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| | Vintage | 1998 |  Label 1 of 733 
 | | Type | Red | | Producer | Château Léoville Las Cases (web) | | Variety | Red Bordeaux Blend | | Designation | n/a | | Vineyard | n/a | | Country | France | | Region | Bordeaux | | SubRegion | Médoc | | Appellation | St. Julien | | UPC Code(s) | 000000359054, 0198172000086, 087000346253, 1000000000211, 3258691135779, 370027462885, 400006759009, 5050713084496, 649944072355, 753604062133, 870952007163 |
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 92.6 pts. and median of 93 pts. in 263 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by bon vivant on 1/21/2024 & rated 93 points: Very different from the 1989 we had SBS with this tonight. A bit muted and closed upon opening but with a sold core of stuffing so this went through a good 2.5-3 hr decant before consumption which was a good start. At that point I found it more approachable then the 1995 we had in late December. Overall a solid bottle with red and black fruit and nicely developed secondary scents and flavors, cigar box cedar and tobacco and Autumn leafs, leather all with a good medium body and an old school style Bordeaux which kept getting better with the last sip several hrs later the most enjoyable. A bit more roundness and plushness would have brought this into the league of the better vintages, but a nice effort nonetheless for a though year in the left bank. A good bet for current consumption and relative value. (1196 views) | | | Tasted by spendergast on 1/7/2024 & rated 95 points: An elegant wine with notes of black raspberry, cassis, cedar and graphite. Tannins are well integrated and this wine has a nice mouthfeel and long finish. Still youthful. Paired with grilled sirloin steaks. (1086 views) | | | Tasted by djhammond on 12/28/2023 & rated 95 points: Although a few hours of decanting is needed, this is unusually forward for the estate. Taste profile is as per previous note. (1207 views) | | | Tasted by wineton.mee on 12/28/2023 & rated 92 points: Palate fatigue kind of hit me by this bottle. I remember this as a very correct left bank, with plenty of fruit, not criminally young to drink but definitely youthful, and rather polished and poised. Now thinking back, these were classic indicators of Las Cases in an average vintage. (1122 views) | | | Tasted by melvinyeowq on 12/26/2023 & rated 92 points: Boxing day at Caroline's: Didn't realise I had this a couple of times before, but guessed at least got the ballpark of the vintage right this time as I thought it to be from the late '90s/early '00s. Slightly more modern and unready than the previous two experiences, dark cassis and blackcurrant fruit. Didn't really move me. (1467 views) | | | Tasted by spjt01@aol.com on 12/26/2023 & rated 92 points: Tannins still firm -still developing with a hard finish. (629 views) | | | Tasted by Tao on 12/26/2023 & rated 95 points: Sleeping in my wine fridge for more than two decades! Decant it for about an hour, dark ruby colour, strong aroma of cedarwood cabinet, spicy, sweet nutty black fruits! The palate is deep, rich, slightly tight, and a little spicy! The journey had just begun with at least more than two decades to go! Definitely a great classic. (588 views) | | | Tasted by AJCowen on 12/17/2023 & rated 98 points: This needed every bit of 6 hours of decanting. Once it opened, beautiful balance of structure, acid and cassis. Wine is in a perfect drinking window right now. Just give it plenty of time to breathe. (665 views) | | | Tasted by Collector1855 on 12/6/2023 flawed bottle: Lots of prunes and cooked fruit on the nose, overripe with a touch of oxidation. Not sure it was a representative bottle. I am very very sensitive to this in a Bordeaux and since overripness/oxidation is not something that wine makers seek in this region, I always consider it a flaw. (1498 views) | | | Tasted by Rbhan12 on 12/3/2023 & rated 93 points: Nose a bit quiet but only open about an hour or so. I get nice dark fruits minerality. Aged leather. Lovely palate. Integrated dark fruits, cedar, sweet leather. Long finish. 93 (875 views) | | | Tasted by F1NUT on 11/15/2023 & rated 80 points: Bottle was not flawed (I know cork taint and Brett) but the wine seemed very tired. A lot of cigar box and fine leather with very little fruit. Any fruit was nondescript and lacking berry type characteristics - perhaps if anything tasting of oxidation. From other notes I suspect this bottle was not cellared well and it was also in my view a mistake to serve it with cheese which didn't help the wine show any of its remaining merit. I'm scoring it nonetheless as researchers need to be aware that not all bottles come out of the cellar in perfect condition. (866 views) | | | Tasted by jviz on 9/23/2023 & rated 94 points: As left bank Bordeaux goes, this was pretty classic and for me, emblematic of the vintage which always shows a tiny bit of volatile acidity and ballpoint pen/inkwell nuances. It is dark fruited with blackberry and black currant without any roasted notes and remains in excellent balance. This could go another 5 to 10 years with ease but the tannins are melted and supple now. (1626 views) | | | Tasted by Brian Glas on 7/1/2023 flawed bottle: Sadly corked. I still got some decent fruit and this would have been outstanding if not flawed. Why they still use cork is beyond me. Screw cap or diam would be better (1865 views) | | | Tasted by 3daywinereview.com on 6/30/2023 flawed bottle: Sadly corked. (1798 views) | | | Tasted by Luckey on 6/23/2023 & rated 93 points: Paired with tenderloin filet and mushrooms, with about 1 hr of decanting. Completed head to head with ‘98 Lynch Bages, and the Lynch Bages was the clear winner this night. The nose on the Las Cases was completely absent for the first 30 minutes of decanting, after which it began to open up beautifully. The mouth was dominated by tertiary flavors, with little remaining fruit. It was a fine wine that stood up well to the dinner and didn’t require excess decanting time, but it would have been better remembered if it didn’t have competition. At half the price (current auction prices) of the Las Cases, I’m hunting for Lynch Bages for this vintage. (1730 views) | | | Tasted by Eriklainen on 5/29/2023: I forgot I had this before and couldn't resist. But judging from my last record this bottled had fared better. Does all tricks in the aged Bordeaux-book and leaves you content, if not flabbergasted. (1784 views) | | | Tasted by djhammond on 2/16/2023 & rated 95 points: Unusually forward for a Las Cases, with the tannin already tamed, this is already drinking superbly with a couple of hours in the decanter to blow off some initial greenness. 1998 really belonged to the right bank in Bordeaux, but Las Cases was one of the few left bank highlights. Taste profile is as per previous notes, and this should stay at this level for at least another decade. (2490 views) | | | Tasted by Sticks62 on 1/8/2023 & rated 94 points: Ok (2003 views) | | | Tasted by liber on 12/10/2022 & rated 93 points: 8th of 12, decanted an hour, perfect cork and level, bit more monolithic and tight than January's outstanding bottle, all the right elements and usual LLC class, upside yet, 20+ years. F+ (18). (2237 views) | | | Tasted by mighl on 10/17/2022 & rated 95 points: Excellent balance with a beautiful nose. Drinking well right now. (2518 views) | | | Tasted by melvinyeowq on 9/24/2022 & rated 93 points: Felix's birthday celebration: Only had a small taste of this. Incredibly pure and vibrant fruit for a weaker vintage. Tasted much younger than it actually was, and I thought this was from a stronger year like 2005. EDIT: Just realised I had this wine before and had very similar impressions. Also guessed a warm vintage the last time but on this occasion the greenness wasn't apparent. (2962 views) | | | Tasted by Philip67 on 7/31/2022 & rated 94 points: Classic Bordeaux palate and nose. Elegance and depth, great balance of fruit and structure. Given this is Las Cases I had expected the structure to be more prominent but this had a surprising amount of fruit (damson and blueberry) that was able to carry the structure and give a lot of pleasure today. Long and complex, can drink now and will last for another 20 years. (2368 views) | | | Tasted by Ben Christiansen on 6/15/2022: Beautiful black currant fruit to the nose with a touch of a savory. More on the savory right now, but still going strong and delicious. Lower alcohol and no harsh tannins.
In Bordeaux, the tannins are not covered by sweetness.
In the end of 1998 it was rainy. But its beautiful to drink now and doesn't show a crumbling tannic structure or fading away. Going strong now I am being told. He notes it could go another 10 - 15 years. All their wines are built to age slowly. (2481 views) | | | Tasted by Eriklainen on 5/19/2022: Big nose and it’s all there - cassis, graphite and cedar. But the fruit is thinning and both alcohol and acid is starting to poke out. Watery at the end this bottle was sourced from the chateau 2017. I wouldn’t keep this any longer. And I would have food with it (2287 views) | | | Tasted by jacobg on 4/23/2022 & rated 95 points: Drink in 5-10 years (1997 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, June 2023 (6/1/2023)
(Château Léoville-Las-Cases St Julien Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (1/12/2021)
(Château Léoville Las Cases St.-Julien, Red, France) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, December 2018 (12/1/2018)
(Château Léoville-Las-Cases St Julien Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jane Anson
Decanter, LLC Vertical (11/17/2018)
(Château Léoville-Las Cases, St-Julien, Bordeaux, France, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, Bordeaux Overflow (10/15/2018)
(Leoville Las Cases Red) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Neal Martin
Vinous, A Century of Bordeaux: The Eights (May 2018) (5/18/2018)
(Léoville Las-cases Léoville Las Cases Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Hemming, MW
JancisRobinson.com (9/4/2017)
(Ch Léoville Las Cases St-Julien Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, August 2012 (8/1/2012)
(Château Léoville-Las-Cases St Julien Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2000, IWC Issue #90
(Chateau Leoville Las Cases Saint Julien) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 1999, IWC Issue #84
(Chateau Leoville Las Cases Saint Julien) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, August 2012
(Château Léoville-Las-Cases (St Julien)) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Winedoctor and JamesSuckling.com and Decanter and JebDunnuck.com and Vinous and JancisRobinson.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Château Léoville Las Cases Producer website - Read more about Chateau Leoville Las Cases
A visit to Leoville Las Cases -https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/08/leoville-du-marquis-de-las-cases.htmlRed Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanMédoc Vins du Médoc (Conseil des Vins du Médoc) - Read More about the Medoc
VdB
The eight precisely defined appellations of the whole of the Médoc (from Blanquefort Brook to the north of the Bordeaux built-up area, almost to the Pointe de Grave) may claim the Médoc appellation. But there is also a specific territory in the north of the peninsula which produces exclusively wines with this appellation. In the great majority, the Médocs come from the north of the peninsula. The great individuality of this region is that the number of vines has increased more recently here than elsewhere, apart from a few isolated spots where vines have grown for many years. Today, the size of the small estate has brought about the development of a powerful co-operative movement. Four co-operatives out of five belong to the group called Unimédoc which ensures aging, bottling and marketing a large proportion of their wines.St. Julien VdB
Read more detailed information on St. Julien and its wines The seventeenth century pioneers Traces are to be found of a Saint-Julien de Rintrac, perhaps Saint-Julien's earliest name, as from the thirteenth century. But we have to wait until the seventeenth century pioneers, urban and rural aristocrats, discover the exceptional merits of these terroirs.
Traces of this system still exist today in the structure of estates within the appellation: by the side of the two villages of Beychevelle and Saint-Julien, the large estates are heavily preponderant, representing more than four fifths of the total surface of vineyards.
The terrain is practically identical over all the commune. Only the proximity of the estuary, sometimes close, sometimes further away, can cause slight variations in climate. In fact, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle's layer of gravel takes the form of a huge rectangle over 3 miles long and 2 miles wide. And the alluvial deposits are particularly well fragmented into ridges of Garonne gravel of the early Quaternary. Accordingly, the vines are safeguarded from stagnant water.
The wines from the Saint-Julien appellation may be recognized by their unparalleled bouquet, particularly harmonious and mild. They have a fine deep colour and combine the finesse of their aromas and a solid constitution. They have body, are very rich in flavour and have a delicious and delicate bouquet.
Production conditions (Decree dated November 14, 1936)
In order to have the right to the Saint-Julien appellation of controlled origin, red wines must:
- come from the commune of Saint-Julien and from precisely defined parcels in the communes of Cussac, and Saint-Laurent, "excluding the parcels situated on recent alluvium and sand on impermeable subsoils",
- satisfy precise production conditions: grape-varieties (Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet-Franc, Carmenère, Merlot Noir, Petit Verdot, Cot or Malbec), minimum of sugar (178 grammes - 6.27 oz. - per litre of must) degree (an acquired 10°5) base yield (45 hectolitres per hectare). |
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