guessed '88 Cos d'Estournel, though I was going back and forth with Ducru in my mind. This vintage is quite true to its reputation.
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Wonderful Claret, easily the best 1988 I've had. This has everything you could ask for in a mature Left Banker. Persistent but not extreme fruit, wonderful cedary palate that is intense yet fresh, lovely terroir notes form this great classed vineyard and typical St Julien seductiveness. All that wine should be and the perfect drink for Sunday lunch with friends.
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Southern Nights #1 (@ PVa): Classical and complex bouquet with cassis, vanilla, licorice and laurel. Same on the palate, firm acidity, tannin and bitterness. The wine will improve with more ageing.
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Decanted for about an hour, initially had a little must on the finish which quickly blew off. The color is still bright ruby red with no hint of any decay, looked pretty similar to 2000 David Arthur in the glass. Tasty fruit upfront, unexpected for an 18-year old Bordeaux. Multiple layers of earthy complexity follow leading to a long, interesting and enjoyable finish. It got better and better in the glass, as more fruit was revealed. Truly outstanding example of great bordeaux. It can age for another 15-20 years, but why wait.
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I admire this wine, the wine-maker is an intellectual, tasting much better than the others 1988, and fatter of course, a round and mellow palate, the nose is just absolutely right, will provide enjoyment for over the next 2 decades! I believe it is still a bargain for a 1988 red Bordeaux!
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At Union Square Cafe with Victor Hong for an impromptu dinner at the bar area. Very dark and opaque in the glass. Classic Bordeaux nose giving off tobacco and cedar. Dense palate of cedar, espresso, dark berries, hints of chocolate and some tobacco leaf. Superb finish. Silky elegant texture.Tannins are holding the wine together but harmoniously. Acidiy in fine balance, Hit all the right buttons and married itself surprisingly well to the seared foie gras and not so supprisingly to the succulent lamb chops done to perfection. A real treat and a truly elegant claret as one would have expected from this producer
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I was a bit concerned as this started out somewhat hollow and one dimensional. However, after 30 minutes of decanting this blossomed into a magnificent experience. Cedar, pencil, tobacco, black cherry, and spicey wet stones... bliss! What a fantastic wine! Everything in balance - this is classic Las Cases. I have to say this beat the 88 Latour hands down!
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The color was remarkably young-looking: still purple-red with very little thinning at the edge. Big nose of northern Medoc smoke and tobacco; very complex and no off-odors. On the palate, there is a some dusty fruit and a medium-light body. Tannins are fully resolved although noticable and a bit dry on the smooth finish. This isn't the most extracted or complex Bordeaux you will ever drink, but it is drinking quite well now, and I would expect that it will easily last for 10+ years.
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Dark red. Scents of dark berries. A weird "wet and moist" character blew off quickly. This is a bit herbal, almost vegetal in flavour profile. Time really helped this wine that ended up being really nice and attractive after a shaky start.
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3rd of 6, lovely mountain tea nose with cassis and dark fruit, more of the same on the palate, very rich and open and lovely to drink, will improve for two more years, shows it's pedigree, medium body and medium/long finish.
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Bottle taken from my personal cellar, brought to the Superbowl wine and food extravaganza at the home of Amy Weinberg. The wine was double-decanted approximately 90 minutes prior to leaving for the party. Deep garnet in color, with a reddish/orange rim. Clean nose, showing dried herbs, cassis, plum and cigar aromas. Medium-bodied on the palate, with tannins which have largely melted. Similar flavors as for the nose. Long, smooth finish.
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Bright disc, with deep red robe and orange rim. Clean, moderately-intense nose showing cedar/herbal notes superimposed on a core of red fruit. Medium-bodied on the palate, with ample but supple tannins. Long finish.
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NobleRottersSydney - Classed Growth night (Darling Mills, Glebe): Mid brick red. Lovely rich aromas, mixing blackcurrant fruit, with some developing aging qualities. Some cedar, certainly. The wine is still quite tannic - I’d be picky by saying the fruit is fading a little ahead of the tannins. Possibly the wine is a bit in-between - I think there’s still some development & complexity left to come. But still, a very good wine.
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Deep ruby, red rim. Moderately intense nose of ripe plums and currants. Medium body, with similar flavors. Medium, supple tannins. Medium, smooth finish. Quite enjoyable now, but still closed-in. Needs time.
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3/29/2024 - Patrick_from_champagne Likes this wine: 95 Points
Amazing, it loos at least 10 years younger
Delicate, deep, complex
very elegant and strict at first, excellet
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3/29/2024 - johnh1001 wrote: 93 Points
Impressive herbaceous smokey dark fruit with a sleek and glossy texture. Really nice.
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1/12/2024 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 94 Points
My WOTN, but the ‘00 will eventually eclipse this. Beautiful dusty nose. Green pepper, blackberry, black cherry, library leather palate. Only thing holding back a higher score is a somewhat short finish vs the ‘00. 94
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12/26/2023 - RichEB1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Just classic, well made Bordeaux at its peak. Beautiful nose of cedar, graphite, and red fruits. On the palate this is really, really nice, with pencil shavings, more cedar, and dark cherries. Tannins are fully integrated and it's in a sweet spot where the fruit and secondary characteristics are dancing together seamlessly. I'm sure this can hold for a long time, but for my tastes, I'd suggest drinking now.
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12/22/2023 - d'Artagnan wrote: 93 Points
Dîner de Noël des anciens C&S (Restaurant Bagatelle): Nez racé, rapidement situé en Bordeaux rive gauche. La bouche est droite et très classique, je pensais à un Pauillac 1996. À bien y penser, il avait ce côté austère noble du millésime, avec un super équilibre, une fraicheur adéquate. Très bon. 93 pts
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11/30/2023 - Juliansi Likes this wine: 93 Points
From the nose of mint, pepper and cedar with fresh tobacco, I quickly guessed.. Left Bank, but perhaps not in the strongest of vintages. Perhaps a 2002? Turns out it was significantly more mature.. Its a 1988. Once again coincides with birthday-boy LF's birthyear.
The wine is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. It stays for 18 to 20 months in oak barrels on average 90% new.
Romz had only popped-poured this just before dinner, worrying that it would disintegrate due to its age and vintage. It definitely did not, with the roasted capscicum notes and blackfruits as well well as dried flower palate. Such vibrance and strength in this wine.
Fine tannins, medium and well balanced acidity made this very enjoyable. As this developed in the glass, there were even more pencil shavings and cedar notes. Lovely!
Leather and sweet spices on the medium-long length finish, with such beautifully integrated components especially the oak and acidity.
In the Bordeaux classification, this is a 2nd Grand Cru Classé Saint-Julien.
In fact, many describe this as a “Super Second” as Las Cases is adjoining with Château Latour in Pauillac, obviously having exceptional terroir.
Since 1901, the Delon family has been uncompromising in achieving consistency in the quality and purity of its wines. At Léoville Las Cases' 55 ha's, the terroir is perfect for blossoming Cabernets whose average age is over 52 years old.
Its been run by the same family for decades now. Today, Jean-Hubert Delon, sole owner, is the representative of the family tradition. The Delon Family also owns Clos du Marquis, Château Nénin and Château Potensac.
Thanks again to Romz for sharing this!
Hello.. Bourdecembre, and happy birthday brother LF!
Maillard Grill, Kuala Lumpur
30th Nov 2023
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11/30/2023 - Romz Likes this wine: 93 Points
LF’s birthday celebration at Maillard. Our 3rd red tasted blind. My bottle which I PnP right before dinner. This bottle has much better provenance vs the last one we had back in March. Elegant notes of roasted capsicum, some barnyard, lifted aromas of dried flowers & fruits, tobacco, mushroom, & forest floor. Coincidentally our 1st bots were all 1988! This has much fresher and juicy acidity, elegant fine palate & elongate finish
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11/21/2023 - Nanda wrote: 94 Points
Outstanding fully mature left bank with abundant pencil shavings, tobacco and cedar notes interlaced with mature plum and cherry fruit that gained weight with a couple hours of air. At peak.
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11/21/2023 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Celebrating K (Chicago, IL): Wow -- an approachable bottle of LLC, and a late-release, single owner bottle to boot. Leather and red fruit, with a lovely delicacy that might as well be atypical for the estate. Earthy but clean, and tannins that aren't overbearing. Showing quite youthful as well. An excellent rendition.
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11/5/2023 - wineappellation Likes this wine: 95 Points
Neck level. Chateau reconditioned in 2017.
Beautifully matured with elegant aroma of perfumed violet, sandalwood, some undergrowth and herbaceous, dried red berries, blackberry, lovely arrays of sweet spices and cedary notes from wood all mingling perfectly with the deep graphite, tobacco, chocolatr and leathery charms that is as good as it gets. With just medium body and noticeable grainny tannin.
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9/30/2023 - spendergast Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine continues to evolve and is aging nicely. My last tasting was back in 2010 and the wine's profile has improved since then. Notes of blackberry, cherry, bramble, hint of crushed pepper. The tannins are soft and well integrated with long finish. Part of NV Leoville-Las Cases Collection Miroir Millesimes Secrets 6-pk Set. Paired with grilled bistro filets.
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6/22/2023 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Another ex-Chateau bottling. LLC is one of those producers that I always hear completely raved about and I always find myself thinking they are good and you can see the great wine making but I am not sure their style is completely in my wheelhouse. Still - this was one of those wines where it almost didn’t matter. Decanted for some period of time before we drank it which really helped. Drinking quite nicely. Well structured and very vibrant and just quite interesting and compelling.
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4/15/2023 - CarpeDiem! Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dense, expressive nose of cherries, cassis, ink, sous-bois and fine leather. Medium to full bodied, with subtle cassis, leather, exotic spices and toasty background. Perfectly matured and complex, this very elegant bottle provides much pleasure now, but can easily be had over another decade.
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3/30/2023 - Mascarello59 wrote:
A green and relatively weak vintage. Weaker fruit and more tannin.
Could be a flawed bottle considering other reviews here.
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3/15/2023 - Romz Likes this wine: 90 Points
15032023 - Khai’s Bday lunch celeb at Wun Nam. Special birth-year vintage bottle treat for the birthday boy.
Initial funk quickly replaced with a nose of dried fruit, plenty of of secondary & tertiary notes - dong quai, angelica roots, dried licorice and pencil shavings.
It is like walking into a traditional Chinese Medicine Hall from the 80’s. Surprisingly still energetic with mid+ acidity & resolved tannins. Clean palate with plenty of tertiary notes. Best to drink up now as it quickly declined within 30 mins in the glass.
Bottle popped 30 mins before lunch and served without a decanter
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3/9/2023 - Fftjr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep purple in color. Great nose. This wine is at its peak. Absolutely delicious. Will decant next for hour or so.
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3/9/2023 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 93 Points
Pop and pour. This needed about 15 min to open up. This is certainly in its prime with another decade left. This is in perfect harmony at the moment.
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10/14/2022 - Regina Likes this wine: 94 Points
Saturated cork. Opened two hours before serving and decanted for an hour. Light sediment. Surprisingly dark clear garnet in the glass. Intriguing woody nose.
Initial intensity broadens out into a sensual, poised, rich palate. Sigh of satisfaction.
There's no need to make up flavour-similies; this just tastes of genuine classical old-style claret. Which is really like nothing else. Gorgeous.
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8/12/2022 - AAF2012 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ex-chateau, recorked in 2014, perfect condition. Classic claret here: undergrowth, leather, black fruit, grippy tannins in the gums upon opening, nice acid. After 30-60 minute decant the tannins take backseat. Touch of sweetness at front of palate, and good acidity (but not out of balance) stands out at finish. Finesse and beauty, classic. Beautiful bouquet all night but especially first 2+ hours. After 2.5 hours in decanter nose nose and palate got a little plummy and jammy, clearly heading downhill, where fine wine all kinda converges as it goes downhill. But hey this almost 35 years old. I've got a few more bottles, if I can remember this note, decant for a bit but it has a ~2 hour expiry for max enjoyment.
Stating the obvious: drink up. This the 3rd of these that I've drank in last year or so from same ex-chateau case, all pretty similar. Great consistency.
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7/8/2022 - Radders12345 Likes this wine: 90 Points
BTG at 67PM
Looks pretty youthful in the glass. Nose wafts out of the glass (Zalto Bordeaux) - dried plum, cedar, old leather, mint, pipe tobacco, graphite, oolong - smells like a college library might have done in the 1950s (I’m guessing)
Palate dishes up the dried plum and some blackcurrant - fine tannins roll across the tongue - still some good crunch - this was initially quite lean but broadened out a smidge just as my glass was running out.
No upside here
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7/3/2022 - liber Likes this wine: 93 Points
34th of 36, opened an hour, soaked cork, level into neck, in line with July 19 bottle, neither stellar nor a dud, usual grace and class in this fine but not top vintage, decent fruit, nicely layered, acid lift but lacking roundness and volume of better vintages, no upside but no rush. F+ (18).
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5/21/2022 - winebuff037 Likes this wine: 94 Points
I was quite surprised by how youthful this bottle is (I only opened the bottle an hour prior). I had this with a bottle of 1995 Chateau Margaux (decanted for 3 hours). Medium-bodied and well balanced, a very elegant wine. In terms of color and taste, this outshines the Margaux.
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5/7/2022 - tanduybui Likes this wine: 91 Points
A very good wine from a difficult vintage. Still holding up very well and is very much in its drinking window. Need to decant 2hours prior to get maximum enjoyment.
Full of quite intense spice - cinnamon, cloves and white pepper, it has sinewy tannin with a refined backbone. On which one gets ripe currant, tobacco, cassis and a hint of menthol. A solid finish without any fireworks.
Drink now or 5+ years.
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5/3/2022 - Jsnelten Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great classical
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4/22/2022 - jacobg wrote: 94 Points
The 85 better
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3/27/2022 - Justinneal654 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Not sure how it gets better.
Beautiful nose that evolved over 4 hours in the decanter from funky to floral and soft.
Flavors are graphite and herbal with a tobacco leaf and well structured. Finish is luxurious and long. Nicely integrated that supported and was strengthened by the deep, fatty, rich beef of the tomahawk Ribeyes.
Acidity perfectly balanced and sliced the meat better than the cutco serrated steak knife.
Maybe it is not a 95, but if not, somebody please recommend a 95 point wine...
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7/29/2021 - ccn wrote: 91 Points
Great aromatic profile and strong tobacco notes. Somewhat muddy flavours - not as precise as some. From magnum. Still going strong and in long drinking window.
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4/29/2021 - glassofhans Likes this wine: 96 Points
Beautiful nose, floral, dark fruits, forest floor, strong notes of cab franc greenness coming through, almost mistook for right bank in a blind taste. It's a tough vintage, but highly recommended.
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4/21/2021 - plitton wrote:
Larry and Nancy's Bordeaux Dinner (University Club, Chicago): Olives and a little more vegetal than the 1998 that preceded it in the tasting. Slightly tannic. Delicate.
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4/8/2021 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Firm, classic, old-school styled wine with good concentration and a focus on its bright, crisp, herb and cedar accents. Better on the nose, with its peppery leaf, mint, cedar, tobacco and bright currant aromatics than on the crisp, sharp red berry and cranberry palate. The finish delivers a crunchy blast of red fruits, The wine is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. 12.75% ABV.
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3/26/2021 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Another one of our head to head Latour vs. Las Cases tasting events. This time, it was much too close to call. Up to this point, Latour has won most of the vintage comparison tastings that we have done. However, on this night LLC held its own against its first growth next door neighbor. Disclaimer: Served non-blind, both the Latour & Las Cases were decanted 1 hour prior. The Latour was purchased on-site from the Latour cellar directly in Pauillac and the LLC was sourced via local US retailer. The Latour wins hands down on the nose. I could smell it all night long without ever taking a sip. Sheer nobility with the classic Latour tension that I love so much once that tension is released in the glass. However, the LLC wins on taste and finish, especially the longer it sat in the glass. My guess is that ultimately the Latour is the better wine, but at this stage the LLC is more in its sweet spot and fully mature. If it were physically possible, I would love to taste the LLC exactly where it is today and the Latour in 5-8 more years of evolution. Nevertheless, it is always fun to taste these two side by side.
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2/1/2021 - Vinum Deorum wrote: 94 Points
Delicious and mature LLC. I have not tasted many 1988, but I have always been positively surprised by this vintage which remains in the shadow of the glorious 1989 and 1990. This is elegant, profound, and very finely balanced. The tanins have melted and are very supple. A very nice wine in any aspect, now fully mature. It does not have the depth or intensity of 1982 or 1986 LLC, but it is nevertheless very pleasant.
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12/13/2020 - Marc S wrote: 92 Points
- Garnet color. It's balanced and has flavours of raspberry and blackberry with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a medium finish - Great bottle of wine. This wine is ready to drink.
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11/10/2020 - Poisey wrote: 96 Points
Showing its stuff. Beautifully elegant with a long finish. Lots of bright red berries and lead pencil shavings. Structured with ample acidity. Balanced with a sturdy frame. Lots left in this 2nd growth. Love the elegant power of this Las Cases. Drink now-2030.
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10/24/2020 - cranker wrote:
SMA BCA FAMILY ROOM
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10/10/2020 - Wardyn wrote: 93 Points
The las cases 88 is still surprisingly fresh and vibrant for a 32 year old wine displaying aromatics of tobacco, cigar, bay leaves and cassis. Fine and vivid acidity on the entry followed by blue and red cassis fruits, spices, slate, leather, tobacco and drying tannins on the finish. This is still going strong and will last for several more years to come.
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10/7/2020 - Collector1855 wrote: 97 Points
During a blind tasting dinner. Wonderful nose of cigar box, tertiary Medoc aromas with earth and forest. Very precise and light on the palate with a classic touch of green peppers. I guessed Medoc 30 years old. This is another wonderful showing of this wine like the one's I had in the past. I think the 1988 LLC is one of the best wines of this vintage which I dont like that much. The wines are often too meager.
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10/6/2020 - dnnk88 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wine Night Commanderie @ GWC!: Black fruits, cigar box, truffles, earth, black tea notes and slightly green. Nicely matured Bordeaux. Good acidity and very lively. Quote: The late Michel Delon always thought that this was the greatest vintage he had produced. I would have to agree with that. One of my top 3 reds for the night (a tie with the Hosanna 2000). Open up!
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9/26/2020 - Ksquare wrote: 89 Points
This bottle won from auction was disappointing compared to the last bottle which was ex-chateau. Classic old bdx, blackberries, old leaves, some leather. Fruit is beginning to thin out while acid remains high. Improved with air.
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6/26/2020 - Marc C Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nez austère sur le cassis, le bois précieux des notes fumées, légèrement poivronnante sans que ce soit dérangeant. Je suis surpris par le peu d'évolution, c'est très jeune et l'aromatique n'a quasiment pas bougé en trois jours !
Bouche fidèle au nez, de la classe de la présence. L'acidité m'a paru parfaitement intégrée et confère une belle droiture au vin. La texture est jolie avec des tannins polis, légèrement présents.
Bonne finale sans être renversante du fait du manque d'expressivité malgré une bonne longueur.
C'est bien bâti mais en l'état je reste sur ma faim comparé au 85 et au 89. Il lui manque clairement la complexité aromatique et le délié qu'apporte l'évolution. A encaver pour les 20 ans des petits enfants nés en 2040 ?
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5/30/2020 - hargy Likes this wine: 92 Points
the last of my bottles and drunk alongside the 1994 - surprisingly similar but definitely the better of the two, the 1988 was lovely: certainly mature but complex and long and one of the best 1988's
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5/29/2020 - brianakrin wrote: 89 Points
a little rough around the edges/disjointed. a bit harsh and bitter. no real nose or trtiary.
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4/19/2020 - D'Yquembe Mutumbo wrote: 95 Points
Lucky enough to find another bottle of this beauty for a good price, I pulled the trigger and didn't wait long to open it up. What an absolutely elegant wine, fully mature at this time but showing no signs of slowing down, this has lovely balance between red and blue fruits and earthier tones. We let this decant for about an hour before drinking, and it got better over the course of the afternoon as the bouquet opened up started to show off its tertiary notes. This bottle is superior in every way to the 82 LLC that I had, which is going for more than double the price of what I paid for this 88 at auction. The choice between the 2 could not be more clear, as this is the best wine made at the estate in the 80s IMO.
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4/7/2020 - Grenik Likes this wine: 92 Points
Purchased in secondary market, but turned out to be in good condition. Visually presented as an aged wine, but I would not have guessed 80's. Nose was sweet cassis, dry pine, white pepper. A very well balanced wine with plenty of red and blue fruit, cedar, tobacco, along with moderate acidity and structure. My bottle was drinking great but felt a little flabby going into the finish. I would say drink now, but perfect bottles probably have many years left.
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1/2/2020 - dchain Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was fantastic from the first pour. Deep ruby still, looking young and fresh. Lovely nose of cassis, leather, touch of clove/honey. Ripe healthy fruit. Would be impossible to guess this as an 1988 if drunk blind as it was beautifully ripe and balanced. Medium bodied in a good way with lovely freshness but also plenty of crunchy fruit. Some tobacco and I felt it was quite a Pauilliac expression from Las Cases this year. Wonderful length and very uplifting and morish! Picked up at $125/bt at auction which was a screaming good buy for this drinking experience. Las Cases does take its time to come round and there is plenty of life left in well stored bottles. Fantastic!
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12/5/2019 - D'Yquembe Mutumbo wrote: 95 Points
Fantastic bottle tonight, cork was fully saturated but intact, capsule and bottle around the cork were a little powdery but this was fully mature and ready to go after an hour decant. Nose of smoked meats, leather, bell peppers, savory spices, cedar in an intoxicating bouquet. This wine was both rustic and elegant, hitting all the notes that makes Bordeaux lovers keep on coming back to this often fickle region for these wines, as there is nothing better when they are hitting on all cylinders IMO. If you can get this for under $200, go out and get it now, it's a fantastic wine.
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12/2/2019 - vvWine.ch Likes this wine: 91 Points
1988, Château Léoville Las Cases, Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, Frankreich. Mittleres Rubin, erste Reifetöne. Was für ein Nobles Bordeaux-Parfum, Zedernholz, Waldboden, Kräuter, Pfeffer, Leder, eine kleine Droge. Im Gaumen gradlinig und mit viel Präzision, mittelkräftig, mit feinen, noch immer prägenden Tanninen, diese umgarnen die rote Beerenfrucht, die Säure zieht diese im Abgang ausgesprochen lange hin, endet auf eine noble Alt-Bordeaux-Note. Nicht super dicht aber dennoch wunderbar aktuell. Bis 2030. 18 vvPunkte (91/100). vvWine.ch
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10/22/2019 - Anthony Vickers-Collins Likes this wine:
Drinking beautifully. Tertiary complexity but with plenty of fruit and structure remaining. Very memorable.
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10/15/2019 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 89 Points
'Size Matters': Berry Bros. Magnum Tasting (Berry Bros., Central, Hong Kong): Small pour from a magnum opened but not decanted for 2 hours. Dusky but clean and semi-transparent ruby. Nose is more open than the 1983 but quite austere except for lovely cedar but sullen fruit. Palate is similar rainy vintage austerity but in a linear way I am partial to. Much Less length and resonance than the 1983.
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7/5/2019 - liber Likes this wine: 93 Points
33rd of 36, decanted an hour, perfect level, partly travelled cork, neither stellar like my Feb 17 bottle nor a relative dud like June 18, fully mature with black fruit flavours tending to mulberry, usual class and complexity and greater persistence than length, nice acidity balancing rather dense earthy flavours, top wine in a good but not great vintage, no rush but no particular advantage in holding. F+ (18).
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5/6/2019 - Raizes Likes this wine: 91 Points
黑醋栗、李子、烟丝、甜香料、皮革和一些烤肉的香气。挺拔严肃的波尔多陈年风味，并没有非常复杂的层次呈现，但入口表现随着醒酒而愈发出色：质地圆熟，单宁平整，结构宽广。目前还处于壮年期，可以继续等待。
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4/5/2019 - WineAggregate Likes this wine: 94 Points
Among 5 top growth Bordos, this was just a bit off the rest. Level was low neck and the cork was a bit loose, but it didn't seem to affect the wine. Slightly lactic character which blew off, but beautiful rich plum aromas, a bit of vanilla and soft tannins. Fully mature.
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3/14/2019 - rgawlowski Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellently bLanced, great nose, depth. Finish not 100%.
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3/2/2019 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bardot Brasserie Léoville Las Cases Vertical Dinner (Las Vegas, NV): This deep red/garnet wine is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Classically structured, it is a full-bodied offering that delivers a package of dark plums, anise, tobacco, smoked meat, leather and dried herbs. Freshly acidic and with nicely integrated alcohol, it wraps its flavors with supple tannins and stays solid on the mid-palate. Finishing long and smooth, this well-cellared bottle is quite impressive. Comparably cellared specimens should show well for several more years. Drink now-2030.
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1/5/2019 - NickA Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good but lacked the fireworks I expected from a wine of this repute. Tannin and softness at perfect levels now but lacked complexity - on the way down? Gamey flavours, leather, some cocoa, meatiness - very savoury.
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11/16/2018 - CarpeDiem! Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dense, expressive nose of cherries, cassis, ink, sous-bois and fine leather. Medium to full bodied, with subtle cassis, leather, exotic spices and toasty background. Perfectly matured and complex, this very elegant bottle provides much pleasure now, but can easily be had over another decade.
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10/19/2018 - Ralph_ wrote: 87 Points
Semesterprobe Bordeaux 1988; 10/19/2018-10/21/2018 (Lamm Hebsack Remshalden): Magnum
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10/14/2018 - Tmoney018 Likes this wine: 98 Points
I actually opened this bottle 4 months ago but just posting now. This was one of the most full bodied powerful Bordeaux wines I’ve ever had. Every sip was absolutely full of blackberry, tobacco creme de cassis, hints of spices and truffles. This wine was not cheap but worth the money.
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10/5/2018 - Bobhelge wrote: 93 Points
Flint stone, dried meat, delicate bell pepper and also a bit syrah ish (like the Leoville Barton 88 in the same flight). This one was perhaps the most elegant of the three Saint-Juliens with nice concentration, multi layered, deep structure and good length.
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10/5/2018 - Torchy wrote: 89 Points
Team Vitis Fall Tasting 88/76; 10/5/2018-10/7/2018 (Tord): Round and comfortable nose with creme de cassis on the nose. Minerals. Not so powerful palate. Slender, light fruit with a taste of blackcurrant.
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9/1/2018 - ddamron wrote:
Over the hill.
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6/20/2018 - Eric Guido Likes this wine:
Joanne Bordeaux Trip 2018 (Bordeaux): (Limited Notes and no official scores, as this was blind tasting with Jean Hubert Delon.) The '88 was gorgeous in it's maturity; earthy, meaty with depths to spare. There was a bit of rusticity here, which came across as quite pleasing.
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6/7/2018 - Comte Flaneur wrote: 94 Points
Lead pencil, initially slightly more obtrusive tannins than the Barton, smooths out, more black fruits, perfect equilibrium, such a class act and a complete wine, this just edges out the Barton but it was a close call.
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6/7/2018 - SimonG wrote: 92 Points
88 Bordeaux @ La T (La Trompette, London): Relatively mute on the nose. A richness, rather than sweetness to the attack. Lots of interest here. Complexity. ****
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6/1/2018 - liber wrote: 88 Points
32nd of 36, decanted an hour, perfect cork and level, not corked but pronounced bottle stink which never entirely resolved even on half decanted into a half bottle and drunk the following night, drinkable but way off normal and especially my last bottle in Feb 17 which was the best yet and marked VF. This one just about VG (16).
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4/24/2018 - Two Winos Likes this wine: 91 Points
Glad I opened this one. I think it's on the decline. Drinks like classic Leoville Las Cases, but a little flat and showing the age.
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2/8/2018 - mattstolz11 Likes this wine: 92 Points
A really interesting wine. paired to braised beef seasoned with herbs de provence and the pairing worked really well, because they accentuated some interesting savory notes that were already present in the wine. dark red fruit, plenty of acidity, and enough smooth tannins to give it some backbone with a prominent and delicious kalamata olive and thyme note running through each mouthful. very much alive and in a great spot for drinking now, should probably open these by 2020.
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1/21/2018 - Blauweiss Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fantastic nose with cassis, fresh herbs, leather, still Young! Full bodied, with loads of cassis, very rich with tannin that require food. Red and dark berries on the palate, balanced, rich and long, great stuff!
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10/8/2017 - christ80 wrote: flawed
oxidised - undrinkable
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9/24/2017 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Weekend at Magog; 9/22/2017-9/25/2017 (Magog, Quebec): Very dark red color. Decanted 1 hour, drank 2 glasses over 90 minutes. Ever mindful that there are no good wines, only good bottles; today's bottle was a striking example of that. The change from the pretty, yet more austere bottles yesterday, to todays flashy little gem. A treat to drink this again today at lunch. This bottle was simply beautiful, displaying bright berry fruit, soft silky tannins, leather, cedarbox and forest floor with a more perfume nose. The was in a perfect place, elegant, bright, but fully resolved and nuanced, witha long finish. 94+ to 95pts today.
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9/24/2017 - Collector1855 wrote: 97 Points
Another wonderful showing of this bottle. Still deep color. Wonderful Medoc nose of earth, dark fruit, pine, cedar, incredibly sophisticated. Medium bodied palate with mature tannins. Great texture, long finish. Text book Claret.
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9/23/2017 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Weekend at Magog; 9/22/2017-9/25/2017 (Magog, Quebec): Medium plus dark red color, 2mm clear margin. PNP, drank several glasses over 2 hours from 2 different 750ml bottles. Starts off with cedar and fine wood notes, dried forest floor, reticent cherry in the background, lovely mint, sauvage later and minerals. The palate is mature, medium body, not entirely austere, but steering that way. Mushrooms, cedar, dried cherry fruit, dusty fine grain tannins, smoked meat, elegant, earthy and medium on the finish. A very nice wine that is mature, ready to go and will not likely get better. As some others have noted, the structure is there to age, but the fruit can not support it. Pretty now, take advantage. 92+pts.
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7/28/2017 - Old Vino Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is really impressive. Not as profound as the '86 vintage but it provides tons of drinking pleasure for bordeaux lovers.
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7/4/2017 - oboeurenius wrote: 94 Points
It's been a to hour journey, where the wine has develop from good to excelent. Dark burgundy coulor. Balanced palate with wet wood, smoke, black berries, cherries, tobacco, and a secondery nose of sweetness that is difficult to catch, in direction of vannilla and caramell. A fruity taste with pepper in the finnish. Medium body with a long aftertaste. Integrated tannins. Very good wine.
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6/29/2017 - MC wrote:
Took 90+minutes, and closer to 2 hours, to really open up, but this is just classic Bordeaux and really enjoyable to drink with and without food. I wish it didn't take 30+ years from LLC to come around, but when it does it is really good. Should try this vs. the '89 some time. A-
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6/13/2017 - Blake Brown wrote: flawed
corked
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4/16/2017 - cfk49 wrote: 91 Points
Difficult to rate this wine -- it provided pleasure and had typical las Cases cherry and vanilla fruit, but it was a brut and lacked finesse. Cellared since original release.
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4/9/2017 - Chaochao Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still lively and spritely. Deep garnet. Very well balanced but not soft. Tannins are still there and give a gentle grip on the palette making the wine feel fresh despite its complexity. Beautiful nose of mushrooms, dark chocolate and rich berries. Great length and good depth. Very very enjoyable now. Have not enjoyed a Bordeaux this much in long while.
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4/1/2017 - Kepos Likes this wine: 96 Points
opened 2 hrs before drinking, wine was super smooth, balanced, deep and very long, in summary a perfect bottle. I do not think that this will get a lot better
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3/29/2017 - Herb K wrote:
Drank beautifully. Smooth, mature yet still has some residual fruit.
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2/19/2017 - jdesimone4 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened about 30-60 minutes before drinking and was very good. Smooth but with some complexity. Was still quite nice 3 hours in
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2/11/2017 - Der Weingelehrte wrote: 93 Points
Pretty wine - developed and showing its age well.
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2/6/2017 - WineTally Likes this wine:
A(ccuracy)=2: Mid neck fill; intact moist cork; Medium deep garnet, just hint of amber in rim; distinct, focused casis, cigar box nose.
B(alance) =3: Excellent harmony, though still surprisingly firm and tight.
C(omplexity)=2: Just entering tertiary; multidimensional but not quite layered.
D(epth) =2: Supple, even, medium length and lasting finish.
WineTally Score [2,3,2,2]=9/10
[https://www.facebook.com/WineTally/]
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2/3/2017 - liber Likes this wine: 96 Points
31st of 36, decanted 90 minutes, perfect cork and level, sensational bottle, much more weight of fruit and purity than previous bottles giving even more pleasure to what has always been a fine complex and classy wine, no austerity or angularity here, plenty of life yet! VF (18.5).
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11/7/2016 - liber Likes this wine: 90 Points
30th of 36, decanted 15 minutes, perfect level but travel fully up cork, not as convincing as bottle noted 6/15, multi layered, but muted and diminished drive, just a touch odd so hopefully a one off. still VGI (17).
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10/30/2016 - kwarning8@gmail.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted and drank with classic cedar and tannins to start but 30 min later opened up with good Saint-Julien fruit. Double decant my next bottle.
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7/28/2016 - Remony wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Slow to unfurl, but very high quality once it had decided to show its all. Next time, needs double decanting several hours before drinking. Old-fashioned LLC austerity with cedar initially, combining later with sweetness and fine tannins. Lascases as it should be -- uncompromising and authoritative. A neglected vintage, better than 1989 IMO for this wine and for Latour.
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7/18/2016 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for two hours. Classic bordeaux with tobacco, licorice, soil, iron, graphite and blood. Palate was smoothe with good amount of fruit and some secondary character. Drinking at its peak.
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5/14/2016 - alecoot Likes this wine: 99 Points
Willows Inn. Fabulous.
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5/9/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Leoville Las Cases Tasting and Dinner (Knightsbridge - Northbrook IL): enjoyable fruit, moderately mature, but with more pronounced structure than the fruit can support. Tannins really dominate middle to finish. Enjoyable.
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4/29/2016 - RyanJames Likes this wine: 91 Points
No slouch at 28, and a really classic, if not austere, rendition of this really terrific claret. Lots of tobacco leaf, some vegetal notes, very pure cassis and some dustiness. Super elegant on the palate with good acid, beautiful mouthfeel, and a fairly long finish. A little less concentrated then I would prefer, but this is still really good now and probably for the next 5 years, but certainly at its peak.
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4/16/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
Ready to drink, for people that enjoy a certain firmness and austerity and acidic touch to the juicy cassis, tobacco and cedar filled, Left Bank wine.
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3/28/2016 - MarcelloW Likes this wine: 91 Points
Elegant and ripe. Earth, tobacco, blackberry with some medicinal touch. Drink now.
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3/5/2016 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Opened and decanted for >3 hours. In the beginning wasn't sure that the wine was going to come around but it really did. Nose of earth, mushrooms, maybe a bit of forest floor. Raspberry, soft, lovely. Some cigar box. Nice long finish. Good wine.
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1/16/2016 - MEKWINE Likes this wine: 94 Points
LLC dinner at 10 Greek Street. It is beautifully elegant and complex, but lacks the density and concentration of the 1982.
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1/10/2016 - steinersing wrote: 89 Points
slightly green notes, but still showing well
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1/1/2016 - Lype Likes this wine: 92 Points
Full bodied and powerful albeit an -88, spices, chocolate, orange peel, very good.
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12/29/2015 - dchoo077 wrote: 92 Points
PnP. The wine started a bit austere but evened out with an hour of air. Presented in a very classical style, the wine was well balanced with good freshness and finely grained tannins. Tannic spine still rather prominent. It's currently in the sweet spot of having the complexity of a range of tertiary characteristics while still having just enough fruit to keep things enjoyable. At peak now but I wouldn't hold on too much longer to this as the fruit is starting to fade.
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12/27/2015 - Outplaying wrote:
Fairly primary still with just shades of mushroom accenting the darker toned fruit. While not extremely complex, I enjoyed it.
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12/25/2015 - cephomer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank a glass from my coravin. Mature nose of black fruit, tobacco and coffee. Blackberry fruit still evident, along with notes of cigar box, spice and forest floor. Still good acidity. Tertiary elements dominate this wine now, but not particularly well-structured as I'd expect from this great wine. Tannins are soft and mostly resolved. Still an enjoyable wine, if not particularly stellar. Drink now or soon
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11/20/2015 - Collector1855 wrote: 98 Points
During a LLC tasting dinner with ex chateau bottles, hosted by Directeur General Pierre Graffeuille, double decanted. TN: This was clearly the WOTN. It started with the nose. So incredibly complex, so clean and fresh, amazing for at 30 year old wine. Dark fruit intermixed with a very interesting medicinal touch, pine, anise. People of the tasting could not get enough of it. Medium bodied palate with great freshness and soft tannins.
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10/23/2015 - Zweder Likes this wine: 93 Points
Occasional dinner group; TOP Bordeaux 1988: Luxurious and mature bouquet with dark and some red forest fruits, cigar box, coffee and some graphite. On the palate dark and red forest fruits, sweet spices, graphite and some ok bell pepper. Beautifully fresh acidity and soft tannin with still a good bite. Exclusive wine with still several years of future. Until 2019?. 93+ for tonight.
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9/12/2015 - maranoli Likes this wine: 95 Points
From Imperial. Uncorked 12 hours before drinking and decanted 30 minutes prior to serving. Classic mature bordeaux with a powerful nose. Deep red almost purple colour and good fruit still evident. Gentle tannins suggest the wine has further to run. A delicious bottle of wine.
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9/6/2015 - harmonusik wrote:
Parker: 92. This wine shows brilliantly. It shows moderate tannins but the fruit is sweet. Overall impression: very symmetrical, classic Medoc.
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7/24/2015 - MC wrote:
Great fill. Decanted 30 minutes and drank over the next hour. Very nice wine, showing nice secondaries and was great with food. A little light in the mid-palate is the only thing to pick at but this is nice, mature Bordeaux that should hold for a while. A-
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7/16/2015 - Yagil wrote: 88 Points
Wine-Septet meeting hosted by Yair (Hotel Montefiore restaurant): uncorked 2 hours prior to drinking
I am generally not a big fan of this vintage, i find most wines have lost a good deal of whatever fruit was there, to remain rather tannic and dried out.
Nevertheless this Las Cases expressed a very good Saint Julien aroma.
On the palate it lacked the complexity and structure which this wine has in better vintages.
Perhaps earlier opening and decanting could improve my impression.
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6/13/2015 - Comte Flaneur wrote: 95 Points
Another superb bottle. Compared to my last note in mid-Feb this goes up a notch because of the vibrancy of the fruit, the wine is vibrant and engaging unlike a lot of 1988s which are flagging. This wine has an exquisite ashtray and cigar box entry, but the mid-palate fruit is really singing. And the tannins are mercifully and soothingly resolved. This wine had good tension and typicite as you would expect but the stern tannins have beaten a dignified retreat. This is mature claret right out of the very top drawer.
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6/12/2015 - liber Likes this wine: 95 Points
29 th of 36, decanted 60 minutes - much better bottle than my February note and back to peak form, just how balanced and nuanced was brought out by comparison with Barton 88 which although more impressive in mid palate weight of fruit simply lacked multi layered dimension and persistence of this Las Cases. Very fine (18.5/20).
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3/28/2015 - MEKWINE Likes this wine: 97 Points
A svelte, refined and elegant wine; refinement rather than power. Notes of tobacco and freshly tilled earth.
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2/16/2015 - Comte Flaneur wrote: 94 Points
Fully resolved and in a perfect place it is dominated by notes of tobacco and freshly tilled earth. On the palate it is wonderfully svelte in a medium-bodied format. It is clear that 1988 is a vintage, which in general won't make old bones, so this is a Lascases that you can pop and pour with enormous pleasure. The fruit is there but it just takes a back seat to the secondary/tertiary flavour profile. For those who complain that Lascases is never ready to drink this and the 1985 are the wines to show what It is all about. This is a lot cheaper than the 1985 and probably in the top five wines of the vintage.
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2/14/2015 - liber Likes this wine: 90 Points
28th of 36, hour decanted, perfect fill, notes mostly fine or better (cf my June 2013 note) - this bottle not up to usual run, somehow diminished and fruit just fading a little, not a patch on next night's GPL 89. At best very good indeed (17/20).
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2/14/2015 - MEKWINE Likes this wine: 95 Points
We popped and poured, and from the get-go the nose and palate were classic LLC: tobacco, earthy - freshly ploughed fields earthiness - perfectly resolved tannins, elegant mid-length finish.
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1/24/2015 - MC wrote:
Top shoulder/base neck. Run up to top of cork. Decanted an hour. This was good, elegant with a decent but short finish. Good food wine but would be drinking now. Remaining bottles have better fill levels. B+/A-
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1/17/2015 - hargy wrote: 90 Points
delicious and one of the best 1988's I have tasted with just enough fruit to support the tannins - now fully mature so drink soon
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11/9/2014 - MC wrote:
Popped and poured at room temperature. Very nice, and even better with 30 minutes of air. Dark, cool fruit. Solid nose. Lighter in style but very nice balance and was great with food. Should hold but in a great spot now. A-
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11/2/2014 - Jpg1111 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good wine, balanced, but doesn't show the age.
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10/28/2014 - bon vivant wrote:
I am generally not a big fan of this vintage, i find most wines have lost a good deal of whatever fruit was there, to remain rather tannic and dried out. That said the LLC showing this evening was very pleasing. after 7 hrs of slow ox and a double decant this quickly showed mature fruit notes with clean flavors. Surprisingly approachable and with good grip on the back end of the flavor profile. Not a monumental LLC but one that is soft pleasing and ready to drink. This should be good for another 5 = years if not more. Modern, polished and got even better over the evening. one of the first bottles to be polished off -always a good sign.
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10/11/2014 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Regular dinner group (@ EM): Beautiful and mature bouquet with some pleasant barnyard, smoke and tobacco. On the palate everything beautifully integrated, still some red and black forest fruits, fresh acidity and tannin with still a light bite. Completely ready now and no real hurry.
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7/13/2014 - EhrlichDY Likes this wine: 93 Points
Slow oxygenated for 10 hours. Excellent showing for this wine. Cedar, leather, earthy Bordeaux nose. Mature palate with notes of pepper, tobacco, and cherry all melded together. I say this wine is at peak but like most LLC will hold for years.
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6/13/2014 - Lilja Likes this wine:
This bottle seemed quite mature when looking at the other recent tasting notes here. The cork had soaked almost all the way through and it's a wonder we got it out in one piece. But still a stunning wine!
Nose is full of Bordeaux. Cedar, pencil shavings, yellow bell pepper, newly cut grass, and mature fruit.
Quite light body, but with a superb concentration. Distinct acidity and a quite dry, astringent finish. The wine just keeps going and takes forever to fade out.
Not enough time with the wine to score, and possibly an early matured bottle.
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6/7/2014 - Wine_lvr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bordeaux 1988 Horizontal Tasting: Tasting note to follow
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6/5/2014 - Ericsson wrote: 89 Points
Bordal chez Jean (Bordeaux '88 surtout) (Geneva): Couleur grenat moyen, bords orangés. Nez discret même après une aération prolongée. Notes de poivrons typiques du millésime. En bouche, le vin est de constitution moyenne, la matière est un peu fluide. L'acidité est aussi marquée. Finale moyennement longue.
#4
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2/15/2014 - pepmi wrote: 92 Points
A wonderfully drinking wine. Decanted for 45 minute before serving. Dark garnet with just faint signs of age at the edges. An ethereal bouquet of tobacco, dark cedar, clean, damp moss and a hint of blackberry in the background. Totally balanced with a long, deep finish.
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2/1/2014 - CyroW wrote: 94 Points
Decanted one and half hour.. This wine needs time to open up and deliver its goodies!
Lovely, vibrant tannins are layered and sweet. Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc are both great... Very very nice!
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1/25/2014 - Geoff Likes this wine: 94 Points
Magnum, resting in my cellar since release. Immaculate bottle, low neck fill, cork we'll saturated. 2 hour decant. Dark garnet color. Nose of sweet dark and red fruit. Multilayered secondary nuances. More of same on the palate with some oak, smoke. Smooth, tannins resolved. Everything in balance. Long finish. Delightful wine.
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12/24/2013 - Dubie wrote: 87 Points
Not my type of wine. Too much stem / green on the palate. Vintage problem
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11/19/2013 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
1988 Red Bordeaux, with Richard Brazier (Handford Wines, London): Dark red in colour. Light touches of brown but really not a colour for a 25yr old wine (an 88 vintage hallmark) Open on the nose, peppery, youthful in a way but very classic nose, light fruit and no signs of any secondary elements. On the palate it has a proper weight of fruit across. Still it is in a way a backward wine as the fruit is not very giving. In general it gave a charmless feel… Feels like a good wine in hiding and we hope the future would be brighter for it… Forget for 5 yrs and this has a lot of life to go post that. 91-92 for now.
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11/19/2013 - rossi.wine wrote: 93 Points
My WOTN. Wonderful dark colour, hardly any sign of age. Quite spicy on the nose, herbal, forest floor, tobacco, red fruit. Still quite tannic, good character of fruit, spicy, fresh, again a little lean, but much more elegant, round and almost silky in comparison with pretty much any other wine of tonight's tasting. Pretty long finish. Good future given the colour, grip and tannins. 93+
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10/13/2013 - mwanasheria wrote: 92 Points
Elegant Las Cases with silky tannins, dried fruit, plums, tobacco, earth. Great.
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9/23/2013 - ilee wrote: 95 Points
Typhoon Usagi Survivors' Dinner with VK, TH and PH (At home): Wow. My first time drinking the 1988 vintage, but not my first time finding out that Leoville Las-Cases made a string of outstanding, classic wines in the 1980s. Bright notes of fruit intermingled with spring flowers, minerals, iron and hints of tar on the nose. Plush and expansive on the palate, there is a beautiful complexity to this wine that really gives off class. There is a faint herbaceous note which sometimes crops up in the less-than-stellar vintages from the 80s and early 90s, but otherwise this really is a terrific wine that seems at its peak of drinkability.
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6/30/2013 - punter wrote: 94 Points
Nose of sour cherry, cedar, mild funk, wet leaves and feint tar and tobacco on the pour of a 4 hour decant. First taste - tightly wrapped flavors, sweet but chewy tannins and slight mid to back palate astringency, aftertaste fine. 20 minutes of glass time gave layers of rich, juicy blackberry and four fruits jam, cassis, roast plum, graphite and wet stone with sweet, well-integrated tannins. Continued to become more well-defined throughout the bottle - a superb year for Las Cases. Although not the deepest or longest Leoville, it is drinking beautifully, given lots of air and patience with glass time. Many years remaining.
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6/22/2013 - Aenie wrote: 93 Points
nearly to ready , i think 3 years is try again , smell is good , terror , black current, cassis , in mounth is yummy , aftertaste is long , good finish
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6/16/2013 - liber Likes this wine: 93 Points
First bottle from third case, mature colur with some development on rim, not too dark, classy structure on nose and palate with secondary flavours now dominant, cedar, graphite, some leather overlaying blackcurrant fruit, medium full on palate, persistent, excellent grip and balance should ensure long life, just lacks the generosity of better vintage and hopefully a more involving bouquet, like the 62, will develop with time. Fine plus (18/20).
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4/8/2013 - godx wrote: 92 Points
La Commanderie de Bordeaux à Vancouver - 1988 Horizontal (Boneta): Not as expressive as the Mouton. Shyer nose but did open up after a few minutes in the glass. Fresher nose with beautiful graphite, tobacco and darker fruits. Hints of bell pepper too. Rich dark fruit and very well structured on the palate. Showing extremely youthfully on the palate with firm and hard tannins and a drying sensation on the finish. This was quite different compared to the others in the flight as this was firmer and more masculine. Needs time. Excellent. 92+
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4/8/2013 - MattTM wrote:
La Commanderie de Bordeaux: 1988 Horizontal (Boneta Restaurant - Vancouver, BC): Tasted blind. Great nose with tons of graphite and cedar upfront, followed by rich black cherry, cassis, and a touch of fresh mint. Plenty more lead pencil on the palate, along with rich black cherry, leather, spicy black pepper, asphalt, mint, raspberry, with a touch of green bell pepper. Lots of acidity, with a long length finish ending on notes of leather and black cherry. This was showing very youthful, with lots of underlying structure and hard tannins. There's a nice richness to the fruit here. No debating that this was left bank in my mind...reminded me of LLC so that was my best guess. Every once in a while you nail it. Fantastic.
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3/24/2013 - mwanasheria Likes this wine: 93 Points
A fully mature claret, round and complete as it is supposed to be. Nose of tobacco, earth. On the palate silky, elegant, leather, earth.
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3/21/2013 - affordableCollector wrote: 90 Points
orange, red, in color. dark berry, pepper, spice, earth, cedar, on the palate. cedar, pepper, earth, black currant, blackberry, on the palate. medium acid, light to medium tannins on the finish.
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3/21/2013 - europat55 wrote: 92 Points
1988 Cabernet Retrospective, Part 2 (Tom's house in Palo Alto, California): Gorgeous nose and palate. The finish is a little bit thin, but still flavorful. Nose faded away after 30+ minutes in the glass.
My #1, Group's #2 (44 pts) Tasted blind and correctly guessed as Bordeaux.
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3/3/2013 - fatboi Likes this wine: 90 Points
medium bodied. definitely more alive in comparison to the bottle we had back in 2010. really went well blackberries some currants also. lasted longer this time.
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2/23/2013 - vinole wrote: 91 Points
S FL WS Group tastes 1988 Bordeaux (and others) (Jupiter, FL): Blackberry and currant fruit, with medium body and acidity, and graphite notes on the nose and finish. A nice enough wine, but a little disappointing given its pedigree.
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12/29/2012 - Jeck wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 2hours . Dark color , blackberry nose , long finish .
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12/20/2012 - paulst Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light earthy herbaceous nose; blackberry; tannins not fully developed and not fully integrated; acidity a bit too noticeable; round and soft and elegant but needs time.
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11/11/2012 - stiang wrote: 88 Points
Veldig slank og tight stil. Typisk 1988.
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10/12/2012 - paulst wrote: 92 Points
Light nose of place; decent texture and light fruit with a nice coarse character.
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10/2/2012 - paulst wrote: 90 Points
Sweet earthy blackberry nose; a bit watered and lean on the mid palate; light blackberry fruit with a rather sweet finish; tannins were a bit astringent suggesting the 2 hr decant was not enough.
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9/29/2012 - Julia7ich wrote: 95 Points
Dark ruby with a garnet rim. Roasted oak and toast with hints of cedar, leather and plum in the background. Cool, firm graphite frame and nicely integrated tannins build the frame for rich fruit that is highlighted by appetizing acid. Long classy finish.
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9/25/2012 - Mascalese wrote: 94 Points
- Ruby color and aromas of blackberry. It's in total harmony and has flavours of vanilla, oak and hazelnut with a medium/full body. Satin-Like texture with a long finish - Clean as a wistle. What a treat tompop a box of 24 old wine from a not great year and find such perfect harmonic beatybof a wine. And this worry on CT about Bordeaux getting to old ... Marvelous.
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9/21/2012 - rexmerlot wrote: 92 Points
Clear purple in colour, with some brick showing on the edges. Clean nose of currents, cedar, and leather. Dry, med acidity, med body, red current, raspberry, cedar, and leather on palate. med finish. Great wine. Love bordeaux wines with some age. so many levels to the wine, that I don't feel I am able to describe everything I smell and taste.
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9/9/2012 - Wine_lvr wrote: 94 Points
Clear intensive red, some rust at the edges. Rasperry, chocolate nose. Elegant and long finish with hints of sweetness and well integrated acidity. Decant for at least one hour. Great wine now and will last until at least 2025.
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6/29/2012 - jdesimone4 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for about an hour. Very smooth but not complex. Got better over time but not amazing
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5/13/2012 - johnh1001 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted and drank over 3 hours. A very pretty nose of red fruit, some iron notes and leather. The nose was not huge, but present for sure. The palate matched with a clean silky texture, nice acidity, integrated tannin but with a somewhat shallow mid palate. For me, this did not get noticeably better with air, maybe slightly. In a good place right now, but will clearly hold for several years.
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4/4/2012 - G_H Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very good but you can feel the 'edgyness' of 1988. This has still some very strong tannin and in a way is a bit rough. We decanted it for 30 minutes but it could have used 2 hours easily. Ripe fruit, forest floor, wet wood. Very nice but not yet at it's peak.
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3/10/2012 - punter wrote: 95 Points
Snug but fully saturated cork; lilac, peat and currants on decant - 3 hour decant - glass nose: cedar, roasted blackberry jam, fresh cedar, light pencil and feint menthol and some quickly fading funk. Clear, med-dark color; no bricking. Sweet, nearly fully integrated tannis pull together the layers of dark berry, cassis, light black jam, cedar, and feint oak with roast plum through a med-long finish; all drenched the palate and became increasingly defined, rich and juicy while drinking the bottle. In a prime drinking window that should last, as is, for another 4-5 years. This classic Bordeaux is spectacular.
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3/8/2012 - InVinjeVeritas wrote: 95 Points
Very good classic claret. Seems to be at peak or around.
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2/7/2012 - gunpwdr wrote: 84 Points
Right out of the bottle (and a 55 degree fridge), this LLC's fragrant nose gives off soy-tinged dried flowers, sweet currants, plums, tobacco leaf, eucalyptus, and pencil lead. On the palate, the attack shows tart currants and puckering acidity that lasts throughout. Transition to and through the mid-palate is seamless... with fine grained tannins kicking in then giving way to a long, lithe finish where dried flowers, more bright red berries linger. General impression is that of an aged but dense Bordeaux that is very acidic on the palate and without a whole lot of fruit.
Hours later, the nose is much the same but the wine, in its warmer state, comes off a little darker and less acidic on the palate. The tannins are front and center at this point with the acidity riding right behind it. The fruit however, is still quite lightweight overall and doesn't pull its weight relative to the other elements. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hoping for more and while the nose was wonderful, the rest didn't quite add up to the experience of other reviewers. My bottle was simply good and no more than that.
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12/19/2011 - Anthony Lombardi wrote:
Four guys, four wines; 12/19/2011-12/20/2011 (Seattle, WA): Dark maroon with a touch of bricking around the rim. The nose was very shy at first, but opened nicely in around 45 minutes to show dark fruits along with earthiness and tobacco. Still quite full bodied, and it shows some pleasantly surprising red fruit as the nose led me to believe this would show some darker elements. This has a spicy green pepper element running through the mid palate. This is not for everyone, but it is something that while in balance, I really enjoy in Cab based wines. Still showing some nice acids, but tannins have mostly resolved. Very soft mouthfeel. Good showing.
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12/3/2011 - Schiffy wrote: 94 Points
Terrific, complex wine that still has rich dark fruit with strong hints of tobacco, leather and smoke. Impressed how smooth and velvet-like the wine drank. Everything with this wine was integrated and delicious...a real treat.
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9/25/2011 - cephomer wrote: 80 Points
I love this wine! You can therefore imagine my disappointment when upon opening and sipping this from magnum, the wine had faded considerably. The bordeaux nose was still there and its color, though a bit brown around the edges, still looked good. Upon tasting the wine, however, most of its fruit had dissipated. A real shame! If you have this wine, time to drink up!
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8/18/2011 - Peppe wrote:
Grouse shoot with Stefano
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8/18/2011 - Peppe wrote:
Grouse shoot with Stefano.
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8/17/2011 - french16 wrote:
What a nice bottle. Classic nose but maybe more Pauillac than St Julien with lavender, violet, cigar box. some bell pepper and a rich cassis. Pretty similar on the palate, slightly grainy texture, elegant. Rich without being very powerful. Really good.
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7/10/2011 - Fateful Destiny Likes this wine: 94 Points
Rated as the favorite in the group, the Las Cases displayed dark fruits, smoke, and oak on the nose which gave way to a palate with a slight tinge of acidity and well integrated tannins. The wine is drinking very well, but the fruit has begun to give way suggesting that it has peaked. Moderate finish, but a great overall wine.
http://www.beyondthemargin.net/2011/07/global-standards-of-excellence-in-wine.html
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7/10/2011 - drjb wrote: 92 Points
Very good wine but the fruit appears to have begun declining. Excellent balance and length with some herbaceous character reflecting the cool year. Opened overnight suggesting double decanting would be of value.
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5/4/2011 - MattTM wrote:
Château Léoville Las Cases Back Vintage Dinner (Chambar Restaurant, Vancouver, BC): Elegant nose of pencil shavings, spice, cherry, fig, and soil. had a bit of funk present at first which blew off with some air. Graceful, focused palate dominated by cherry, along with more earth, plum, asphalt, cigar leaf, tobacco, and a touch of mint. Very well integrated, with soft tannins. Medium+ finish, ending with tart cherry and mint. This is in a good spot right now and is drinking very well.
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4/25/2011 - agebob wrote: 96 Points
The cork crumbled when we opened the bottle and it was double decanted to remove as much cork as possible. Fortunately, the wine was excellent. Beautiful nose hinting at both the fruit and earth. This still taste young and should last for some time. Excellent fruit; dark cherries, currants and strawberry melded with tobacco, cigar box and earthy flavors revealing the terroir. Silky and consistent tannins. Complex, it improved with time in the glass.
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3/26/2011 - Fatty Cat wrote: 98 Points
Late Mar 2011: rubin red color; intense aromas/flavors of chocolate, coffee, black and red currant, noble wood and some cherry; noble cassis flavored coffee beans on the palate; well-integrated tannins; medium/full body; round texture.
The quintessential Claret: outstanding, mature.
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2/25/2011 - SimonG wrote:
Shama's LLC Offline (The Square, London): Again, quite a leafy herbaceous nose. Reasonably high acidity with restrained fruit. Very 88. Classic food wine. Uncompromising, take it or leave it sort of wine. I like it. Developing nicely with air. Something endearing about this. Lovely. ****
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1/1/2011 - kenmmm Likes this wine: 97 Points
Perfect timing. silky and smooth, bacon fat and earth on the nose; olives, soil, bright cherry, red fruit, wonderful light toast on back. Subperb!
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12/21/2010 - Remony wrote: 93 Points
.................. wrong again! (I expected this to be the least satisfying of a trio of 1995, 1996 and 1988 LLCs opened this week. But it is delicious, better in my view than the '95.) Not decanted, but given 3 hours out of cellar at room temp. Wet cork all the way up, but no deterioration in the wine. Old-fashioned metal capsule has done its job well (not lead but heavier than modern capsules). Initially rather old-winey on nose and palate, slightly musty and gamey. But this blew off, leaving a sweet rounded wine, good black fruits, even a hint of the sweetness of over-ripe blackberries shining with gossamer after the first frost. No harsh tannins, no 1988 hardness, a really enjoyable wine; needs drinking in next few years. My memory is failing -- we opened six of these back in August with a very similar note. A very fine 1988.
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12/11/2010 - Hazeo wrote: 92 Points
A lovely aged bordeaux, with all the tobacco, leather you'd want. The fruit however seemed subdued perhaps its on its way down. Regal but not exceptional.
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9/15/2010 - mwanasheria wrote: 93 Points
Cherries, nicely balanced, good structure and acidity.
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9/9/2010 - ronlite wrote: 93 Points
Excellent, drinking well, wish I had more
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8/16/2010 - Remony wrote: 93 Points
Opened six bottles for dinner at the Burgoyne with the Donnersmark party. All were in excellent shape, levels base neck at worst. One had a loose cork, but the capsule had kept the wine in good condition. Decanted for three hours. Nose mellow. Not a trace of the 1988 hardness or bricky sharpness of other medocs (Lafite for example). Tannins completely resolved. Lovely sweet rounded wine, not profound but very satisfying. A hint of old winey taste. Excellent with roast grouse. Remaining six bottles should be drunk in next 3-5 years.
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8/2/2010 - Rinaldo Piemonte wrote: 94 Points
Fantastic '88; "the best '88' I've ever had said a very experience Bordeaux tasting friend
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7/16/2010 - fclarity wrote: 92 Points
This bottle was purchased on release and was in perfect condition. The red/purple center and the light red rims suggested that this wine still had plenty of time. The nose was full of red currents, herbs, and forest floor scents.
In the mouth, the wine was very light and didn't show much body at first. This, again, is another wine that needs at least 2 hours of air to really show its beauty. As it aired, the herbs in the nose receded into the background and were replaced by red fruits. In the mouth the rounded tannins grew to provide an impressive mid palate and a long finish. A lovely wine that is coming into its prime. It can be imbibed now (with decanting) but should last an additional two decades.
In short, it might be described as a "classic" Bordeaux as opposed to wines from the hot years.
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7/7/2010 - clementwolf wrote: 92 Points
Opened and decanted for an hour. Good nose of blackberries, tobacco and herbs. Smooth on the palate and well structured. Drink now.
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5/30/2010 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
Paired with the Pichon-Lalande 1988 (again). Masculine, needs some time to open up, powerful and structured, slightly austere and tannic.
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4/15/2010 - spendergast wrote: 90 Points
A solid mature bordeaux - very smooth and refined but the fruit seemed a bit underwhelming. Decanted 45 minutes but would probably have been better to drink right away.
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4/2/2010 - IAMVLAD wrote: 87 Points
beautiful nose followed by a wine that should have been consumed 4-5 years ago.
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3/14/2010 - fatboi wrote: 86 Points
Nothing jumped out about this wine but that's what made it enjoyable. the wine had great structure. had hints of berries. very light and perfect with the food we had.
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2/17/2010 - brooklynguy wrote:
now THIS makes me understand what Bordeaux used to be and why people spent so much money. fresh and pure, but very much secondary, with aromas and flavors of tobacco and leather, some dark cassis fruit on the finish. the wine is nowhere near tired, but i do think it is basically resolved and ready to drink. just delicious wine, a real treat.
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1/31/2010 - lastone wrote: 94 Points
Strength and balance; time in hand.
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12/31/2009 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Paired with Pichon-Lalande 1988. The Pauillac is more like a Saint-Julien and vice versa. Masculine, Cabernet, depth, athletic, lead pencil, cedar, very good but not as fascinating as the Pichon.
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12/10/2009 - wineismylife wrote: 95 Points
thirsty man does Dallas (Suze in Dallas, TX): WIML95
Tasted December 10, 2009 at an offline.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of briar patch, tobacco, saddle soap, black berries, black cherries and a dash of dried herbs. Flavors of black berries, black cherries, plums and a bit of currants. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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11/23/2009 - jpijg wrote: 94 Points
Nose : blackcurrent, earth, graphite and tobacco. In the mouth, the wine is very concentrated with very pure, very well defined aromas.Tannins are powerful but velevty but nor vegetal neither woody unpleasant hints. The wine is also beautifully balanced. 1988 has a reputation for having produced tannic and coarse wine. This is a perfect example of great claret. Maturation has taken time, but the wine is now perfect to drink and can probably last some time.
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11/21/2009 - dschneersohn wrote: 88 Points
White Truffle dinner at Chez Patrick Sun Street (Chez Patrick Restaurant Sun Street. Hong Kong): It had all the recognizable characteristics of this great wine, very typical St Julien especially on the nose, so fragrant and approachable right away. As I wrote, we probably did not do it justice having had 6 bottles prior to this one, and it really was top quality. From what I remember, raspberry was definitely something very pleasant that came at first, still nice and long after taste for this wine that probably still has at least 10 years or more of superb showing.
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11/19/2009 - LWI wrote: 87 Points
Bordeaux Verticals (Oslo): Very deep color, but also some browning. Mushroom nose. Moderate body, slightly short. A touch of black currant. Actually, a bit disappointing.
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11/13/2009 - Roughl wrote: 93 Points
The breeders (Halle): This wine is peaking or maybe peaked a year or two ago. still vibrant and fresh. Whatever people may say about bordeaux (overpriced, overhyped, over...), Las Cases has produced masterpieces the last couple of decades, that can only be rivaled by the best winemakers around the globe. The elegance, relative power, and balance of this wine is extraordinary, considering the vintage. I wish I had more of this (certainly at the price paid at that time). Although this was extraordinary the 1994 Las Cases drank side by side impressed me more, although other people at the table preferred this (more tertiary 1988.
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11/7/2009 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 93 Points
Marine Room Leoville Las Cases Vertical Dinner (Marine Room Restaurant, La Jolla, CA): Decanted and serially tasted after approximately two hours. Deep-to-opaque garnet robe. Moderately intense nose showing black and red fruit elements (black currants and cranberries) along with bramble/garrigue aromas. Full-bodied on the palate, with medium, slightly dry tannins and flavors similar to the nose. The middle palate is full and the finish long, albeit a bit dusty. This is a nicely structured, "classic-styled" Bordeaux which is likely on plateau. Drink now-12/20.
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8/19/2009 - JJL wrote: 91 Points
Drank after the '88 Cos and this was relative monster. Much better balance, some spice to go with the dark fruits. Nothing like '82 or '85, but a good drinker anyways.
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6/16/2009 - winenuts wrote: 93 Points
Elegant, smooth, ligth nose of herbs,gentle, howeve, it needs to decant for at least 2-3 hours before drinking then becomes nicer and better. A good one for drink right now.
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5/30/2009 - Burgaddict wrote: 93 Points
Leiden dinner May 2009: Elegant, balanced, ripe, smooth. Nose some black fruit. Taste: black fruit, pencil lead. Long aftertaste. Beautifull.
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2/1/2009 - Stefanos T. wrote: 92 Points
Beautifull mature Bordeaux, very typical, smooth with pronounced acidity.
To drink up.
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1/23/2009 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 94 Points
Masculine, rich but dry, powerful, iron and gravel, spices and blackcurrants, cool, amazing depth, lead pencil, great style and class. Personifies Saint-Julien and 1988.
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1/15/2009 - BFG wrote: 89 Points
While not wildly aromatic, the nose has hints of rich black fruit. The palate achieves a nice balance of fruit, acid, and resolved tannins, although the finish is quite short. A very pleasurable, classic claret.
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1/1/2009 - KSC02 wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Garnet red in color with some lightening at the edges. Aromas of black currant, black cherry and smoke with secondaries of earth and leather. Silky, medium-full bodied, mouth feel followed by a long finish.
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12/10/2008 - dwmcubed wrote:
You bring 'em - we'll drink 'em (Fayette Street Grille): Bob Hughes leaned across the table and said "graphite" when describing the nose - I agree. Mouth-filling flavors of red cherries, road tar and leaves with acidity and very present tannins - wonderfully lithe mouthfeel belies the obvious power of this. Just a great bottle of wine. When taking a few bottles out of my inventory after getting home - I noticed I brought this wine to the same venue a few years ago to a memorable dinner we had in honor of David's beloved dog, Atlas - it's wonderfully fitting that David would bring this same wine tonight and it showed so well. WOTN
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11/3/2008 - swyang wrote: 93 Points
gorgeous wine. red brick color, ample nose of tobacco, leather, autumn leaves, and a core of dark fruit still remaining in the back end.
On the palate, surprisingly light and airy, and medium body, which to me is more attractive. It had all the qualities of a grand Bordeaux with
a beautiful silky texture. A surprise indeed.
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9/9/2008 - BordeauxNut wrote: 94 Points
Bud Starr's September Tasting (Bud Starr's Clayton, MO): Very round, ripe, and lush -- just a bit of heat too -- a California-styled Bordeaux, which took me to Leoville Las Cases. Some black walnut again. Lots of Cabernet fruit on the nose with some leafy scents. Greenish but at the same time very lush in the mouth. A good showing for 1988 here. A good package overall -- but maybe just a bit foursquare.
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7/22/2008 - dadizele wrote: 90 Points
Tasted blind between a set of other reds, mainly italian
Still concentrated with obvious lighter rim.
Very strong lead pencil on the nose. Shouts old Medoc after one sniff.
Evolves over time and add more grafite, roasted coffee-bean like notes
Taste is a mix of satin, Bordeaux elegance but with power and length that demonstrated the quality of the wine.
Assumed Pauillac
PS: also tasted this evening was Angelus 93. Had surprising cabernet nose but was clearly lighter, a little diluted compared to the las cases. Quality shows in the comparison.
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6/14/2008 - Degs wrote: 92 Points
Slightly surprised when this turned up in a mixed case I bought from BBR - perhaps I shouldn't have been on account of ordering the said mixed case half-cut, and also splashing out on a couple of lesser vintage Haut-Brions. This is why I should not be allowed to use the internet unsupervised. But, after dealing with the financial irresponsibilty, this was pretty delicious and a worthy starter for my brand new Riedel Sommelier Black Tie bordeaux glass. Lots of age and maturity, lovely on the nose, left me wanting more.
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4/30/2008 - ColinR wrote: 94 Points
Deep garnet, brown at rim; intense tar, black currants, plums, wood smoke, damp earth; restrained ripe berry, cherry, medium-full body, good acidity, firm tannins, long finish.
Decanted 1 hr. Mature yet youthful. A concentrated, complex nose, sexy palate and seriously long finish. Drinking well now and for another decade. Delicious with t-bone. WOTY.
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3/11/2008 - DTWOB wrote: 90 Points
Business dinner at Michael Mina's, Bellagio - The wine steward's recommendation. Everyone enjoyed this wine. Classic French Brodeaux - great nose, nice color and clarity, a waterfall of flavors on the nose and palate with rounded tannins and balanced acidity and alcohol. The finish lasted forever. A great collector, but ready for consumption now.
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2/16/2008 - wineismylife wrote: 94 Points
KSC02 does Dallas, Part 2 (Daniele Osteria, Dallas, TX): WIML94. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of thistle, smoke and rich dark fruits. Flavors of black cheries, a hint of dark currants and some juicy plum. Medium acidity and tannins, medium to full bodied. Good balance here. Drink or hold.
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11/4/2007 - IAMVLAD wrote: 86 Points
typical 1988 bordeaux. austere, not an overabundance of fruit.
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6/30/2007 - honest bob wrote: 94 Points
Fantastic purity in scent (cedar, tobacco, blackcurrant), taste (sour cherry, blackcurrant, cedar) and delicious aftertaste. No Blockbuster, but the most perfectly rounded wine. Layered taste reminiscent of 1970 Castillo Ygay, but finer. 94P
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2/17/2007 - cortoncharlie wrote: 93 Points
Classic mature claret in peak drinking. Not a powerhouse but very pleasant. Decanted for 1.5 hours.
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1/6/2007 - jkoenen wrote: 86 Points
Bordeaux 1989 (and the rest...) @ Peter V. (Netherlands): Earth. Candy shop, slightly lean. Good, not great. 15.5/20
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12/3/2006 - Roughl wrote: 92 Points
Serious bordeaux (as in very good, but not very sexy). Very young and fresh considering the vintage. Nose upon opening cherry, leather, herbs, earth, even some licorice; after an hour or so very strong lead pencil, after 2/3 hours, mokka and coffee aromas, after 4/5 hours meaty aromas. Lovely! This wine is perfect right now, but can surely be cellared for another 5 years.
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11/11/2006 - Surfer714 wrote:
nice fruit with some tannins present. Enjoyed the bottle
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10/11/2006 - toddjerry wrote: 92 Points
Dark garnett color, no hints of any bricking. Still young and fresh. Classic bordeaux, currants, smoke, cedar, but clean and nice integrated tannins. Very tasty, drinking well now, may not get better but will be good for another decade.
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9/18/2006 - Dixie_F wrote: 92 Points
This was great. Leathery, spicey, mineraly. Nice fruit. Soft. Complex and subtle next to the 95 Las Cases we drank it with. By the end of a 3 hour meal it was still (In my opinion if not my brothers) holding it's own against the 95. Although it was very close.
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8/27/2006 - KenK wrote: 91 Points
Chicago's Best Bordeaux Tasting Ever? (Ken's Home): Tight, but with more swirling got black cherry, mineral and some earthy notes.
A nice wine with good acid level and fruit, but a touch lean in the middle. Maybe not showing its best?
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8/26/2006 - winefool wrote: 94 Points
Great Wines of Bordeaux dinner (Ken Kailin's): Blind. Full bright crimson red. Big aroma of acidic red fruit with huge green pepper notes. Spicy big bold black fruit on the palate. Drinking well now.
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7/29/2006 - Tubbs wrote: 95 Points
Traveling Methuselah's (The Murray's!): This offered a classic nose of cedar, pencil lead, earth and dark fruits. The palate was delicate, very smooth... sexy even. A classic Las Cases with tons of cedar, fruit and a long smooth finish. Fantastic balance. I simply loved this wine.
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7/10/2006 - bevetroppo wrote: 90 Points
Tasted blind at Jim's. The wine had been decanted and open for several hours. I had the last glass. No mistaking its origins. Fading to the rim, distinctive nose of lead pencil, currant and cedar. Fruit receding and a little dusty, the tannins were seemingly outrunning the fruit. I guessed '88 Cos d'Estournel, though I was going back and forth with Ducru in my mind. This vintage is quite true to its reputation.
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7/2/2006 - The Wine Bum wrote:
Wonderful Claret, easily the best 1988 I've had. This has everything you could ask for in a mature Left Banker. Persistent but not extreme fruit, wonderful cedary palate that is intense yet fresh, lovely terroir notes form this great classed vineyard and typical St Julien seductiveness. All that wine should be and the perfect drink for Sunday lunch with friends.
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7/1/2006 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Southern Nights #1 (@ PVa): Classical and complex bouquet with cassis, vanilla, licorice and laurel. Same on the palate, firm acidity, tannin and bitterness. The wine will improve with more ageing.
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4/29/2006 - 1800kidney wrote: 94 Points
Weekend in Boca Grande; 4/27/2006-4/29/2006 (Gasparilla Island): Decanted as both bottles were served. Terrrific experience, great fruits and balance, opened up nicely, and thoroughly enjoyable. Really elegant wine
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3/11/2006 - toddjerry wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for about an hour, initially had a little must on the finish which quickly blew off. The color is still bright ruby red with no hint of any decay, looked pretty similar to 2000 David Arthur in the glass. Tasty fruit upfront, unexpected for an 18-year old Bordeaux. Multiple layers of earthy complexity follow leading to a long, interesting and enjoyable finish. It got better and better in the glass, as more fruit was revealed. Truly outstanding example of great bordeaux. It can age for another 15-20 years, but why wait.
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1/13/2006 - MauriceE wrote: 92 Points
Very rich wine, deep, dark red fruit. The finish was a little bitter.
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12/15/2005 - Tao wrote: 95 Points
I admire this wine, the wine-maker is an intellectual, tasting much better than the others 1988, and fatter of course, a round and mellow palate, the nose is just absolutely right, will provide enjoyment for over the next 2 decades! I believe it is still a bargain for a 1988 red Bordeaux!
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10/14/2005 - burningstarIV wrote:
Badly corked.
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4/9/2005 - DrDave wrote: 94 Points
At Union Square Cafe with Victor Hong for an impromptu dinner at the bar area. Very dark and opaque in the glass. Classic Bordeaux nose giving off tobacco and cedar. Dense palate of cedar, espresso, dark berries, hints of chocolate and some tobacco leaf. Superb finish. Silky elegant texture.Tannins are holding the wine together but harmoniously. Acidiy in fine balance, Hit all the right buttons and married itself surprisingly well to the seared foie gras and not so supprisingly to the succulent lamb chops done to perfection. A real treat and a truly elegant claret as one would have expected from this producer
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12/26/2004 - Tubbs wrote: 97 Points
I was a bit concerned as this started out somewhat hollow and one dimensional. However, after 30 minutes of decanting this blossomed into a magnificent experience. Cedar, pencil, tobacco, black cherry, and spicey wet stones... bliss! What a fantastic wine! Everything in balance - this is classic Las Cases. I have to say this beat the 88 Latour hands down!
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3/3/2004 - PaulH wrote: 92 Points
The color was remarkably young-looking: still purple-red with very little thinning at the edge. Big nose of northern Medoc smoke and tobacco; very complex and no off-odors. On the palate, there is a some dusty fruit and a medium-light body. Tannins are fully resolved although noticable and a bit dry on the smooth finish. This isn't the most extracted or complex Bordeaux you will ever drink, but it is drinking quite well now, and I would expect that it will easily last for 10+ years.
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9/29/2003 - tendring wrote:
The nose starts with fruit and then gets vegetal.
Soft tannins, fruity (cherries), clean.
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6/7/2003 - Joe Belmaati wrote: 92 Points
Dark red. Scents of dark berries. A weird "wet and moist" character blew off quickly. This is a bit herbal, almost vegetal in flavour profile. Time really helped this wine that ended up being really nice and attractive after a shaky start.
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5/21/2003 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
3rd of 6, lovely mountain tea nose with cassis and dark fruit, more of the same on the palate, very rich and open and lovely to drink, will improve for two more years, shows it's pedigree, medium body and medium/long finish.
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1/26/2003 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 92 Points
Bottle taken from my personal cellar, brought to the Superbowl wine and food extravaganza at the home of Amy Weinberg. The wine was double-decanted approximately 90 minutes prior to leaving for the party. Deep garnet in color, with a reddish/orange rim. Clean nose, showing dried herbs, cassis, plum and cigar aromas. Medium-bodied on the palate, with tannins which have largely melted. Similar flavors as for the nose. Long, smooth finish.
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2/15/2002 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 91 Points
Bright disc, with deep red robe and orange rim. Clean, moderately-intense nose showing cedar/herbal notes superimposed on a core of red fruit. Medium-bodied on the palate, with ample but supple tannins. Long finish.
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1/20/2002 - Henman wrote:
Elegant and soft nose,earth and truffels.Dense palate,cedar and cassis.
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12/1/2001 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($100) The Mann's '88 Blowout: Cinnamon and soap nose. Sharp acids, decent fruit but somewhat simple. Others liked this more than I.
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8/6/2001 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - Classed Growth night (Darling Mills, Glebe): Mid brick red. Lovely rich aromas, mixing blackcurrant fruit, with some developing aging qualities. Some cedar, certainly. The wine is still quite tannic - I’d be picky by saying the fruit is fading a little ahead of the tannins. Possibly the wine is a bit in-between - I think there’s still some development & complexity left to come. But still, a very good wine.
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6/16/1995 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 91 Points
Deep ruby, red rim. Moderately intense nose of ripe plums and currants. Medium body, with similar flavors. Medium, supple tannins. Medium, smooth finish. Quite enjoyable now, but still closed-in. Needs time.
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