On the lean, green side, with more of its focus on its cedar, tobacco leaf, mint, herb, and peppery side, than on the bright red currants with touches of cranberries. Medium-bodied, and perched on the edge of sweet, spicy, earthy, herbal, and tart, this is past its prime and in its slow decline. Drink from 2024-2028.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a perfect looking bottle with base neck fill. The cork was soaked through. Amazing color and clarity. Fabulous balance and purity of dark fruit with loads of coffee, tobacco, graphite and cigar smoke. Somewhat compact, but awesome freshness, and expressiveness. Drank over two hours, and this was steady the entire time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a high-fill bottle, looks youthful in the glass - dense. Great nose with lots of cedar, ash and graphite and a bit of funk. Little watery in the mouth but ripe and sweet still. The palate never matches the nose. Good but not great. No hurry to drink though, it didn't fade over 2hrs. 93pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Amazingly fresh for a wine of this age. Lovely quino LLC notes. Lacks concentration but so enjoyable nonetheless. A treat to have the opportunity to drink it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 1961 Leoville Las Cases is absolutely delicious, full of sweet, succulent raspberry, cherry confit, and Darjeeling. The palate is sapid and lush, atypically for Las Cases, and the cardamom notes which emerge in the mouth really do complete this lovely wine. This is decidedly better than the last bottle from the same case.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On the classic, firm, restrained side of the style range, the wine is better on the tobacco, cigar box, cedar, lead pencil and bright-red, spicy nose than on the medium-bodied, cranberry and cherry, earthy, leafy, palate. This is not a wine to hold for more development.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
61s at 61 (Bourbon Steak, Aventura, Florida): Does Léoville Las Cases ever become fully mature? Well eventually it does but you have to wait a few eons. Yet even at age 61 this LLC is no where near its deathbed. Very dark ruby, no rust, the darkest shade of any bottle on the table. Really impressive depth and concentration with a pleasant top note of mint. As usual with Léoville Las Cases, even at this advanced age it’s stern and not especially subtle or variegated so it’s more about thrust and power than sheer beauty. Still there is much to admire even if you don’t fall in love.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Estate bottled and in excellent condition. Classic deep smokey, tobacco nose. Although the tannin and concentration of fruit has now faded, the wonderful complexity of this wine still holds up - and so alluringly silky. Perhaps now starting to become an echo of its former glory.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
6 hours aeration before drinking. Good condition, still have red and purple fruits primary aroma. Lots of tertiary like tobacco, cigar, smoke, earth, game, little leather and forest. Acidity is ok but tannin is medium-. and tannin level is dropping off quickly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
ATW brought to Pick-the-Pardons award lunch. Decanted at the table, and had been open 20 minutes before I got a taste. Garnet-plum color, quite transparent at the edge. Amazingly fresh nose of blackcurrant, pencil lead, and dried herbs. All of that came through on the palate, in a harmonious symphony. Just wonderful! ATW arrives with this, and departs with the award: a bottle of 'Success', Trump's eaux-de-toilette. Not a fair trade.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pleasantly supple, sweet plummy and blueberry-driven fruit, mineral, and a touch of pencil and cep. Not as giving or generous as you might think from a 61, but it is LLC after all. Missing the delineation and intensity of the best 61s, or the best vintages of LLC, but undeniably an enjoyable mature claret.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
negociant bottling (de Luze & Fils), as was still common at the time, level uppermost shoulder, cork a bit short by modern standards, distinct brown tinge as would be expected at nearly 60, fantastic nose, fine, complex but really intense and still with powerful fruit, just lovely, palate just so fine but also with great intensity and power, the epitome of “fine wine”, a privilege to drink, at its peak and obviously has been for some time but the ultimate stability of the wine means it is not going downhill anytime soon
Pristine bottle. Tons of graphite and hint of bell peppers. Surprisingly full of fruit, amazing concentration. Tannins are fully resolved, nice acidity. The finish is long and delicious, full of explosive blackcurrant and dried herbs. A triumph!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1961 in Florida (Cafe Maxx, Pompano Beach, Florida): Well I guess it’s true - Léoville Las Cases eventually becomes mature if you wait long enough. Finally, aged complexity emerges to envelope the intense core of beautiful black currant fruit that is the essence of St. Julien. While many ‘61s are (or were) excellent examples of their properties, I think that the vintage was even more generous to Léoville Las Cases. The tannins are fully resolved and it’s supple although unfortunately it turns a bit dry at the very end. Still, a great success without a doubt.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From magnum. Ripe and young. Very high quality datk red fruit with earth notes, light tobacco, and dark floral elements. Much more to come here as this wine has only begun to evolve in this format. 95-96+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Interesting old Bordeaux although less fresh than a previous bottle from the same lot from WineBid. Color very advanced, verging on brown at the rim. Intriguing old wine nose of dusty old library book, tobacco, pipe smoke, leather. Fairly thin on the palate, good acidity and enough tannin for structure. Past its best but interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great wine with great friends (Long Island): The beginning of just a crazy line-up of wines. This was very good. The nose is shockingly alluring although it felt like the palette didn't quite keep up to that level. Started a bit musty (as you might imagine from a 55 year old wine), but that blew off and then it was old cigarbox and leather. Enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow. Red core that gets lighter toward the edges but not brown. Beautiful nose of dried rose petals, strawberries, and cedar that lingered all night. On the palate, the wine felt light and silky but still had fruit, sweetness and acidity that were nicely balanced. The sensation was similar to a '90 Lafitte I had a few years ago. Provenance was excellent. This is the type of wine that keeps you in the hobby. Thanks Miles and Ellen!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Enticing and wafting nose of mushroom, soil, damp leathers, and forest floor. Still a typical dose of Las Cases perfume. Warm and toasty. Damp red cedar and stained cedar water. Dark chocolate and coffee grounds. Spent coffee and sweet espresso through the finish. Bottle in terrific shape.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Apparently, Leoville-las-Cases was not a "super second" class wine in this era and notes on the '61 are variable. This bottle, recently sourced from WineBid for a fraction of the cost of some recent vintages, was in great condition with ullage very top shoulder and medium ruby color. Not especially aromatic when first opened, it blossomed amazingly in the Zaltos at the restaurant and stayed firm and very lively for over two hours. Very strong cassis and blackcurrant aroma and flavor, not terribly complex yet very attractive. The resemblance to younger vintages of LLC was distinct and in fact this one could easily be mistaken for a 20 to 30 year old version with tamer tannins. At age 55, it's still fruit forward and utterly delicious. More proof to me that 1961 is the vintage of the century.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Damn thing is older than me and it still is hanging in there. I don't have much experience with tasting wines of this age so I'm lacking context for what I should be finding. Brownish, maroon color with aromatics of what seemed like indian spices. Brown sugar, cedar and tangy cherry. Really cool to taste a wine that has this many years in the bottle, thank you for opening it, Counselor.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Let's drink a 54 year old BdX on the Thursday night, sweet! What a surprise. The cork was a complete mess, soft like a marshmellow. Cork screw only shredded the top third so out came the ah-so. I highjacked the bottle because I've never opened a really old bottle before. I managed to get the cork out with anything dropping into the bottle. The table was another story as it was completely covered in cork shrapnel.
Looks like an old Bordeaux, dark red brick color. Nose was explosive, shocking to me, with a hint of maple syrup. Soft mouthfeel, a touch of barnyard, light cassis, and a sweet finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
LLC dinner at 10 Greek Street. This was by far, the WOTN. It was in fine fettle. Truffles, earthy, smokey and with a delicate hazelnut finish. Balanced with a tannic backbone. A magnificent bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great bottle and a good wine to end the evening with. Smooth and airy mature nose with white pepper, light savory spice and dried red fruit. Silky on the palate but still full of substance. Not all bottles perform this well
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind in a flight of Leoville Las Cases 1961 - 2005. This wine was unbelievable. It smoked the 1982, 1986, and 2000. From the first whiff it was obviously the 1961. Lot's of sexy cigar, menthol, and still some fruit. So ethereal. This was the best wine I've ever had from before 1982. On the palate, elegant, yet intense, with cigar, fruit, and a grippy long finish with some dry tannins. Wow! This really makes you believe in the legend that is 1961.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner in LA (b.o.s - Los Angeles, CA): beautiful nose of rose petals, sous bois, tobacco, and cranberries. The palate was lean and bright with a hefty dose of acidity and cranberries. It seemed to build out its floral notes with time and a bit of cedar/tobacco/earthiness developed with air. LLC has been such a disappointment for me over the years…so it was fun to finally open a bottle that was terrific.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Green dry tobacco, lots of cigar box and leather notes. Some velvety tannins remain, smoky paprika that reminded me of a spanish chorizo, dry fruits and very long. Layered and superb for a 50 plus years old wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very attractive scent - hints of tobacco and pencil showings; mushroom, underwood. Quite fine. The wine does show age but everything holds together well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Exceptional complexity of aromas. The fruit on this bottle, while not big, was good, and the overall balance and experience were memorable. I didn't take note, but this was just my overall impression.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind. Charming aromas with forest floor, good spice, floral hints and lingering red fruit. Good balance of fruit and earth on palate with excellent minerality and textures. Elegant, long and nuanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Iron and autumnal notes, with classic red fruits and earth notes. Medium bodied, and certainly resolved. Balanced, but few overt structural elements. Mature. Nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
20 Vintages of Château Léoville Las Cases: 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.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Léoville Las Cases Grand Tasting (At Kim Aa's place, Ulvøya, Norway): Clear garnet color with brick red rim. Warm aromas of cedar and wood, mocca, caramel, licorice and spices. Smooth as silk; a bit timid at first, but opens up to a delicate, perfumed, clean and pure elixir. A great wine with long, smooth finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mon vin le plus vieux que j'ai dégusté à vie. Vin à la teinte orangée. Nez tertiaire, évolué mais superbe, fin et élégant! Je suis agréablement surpris. La bouche est à l'image de son nez, c'est fin, c'est beau, c'est long et soutenue par une belle acidité.
Un moment que j'aurais aimé partager avec plusieurs autres amis passionnés du vin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pre WWS 2012 GJE dinner at Devero Ristorante - 85 La Las, 09 DRC VR and etc (Devero hotel - outskirts of Milan): I have noticed some expecting the 61 LLC would be great based on the vintage but not so based on my experience. This is at best mediocre wine. However this is the best example of the 61 LLC by far. Fully matured, some red fruits, cedar, caramel and eucalyptus. Beautiful silky palate and fully resolved tannins. Lovely wine, usually sub 90 wine for me per a dozen also bottle drank awhile back but this is a truly exceptional bottle. Once again, coming from an European cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light purple with hint of brick color on the rim. This wine is almost tasteless and blunt at first when pouring out from its magnum bottle, and wakes up with a bang after leaving it in the glass for 2 hours. The wine has toned down a lot thanks to the ageing, with a delightful, harmonious nose, & ever existing structured, coated tannins mix up with host of other flavours such as haw, orange peel, chinese herbs, mint, ginger spice and some mellow sweet red fruits. It has a very perfumy, classy, elegant character, extremely silky with the complex yet light, perfectly weighted body. Delicious, and capped by a nicely integrated , mouth watering acidity in the lingerish finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
New year gathering at G's house: Alcohol :: NA En Magnum. Still dark garnet core with brown rim. Gorgeous nose, such completeness and complexity: perfume violet, soft sweet cigar box intermixed elegantly and harmoniously with creme de cassis, leather, blackcurrant, plum, roasted herbs and meat. Still bright and fresh, I'm impressed by the condition of this bottle as well as the longevity of a LLC. While doesn't possess the depth and intensity of a great LLC, this fully matured LLC offer excellent nuances and layers. Silky smooth, slight more power and intensity at the finish, clean and juicy with blackcurrant, mineral aftertaste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great transparent light red coloring like a well aged burg. Lovely nose of cedar, berries and smoke. Had a great cherry/raspberry thing going on along with mint and earth on the palate. Silky tannins and a long finish. Still plenty of structure and weight to this wine. I could see this last for another 10 years easily.
SS 95 pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Un autre beau moment. Il est rare de boire des vins de vieux millésimes, surtout des grands, donc ce vin constitue en soi la poursuite de la magie débutée par le vin précédent (Haut-Brion 1961). Plus évolué à l’œil, le vin est bien vivant, tant au nez qu’en bouche, démontrant encore une certaine puissance avec des saveurs et arômes de fruits, d’épices, de tabac. Il reste encore un peu de tannins et l’acidité balance bien le tout. Un grand vin. Superbe.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Acker Merrall BYO (Sepia - Chicago IL): My notes were getting sparse. Very elegant combination of secondary character with some black fruit still lurking in the background. a wine we should have sat and enjoyed over a longer period of time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The cork was in good shape with rising on the sides up to the top. Cleaning the bottle neck prior to opening the vintage was clearly visible on the cork. The cork had no off odor, and expectation for a good old wine experience began to mount. At first there was a musty mint that blew off in 10 minutes to reveal a wonderful soft and demure wine that contiued to open up and evolve for 45 minutes. Slight hints of lavendar, cold meat, and plum came to mind. This was the first of 7 birth year wines to commemorate the passing to the better half of 100. Hope I continue to grow old as well as this left bank beauty.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Auction bottle. Solid firm cork, turned out to be a 1990 Las Cases "Recorked" at Chateau bottle, accounting for the very high fill. Unfortunately, the wine itself did not survive the process. Opened at L'Atelier de Robuchon with sommeliers tasting. Was not judged to be a fake... just, sadly, corked.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened at noon and reportedly smelled of vinegar. Allowed to rest in the bottle until 7:30 PM, then decanted. Around 8:00 PM, it was a deep garnet-brick red -- darker than some of the younger wines on the table. The bouquet offered notes of moss, forest floor, red currants, old leather, and no vinegar. On the palate, it showed a light-medium style, all about purity and balance. I sneaked home with a sample to try the next day. After 36 hours of air, the moss and forest floor were gone, leaving only tart red currants, leather, and pencil shavings. Not rated, but certainly an unforgettable, very special treat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
What a treat. Talk about a textbook nose of Bordeaux. Initially a little reticent with cedar and hints of tobacco, this unfolded into a much more dimensional experience. Smokey tobacco, sharp and high pitched elements of cinnamon and graphite. The palate started a bit lean and simple with tart notes of cherry, but over time it softened and unfolded. It never really picked up the big, heavy, dark, personality of most Las Cases I have had, instead fitting into a more feminine mold. Pretty, refined, really round, but with just enough firmness still on the finish to make you know you are dealing with a structured wine. Thank you Matt for such a treat!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Long cork moldy on top but perfect on the inside. Bottle reeked of green olives briefly when opened, then the wine quickly offered black olive and cedar on the nose. On the palate everything was pefectly balanced and there was no shortage of tannins. The ample fruit was dark plum and eventually the nose turned to tobacco and rose notes (not unlike good nebbiolo). Incredible wine! Last of two bottles....damn!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Leather and tobacco, dirt and fairly complex. Almost sherry like color, light on its feet, some tannins left, but not much, don't see it improve from here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ledbury Bordeaux december Decadence: Riper, brettier, a little more feral. More savoury on the attack. Fresh acidity, a little drier. As Nigel says, LLC surliness. Good though! ****
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
great color not to bricked out at all. notes of tobacco and dirt which i loved. this still included great dark fruit. the finish was great and lengthy. i would say drink up over the next couple of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slightly rustic with cassis, cherry notes, ash and truffle scents, the short finish displayed some tart red flavors. Better on the nost than palate, this was nothing I'd want to buy, but I was happy to taste it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner at Bern's with Penn, Scott, Eliza, et al. Excellent wine. Drinking perfectly right now. Normally not a feminine wine but felt that way tonight next to the 59 Latour. This Leoville showed lots of classiness and elegance. Tobacco, sweet dusty fruit and a little tar. Long finish. Brilliant.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very nice colour – mature, but not overly so. There is some attractive black fruit on the nose with some subtle mintiness. Very good on the palate, this is open and quite fresh without being high toned. There are some quite firm tannins, especially on the finish. Very Good Indeed+.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
First night in Mecca (Berns): Full red/purple color with zero bricking. Forward killer aroma of cedar cassis red fruit and spice box. Mmmn, incredible black cassis sweet fruit with a long round coffee finish. Classic bordeaux!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
eBob Angelus vs. Leoville Las Cases Vertical (Onesixtyblue): Crimson brick color. Decent nose of violets, black fruit, and anise. Decent fruit left with some nice spiciness. Smooth and round, but nothing like the bottle from Berns - here's to bottle variation...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner at Acquarello with Garen and Wilf. This wine is beautiful. Nose of tobacco and lead. Perfectly clear, and bright ruby red color. Lots of complexity with beautifully integrated tannins. Still a touch young and has lots of years left. Delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Old Wine Dinner (Caliterra -Chicago IL): Mature black fruit aromas with underbrush. Modest spice. very good balance of earth and fruit on palate with moderate length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ray Goder Dinner at Caliterra (Caliterra): Bright ruby red color with no brickiness. Lovely rich briar red fruit aromas. Beautiful ripe round red fruit with nice sweetness. 92-93 pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
With a brick like color and a beautiful, complex, earthy, spice filled aromatic profile made a nice opening gambit. On the palate the wine displayed a medium body of cherry fruit. Fully mature, this wine will probably drop fruit as it continues to age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consumed at the Brasserie in single-blind fashion.. Bottle taken from my personal cellar. Bright disc. Deep garnet robe with orange/amber rim. Clean, but nearly nonexistent nose. After 30 min, light cherry and cedar become evident, but these aromas are very subdued. The palate shows a similar lack of excitement on the attack...Melted tannins and relatively simple cherry in combination with light vanilla. The medium-bodied mid-palate culminates with a relatively short finish. This wine is not unpleasant, just not inspiring for such a great vintage. I suspect that the wine will continue to drink the same for the next few years, but I would agree with Parker that it is very unlikely to improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Showing well but not evolving like one of the greats of the vintage. Mature ruby garnet, orange rim. Open nose. Lots of cedar and oak. Some complexity. Good fruit and long finish but lacks intensity and breed for great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Best showing so far. Deep color, no sign of age. Hard, firm, somewhat unyielding nose. Cool impression, more like a Pauillac. Impresses for its power. No astringency. Should last well and maybe improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep ruby shading to garnet to mature tuilé rim. High shoulder fill. Rich cedary cassis bouquet typical of Cabernet Sauvignon. Concentrated vintage ‘61 depth of flavor. Some tannin. Slightly dry. Very good but not the top for this great vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/24/2024 - Jeff Leve wrote: 89 Points
On the lean, green side, with more of its focus on its cedar, tobacco leaf, mint, herb, and peppery side, than on the bright red currants with touches of cranberries. Medium-bodied, and perched on the edge of sweet, spicy, earthy, herbal, and tart, this is past its prime and in its slow decline. Drink from 2024-2028.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2023 - johnh1001 wrote: 94 Points
From a perfect looking bottle with base neck fill. The cork was soaked through. Amazing color and clarity. Fabulous balance and purity of dark fruit with loads of coffee, tobacco, graphite and cigar smoke. Somewhat compact, but awesome freshness, and expressiveness. Drank over two hours, and this was steady the entire time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2023 - JulianSkeels wrote: 93 Points
From a high-fill bottle, looks youthful in the glass - dense. Great nose with lots of cedar, ash and graphite and a bit of funk. Little watery in the mouth but ripe and sweet still. The palate never matches the nose. Good but not great. No hurry to drink though, it didn't fade over 2hrs. 93pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2023 - VINNICK Likes this wine: 93 Points
Amazingly fresh for a wine of this age. Lovely quino LLC notes. Lacks concentration but so enjoyable nonetheless. A treat to have the opportunity to drink it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2023 - englishman's claret wrote: 95 Points
The 1961 Leoville Las Cases is absolutely delicious, full of sweet, succulent raspberry, cherry confit, and Darjeeling. The palate is sapid and lush, atypically for Las Cases, and the cardamom notes which emerge in the mouth really do complete this lovely wine. This is decidedly better than the last bottle from the same case.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2023 - vagrantone wrote: flawed
Low shoulder fill.
cork quite loose.
Unfortunately this particular bottle had lost all of its freshness...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2023 - Mascarello59 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Leoville las Cases vertical 1961-2009 (March 2023); 12/28/2023-12/31/2023: Shy and surprisingly youthful nose but then it deepens and then fades after a while. Dry but fruit still left. High acidity and melted tannin. Long finish and very impressive given 60 years of age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (3)
4/6/2022 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
On the classic, firm, restrained side of the style range, the wine is better on the tobacco, cigar box, cedar, lead pencil and bright-red, spicy nose than on the medium-bodied, cranberry and cherry, earthy, leafy, palate. This is not a wine to hold for more development.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2022 - sdr Likes this wine: 93 Points
61s at 61 (Bourbon Steak, Aventura, Florida): Does Léoville Las Cases ever become fully mature? Well eventually it does but you have to wait a few eons. Yet even at age 61 this LLC is no where near its deathbed. Very dark ruby, no rust, the darkest shade of any bottle on the table. Really impressive depth and concentration with a pleasant top note of mint. As usual with Léoville Las Cases, even at this advanced age it’s stern and not especially subtle or variegated so it’s more about thrust and power than sheer beauty. Still there is much to admire even if you don’t fall in love.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2021 - devino Likes this wine: 92 Points
Estate bottled and in excellent condition. Classic deep smokey, tobacco nose. Although the tannin and concentration of fruit has now faded, the wonderful complexity of this wine still holds up - and so alluringly silky. Perhaps now starting to become an echo of its former glory.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2021 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep and rich, with abundant dark fruit, tangy soil tones, and savory spices. Good bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2021 - vetty wrote: 93 Points
6 hours aeration before drinking. Good condition, still have red and purple fruits primary aroma. Lots of tertiary like tobacco, cigar, smoke, earth, game, little leather and forest. Acidity is ok but tannin is medium-. and tannin level is dropping off quickly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2021 - hprphf wrote: 93 Points
Woody, grassy, perfumed. Great bottle condition, super fresh, friend guessed 1985. Perfectly aged Bordeaux with its hue of elegance. 93-94
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2021 - M.Batard wrote: 94 Points
ATW brought to Pick-the-Pardons award lunch. Decanted at the table, and had been open 20 minutes before I got a taste. Garnet-plum color, quite transparent at the edge. Amazingly fresh nose of blackcurrant, pencil lead, and dried herbs. All of that came through on the palate, in a harmonious symphony. Just wonderful! ATW arrives with this, and departs with the award: a bottle of 'Success', Trump's eaux-de-toilette. Not a fair trade.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2020 - englishman's claret wrote: 93 Points
Pleasantly supple, sweet plummy and blueberry-driven fruit, mineral, and a touch of pencil and cep. Not as giving or generous as you might think from a 61, but it is LLC after all. Missing the delineation and intensity of the best 61s, or the best vintages of LLC, but undeniably an enjoyable mature claret.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2020 - red_man Likes this wine: 98 Points
negociant bottling (de Luze & Fils), as was still common at the time, level uppermost shoulder, cork a bit short by modern standards, distinct brown tinge as would be expected at nearly 60, fantastic nose, fine, complex but really intense and still with powerful fruit, just lovely, palate just so fine but also with great intensity and power, the epitome of “fine wine”, a privilege to drink, at its peak and obviously has been for some time but the ultimate stability of the wine means it is not going downhill anytime soon
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
6/22/2019 - Rani Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pristine bottle. Tons of graphite and hint of bell peppers. Surprisingly full of fruit, amazing concentration. Tannins are fully resolved, nice acidity. The finish is long and delicious, full of explosive blackcurrant and dried herbs. A triumph!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2019 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fully developed and expressive nose. More restrained palate that, while rewarding, was likely 5 years past peak. 93-
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2019 - sdr Likes this wine: 93 Points
1961 in Florida (Cafe Maxx, Pompano Beach, Florida): Well I guess it’s true - Léoville Las Cases eventually becomes mature if you wait long enough. Finally, aged complexity emerges to envelope the intense core of beautiful black currant fruit that is the essence of St. Julien. While many ‘61s are (or were) excellent examples of their properties, I think that the vintage was even more generous to Léoville Las Cases. The tannins are fully resolved and it’s supple although unfortunately it turns a bit dry at the very end. Still, a great success without a doubt.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Ken’s Birthday Celebration (Morton's Steakhouse - Northbrook IL): Still showing shockingly fresh black fruit with very good concentration and power. Plenty of intriguing earth and mushroom in support. So balanced, so charming.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2017 - 49RockVino wrote: 98 Points
Superb. Everything I hoped it would be and more. Didn’t want it to end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/18/2017 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 95 Points
From magnum. Ripe and young. Very high quality datk red fruit with earth notes, light tobacco, and dark floral elements. Much more to come here as this wine has only begun to evolve in this format. 95-96+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2017 - winebuff037 wrote:
Definitely past peak with faded colors; nose of damp earth and spice; very ripe fruits that fades quickly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2016 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 94 Points
Young and fresh with pencil lead, coal dust, dark earth, and sharp dark fruit. Danish bottling.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2016 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very solid bottle if not quite as deep as the best. Bottle from chateau.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2016 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank it blindly, knowing it was a flight with 1961 and one pirat.
The roundest, the most balanced and elegant in the flight but I missed some edgy moments, still in good shape
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2016 - sdr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Interesting old Bordeaux although less fresh than a previous bottle from the same lot from WineBid. Color very advanced, verging on brown at the rim. Intriguing old wine nose of dusty old library book, tobacco, pipe smoke, leather. Fairly thin on the palate, good acidity and enough tannin for structure. Past its best but interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2016 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Great wine with great friends (Long Island): The beginning of just a crazy line-up of wines. This was very good. The nose is shockingly alluring although it felt like the palette didn't quite keep up to that level. Started a bit musty (as you might imagine from a 55 year old wine), but that blew off and then it was old cigarbox and leather. Enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2016 - DoubleD1969 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Wow. Red core that gets lighter toward the edges but not brown. Beautiful nose of dried rose petals, strawberries, and cedar that lingered all night. On the palate, the wine felt light and silky but still had fruit, sweetness and acidity that were nicely balanced. The sensation was similar to a '90 Lafitte I had a few years ago. Provenance was excellent. This is the type of wine that keeps you in the hobby. Thanks Miles and Ellen!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2016 - tinybubbles wrote: 89 Points
A far cry from what the best bottles can offer. Tired and not offering much on this occasion.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2016 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 94 Points
Enticing and wafting nose of mushroom, soil, damp leathers, and forest floor. Still a typical dose of Las Cases perfume. Warm and toasty. Damp red cedar and stained cedar water. Dark chocolate and coffee grounds. Spent coffee and sweet espresso through the finish. Bottle in terrific shape.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2016 - sdr Likes this wine: 95 Points
Apparently, Leoville-las-Cases was not a "super second" class wine in this era and notes on the '61 are variable. This bottle, recently sourced from WineBid for a fraction of the cost of some recent vintages, was in great condition with ullage very top shoulder and medium ruby color. Not especially aromatic when first opened, it blossomed amazingly in the Zaltos at the restaurant and stayed firm and very lively for over two hours. Very strong cassis and blackcurrant aroma and flavor, not terribly complex yet very attractive. The resemblance to younger vintages of LLC was distinct and in fact this one could easily be mistaken for a 20 to 30 year old version with tamer tannins. At age 55, it's still fruit forward and utterly delicious. More proof to me that 1961 is the vintage of the century.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2016 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Damn thing is older than me and it still is hanging in there. I don't have much experience with tasting wines of this age so I'm lacking context for what I should be finding. Brownish, maroon color with aromatics of what seemed like indian spices. Brown sugar, cedar and tangy cherry. Really cool to taste a wine that has this many years in the bottle, thank you for opening it, Counselor.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2016 - brigcampbell wrote:
Let's drink a 54 year old BdX on the Thursday night, sweet! What a surprise. The cork was a complete mess, soft like a marshmellow. Cork screw only shredded the top third so out came the ah-so. I highjacked the bottle because I've never opened a really old bottle before. I managed to get the cork out with anything dropping into the bottle. The table was another story as it was completely covered in cork shrapnel.
Looks like an old Bordeaux, dark red brick color. Nose was explosive, shocking to me, with a hint of maple syrup. Soft mouthfeel, a touch of barnyard, light cassis, and a sweet finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/29/2016 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 95 Points
Pristine bottle. Bright red fruit, light spice and strong raw licorice on the nose. Rich red cherry and black pepper on the palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2016 - MEKWINE wrote: 100 Points
LLC dinner at 10 Greek Street. This was by far, the WOTN. It was in fine fettle. Truffles, earthy, smokey and with a delicate hazelnut finish. Balanced with a tannic backbone. A magnificent bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2015 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great bottle and a good wine to end the evening with. Smooth and airy mature nose with white pepper, light savory spice and dried red fruit. Silky on the palate but still full of substance. Not all bottles perform this well
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2015 - Bordeaux_Jon Likes this wine: 100 Points
Tasted blind in a flight of Leoville Las Cases 1961 - 2005. This wine was unbelievable. It smoked the 1982, 1986, and 2000. From the first whiff it was obviously the 1961. Lot's of sexy cigar, menthol, and still some fruit. So ethereal. This was the best wine I've ever had from before 1982. On the palate, elegant, yet intense, with cigar, fruit, and a grippy long finish with some dry tannins. Wow! This really makes you believe in the legend that is 1961.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2014 - FYC wrote:
Always a bit odd to have bordeaux in a burgundy lineup but this actually showed quite well. Some tobacco, slight hint of green pepper, earth, spice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2014 - tooch wrote: 93 Points
Dinner in LA (b.o.s - Los Angeles, CA): beautiful nose of rose petals, sous bois, tobacco, and cranberries. The palate was lean and bright with a hefty dose of acidity and cranberries. It seemed to build out its floral notes with time and a bit of cedar/tobacco/earthiness developed with air. LLC has been such a disappointment for me over the years…so it was fun to finally open a bottle that was terrific.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2014 - Merengue wrote:
Green dry tobacco, lots of cigar box and leather notes. Some velvety tannins remain, smoky paprika that reminded me of a spanish chorizo, dry fruits and very long. Layered and superb for a 50 plus years old wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2014 - steinersing wrote: 93 Points
Very attractive scent - hints of tobacco and pencil showings; mushroom, underwood. Quite fine. The wine does show age but everything holds together well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2013 - Amerique wrote: 87 Points
Smokey, short, fruit thin, disappointing, 2nd weakest wine of evening in line up including 1959 Mouton, 1961 Latour, and 1949 Leoville-las-cases
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2013 - Counselor Chris wrote: 95 Points
Exceptional complexity of aromas. The fruit on this bottle, while not big, was good, and the overall balance and experience were memorable. I didn't take note, but this was just my overall impression.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2013 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind. Charming aromas with forest floor, good spice, floral hints and lingering red fruit. Good balance of fruit and earth on palate with excellent minerality and textures. Elegant, long and nuanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2013 - psmith wrote: 92 Points
Iron and autumnal notes, with classic red fruits and earth notes. Medium bodied, and certainly resolved. Balanced, but few overt structural elements. Mature. Nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2013 - LWI wrote: 96 Points
20 Vintages of Château Léoville Las Cases: 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.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2013 - GuWin wrote: 96 Points
Léoville Las Cases Grand Tasting (At Kim Aa's place, Ulvøya, Norway): Clear garnet color with brick red rim. Warm aromas of cedar and wood, mocca, caramel, licorice and spices. Smooth as silk; a bit timid at first, but opens up to a delicate, perfumed, clean and pure elixir. A great wine with long, smooth finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2012 - kopke wrote:
Mon vin le plus vieux que j'ai dégusté à vie. Vin à la teinte orangée. Nez tertiaire, évolué mais superbe, fin et élégant! Je suis agréablement surpris. La bouche est à l'image de son nez, c'est fin, c'est beau, c'est long et soutenue par une belle acidité.
Un moment que j'aurais aimé partager avec plusieurs autres amis passionnés du vin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2012 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
Pre WWS 2012 GJE dinner at Devero Ristorante - 85 La Las, 09 DRC VR and etc (Devero hotel - outskirts of Milan): I have noticed some expecting the 61 LLC would be great based on the vintage but not so based on my experience. This is at best mediocre wine. However this is the best example of the 61 LLC by far. Fully matured, some red fruits, cedar, caramel and eucalyptus. Beautiful silky palate and fully resolved tannins. Lovely wine, usually sub 90 wine for me per a dozen also bottle drank awhile back but this is a truly exceptional bottle. Once again, coming from an European cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2012 - Julia7ich wrote: 87 Points
Dark transparent garnet. Quite earthy with leather and underbrush with notes of soy sauce and truffle. Long and nicely but not overly concentrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2012 - steinersing wrote: 93 Points
Great nose of cedar and tobacco, very solid structure with great ripeness. Not very long, but beautiful wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2012 - Vin Lover wrote: 93 Points
Light purple with hint of brick color on the rim. This wine is almost tasteless and blunt at first when pouring out from its magnum bottle, and wakes up with a bang after leaving it in the glass for 2 hours. The wine has toned down a lot thanks to the ageing, with a delightful, harmonious nose, & ever existing structured, coated tannins mix up with host of other flavours such as haw, orange peel, chinese herbs, mint, ginger spice and some mellow sweet red fruits. It has a very perfumy, classy, elegant character, extremely silky with the complex yet light, perfectly weighted body. Delicious, and capped by a nicely integrated , mouth watering acidity in the lingerish finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2012 - Sleepy Dave wrote: 91 Points
New year gathering at G's house: Alcohol :: NA
En Magnum. Still dark garnet core with brown rim. Gorgeous nose, such completeness and complexity: perfume violet, soft sweet cigar box intermixed elegantly and harmoniously with creme de cassis, leather, blackcurrant, plum, roasted herbs and meat. Still bright and fresh, I'm impressed by the condition of this bottle as well as the longevity of a LLC. While doesn't possess the depth and intensity of a great LLC, this fully matured LLC offer excellent nuances and layers. Silky smooth, slight more power and intensity at the finish, clean and juicy with blackcurrant, mineral aftertaste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2012 - IWineAlot wrote: 95 Points
Great transparent light red coloring like a well aged burg. Lovely nose of cedar, berries and smoke. Had a great cherry/raspberry thing going on along with mint and earth on the palate. Silky tannins and a long finish. Still plenty of structure and weight to this wine. I could see this last for another 10 years easily.
SS 95 pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2011 - dzitt wrote: 96 Points
Un autre beau moment. Il est rare de boire des vins de vieux millésimes, surtout des grands, donc ce vin constitue en soi la poursuite de la magie débutée par le vin précédent (Haut-Brion 1961). Plus évolué à l’œil, le vin est bien vivant, tant au nez qu’en bouche, démontrant encore une certaine puissance avec des saveurs et arômes de fruits, d’épices, de tabac. Il reste encore un peu de tannins et l’acidité balance bien le tout. Un grand vin. Superbe.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2011 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Acker Merrall BYO (Sepia - Chicago IL): My notes were getting sparse. Very elegant combination of secondary character with some black fruit still lurking in the background. a wine we should have sat and enjoyed over a longer period of time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2011 - Lord Rayas wrote: 90 Points
MNSC (The Pawn): sweet and earthy nose with notes of truffle. soft and charming. faded rather quickly on the palate, pretty weak finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2011 - lepetitchateau wrote: 91 Points
Divine and succulent nose, big and rich, so lovely. On the palate this is fine but not amazing, and I do not know why it is not better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2011 - Viking 61 wrote: 91 Points
The cork was in good shape with rising on the sides up to the top. Cleaning the bottle neck prior to opening the vintage was clearly visible on the cork. The cork had no off odor, and expectation for a good old wine experience began to mount. At first there was a musty mint that blew off in 10 minutes to reveal a wonderful soft and demure wine that contiued to open up and evolve for 45 minutes. Slight hints of lavendar, cold meat, and plum came to mind. This was the first of 7 birth year wines to commemorate the passing to the better half of 100. Hope I continue to grow old as well as this left bank beauty.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2011 - City Wine Journal wrote: flawed
Auction bottle. Solid firm cork, turned out to be a 1990 Las Cases "Recorked" at Chateau bottle, accounting for the very high fill. Unfortunately, the wine itself did not survive the process. Opened at L'Atelier de Robuchon with sommeliers tasting. Was not judged to be a fake... just, sadly, corked.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2010 - Javachip wrote:
Opened at noon and reportedly smelled of vinegar. Allowed to rest in the bottle until 7:30 PM, then decanted. Around 8:00 PM, it was a deep garnet-brick red -- darker than some of the younger wines on the table. The bouquet offered notes of moss, forest floor, red currants, old leather, and no vinegar. On the palate, it showed a light-medium style, all about purity and balance. I sneaked home with a sample to try the next day. After 36 hours of air, the moss and forest floor were gone, leaving only tart red currants, leather, and pencil shavings. Not rated, but certainly an unforgettable, very special treat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2010 - Eric Likes this wine:
What a treat. Talk about a textbook nose of Bordeaux. Initially a little reticent with cedar and hints of tobacco, this unfolded into a much more dimensional experience. Smokey tobacco, sharp and high pitched elements of cinnamon and graphite. The palate started a bit lean and simple with tart notes of cherry, but over time it softened and unfolded. It never really picked up the big, heavy, dark, personality of most Las Cases I have had, instead fitting into a more feminine mold. Pretty, refined, really round, but with just enough firmness still on the finish to make you know you are dealing with a structured wine. Thank you Matt for such a treat!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2009 - Rinaldo Piemonte wrote: 97 Points
Long cork moldy on top but perfect on the inside. Bottle reeked of green olives briefly when opened, then the wine quickly offered black olive and cedar on the nose. On the palate everything was pefectly balanced and there was no shortage of tannins. The ample fruit was dark plum and eventually the nose turned to tobacco and rose notes (not unlike good nebbiolo). Incredible wine! Last of two bottles....damn!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2009 - Bunski wrote: 90 Points
Leather and tobacco, dirt and fairly complex. Almost sherry like color, light on its feet, some tannins left, but not much, don't see it improve from here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2008 - SimonG wrote:
Ledbury Bordeaux december Decadence: Riper, brettier, a little more feral. More savoury on the attack. Fresh acidity, a little drier. As Nigel says, LLC surliness. Good though! ****
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/4/2008 - Surfer714 wrote:
VG mature wine .......Has many years still left in it
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/21/2008 - jus10 wrote: 95 Points
great color not to bricked out at all. notes of tobacco and dirt which i loved. this still included great dark fruit. the finish was great and lengthy. i would say drink up over the next couple of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/26/2008 - Jeff Leve wrote: 88 Points
Slightly rustic with cassis, cherry notes, ash and truffle scents, the short finish displayed some tart red flavors. Better on the nost than palate, this was nothing I'd want to buy, but I was happy to taste it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2007 - G SQUARED wrote: 94 Points
Dinner at Bern's with Penn, Scott, Eliza, et al. Excellent wine. Drinking perfectly right now. Normally not a feminine wine but felt that way tonight next to the 59 Latour. This Leoville showed lots of classiness and elegance. Tobacco, sweet dusty fruit and a little tar. Long finish. Brilliant.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2007 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 93 Points
A very nice colour – mature, but not overly so. There is some attractive black fruit on the nose with some subtle mintiness. Very good on the palate, this is open and quite fresh without being high toned. There are some quite firm tannins, especially on the finish. Very Good Indeed+.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2007 - winefool wrote: 95 Points
First night in Mecca (Berns): Full red/purple color with zero bricking. Forward killer aroma of cedar cassis red fruit and spice box. Mmmn, incredible black cassis sweet fruit with a long round coffee finish. Classic bordeaux!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2007 - winefool wrote: 91 Points
eBob Angelus vs. Leoville Las Cases Vertical (Onesixtyblue): Crimson brick color. Decent nose of violets, black fruit, and anise. Decent fruit left with some nice spiciness. Smooth and round, but nothing like the bottle from Berns - here's to bottle variation...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2007 - G SQUARED wrote: 96 Points
Dinner at Acquarello with Garen and Wilf. This wine is beautiful. Nose of tobacco and lead. Perfectly clear, and bright ruby red color. Lots of complexity with beautifully integrated tannins. Still a touch young and has lots of years left. Delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2006 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Old Wine Dinner (Caliterra -Chicago IL): Mature black fruit aromas with underbrush. Modest spice. very good balance of earth and fruit on palate with moderate length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2006 - winefool wrote: 92 Points
Ray Goder Dinner at Caliterra (Caliterra): Bright ruby red color with no brickiness. Lovely rich briar red fruit aromas. Beautiful ripe round red fruit with nice sweetness. 92-93 pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2005 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
With a brick like color and a beautiful, complex, earthy, spice filled aromatic profile made a nice opening gambit. On the palate the wine displayed a medium body of cherry fruit. Fully mature, this wine will probably drop fruit as it continues to age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2004 - Bunski wrote: 93 Points
Still plenty of body left to last another 10 to 15 years. Very full and good levels of fruit. Almost black in color
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2002 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 82 Points
Consumed at the Brasserie in single-blind fashion.. Bottle taken from my personal cellar. Bright disc. Deep garnet robe with orange/amber rim. Clean, but nearly nonexistent nose. After 30 min, light cherry and cedar become evident, but these aromas are very subdued. The palate shows a similar lack of excitement on the attack...Melted tannins and relatively simple cherry in combination with light vanilla. The medium-bodied mid-palate culminates with a relatively short finish. This wine is not unpleasant, just not inspiring for such a great vintage. I suspect that the wine will continue to drink the same for the next few years, but I would agree with Parker that it is very unlikely to improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/1993 - sdr wrote: 82 Points
Very strong notes of cassis and oak. Very Cabernet Sauvignon. Thinning out, tired. Past its best.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/1993 - sdr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Showing well but not evolving like one of the greats of the vintage. Mature ruby garnet, orange rim. Open nose. Lots of cedar and oak. Some complexity. Good fruit and long finish but lacks intensity and breed for great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/1990 - sdr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Best showing so far. Deep color, no sign of age. Hard, firm, somewhat unyielding nose. Cool impression, more like a Pauillac. Impresses for its power. No astringency. Should last well and maybe improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/1988 - sdr Likes this wine: 88 Points
Very good but not a top ‘61. Dark. Slightly watery meniscus. Certainly deep, rich, chewy and firm. But lacks aromatic interest and elegance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/1988 - sdr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Color not as bright as ‘61 Palmer. Full, rich, delicious. Violets. Deep. A heavyweight. Promising for a long future.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/1987 - sdr Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep ruby shading to garnet to mature tuilé rim. High shoulder fill. Rich cedary cassis bouquet typical of Cabernet Sauvignon. Concentrated vintage ‘61 depth of flavor. Some tannin. Slightly dry. Very good but not the top for this great vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment