20 Vintages of Château Léoville Las Cases

Tasted Friday, January 11, 2013 by LWI with 1,263 views

Flight 1 (4 Notes)

  • 1945 Château Léoville Las Cases 97 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

    Although mid-shoulder fill this one had surprisingly much red, fine long brim, meat juice and forest floor on the nose, and – surprisingly – some mint as well, complex; very clear fruit, tannins still lively. Long, complex, and intense wine.

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  • 1959 Château Léoville Las Cases 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

    Powerful and warm smell, almost exotic, some plums; warm in the mouth as well, and plums/dried fruit, tannins still there, good complexity. Perhaps a tad unfocussed, compared to the 45 and 61.

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  • 1955 Château Léoville Las Cases Flawed

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

    Ox

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  • 1961 Château Léoville Las Cases 96 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

    Fine long brim; A little spicy, an initial hint of bullion blew off; red berry fruit, complex, slim and long – intense and complex in the mouth. Clear fruit.

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Flight 2 (4 Notes)

Flight 3 (4 Notes)

Flight 4 (4 Notes)

Flight 5 (4 Notes)

  • 1982 Château Léoville Las Cases 96 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

    Deep fruit, minerals/crushed stones and tobacco on the nose; warm and long in the mouth, fine tannic finish. Good fruit, wonderful combination of tobacco and black fruit balanced with fine acidity.

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  • 1985 Château Léoville Las Cases 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

    Very good balance and fruit, complex, almost peacock tail finish, structured, some sweetness, a tad short?

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  • 1986 Château Léoville Las Cases 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

    Meaty, more developed than another recent bottle. Complex, tobacco, intense and long . Promising, rating for now.

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  • 1989 Château Léoville Las Cases 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

    Mineral-driven with a fine fruit core, some complexity, a bit closed?

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Flight 6 (3 Notes)

Flight 7 (4 Notes)

  • 1990 Château Léoville Las Cases 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

    Most balanced, complex and rich, very fine fruit core, promising indeed.

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  • 1994 Château Léoville Las Cases 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

    A big surprise, concentrated and mineral driven, some green though, a hint of mint, black currants.

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  • 1985 Château Léoville Las Cases 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

    A bit shut down, metal and fruit, but blossoms in the glass, black currants and minerals in the mouth as well. After about 1 hour this was an open and wonderful claret.

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  • 1998 Château Léoville Las Cases 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

    Appeared somewhat closed, but wonderful black fruit and bonfire smoke on the nose; the mouth does not deliver completely what the nose promised, albeit a fine finish.

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Flight 8 (3 Notes)

  • 2003 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    For a 03 this had decent acidity, some botrytis, and even complexity. Young, of course.

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  • 1990 Château Rieussec 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Heavy and rich, caramel, some freshness though, some complexity. A monumental wine, but not cloying.

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  • 1990 Château de Fargues 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Caramel, something burned, rich, but still elegance in there. A bit less complex and playful compared to its heralded sister.

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Closing

We got lucky (mostly) with the older bottles, once again. Summary across vintages: Las Cases is a surprisingly powerful and tannic wine which rightfully deserves its second growth status (surprise!), but not quite up there with the first growths. The 1982 was less warm than other 1982s. After decanting the 1982 is drinking well, but from 1986 (which holds great promise, no lack of fruit there) onwards, more cellaring is needed, at least according to my taste.

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