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PRICE IS THE ALL UP FINAL LANDED COST INCLUSIVE OF GST"In the last 25 years this has been the top-performing non-1st Growth in the Médoc. The vines are situated alongside those of Chateau Latour and the rigorous pursuit of quality is demonstrated by the demotion of much of the production into the excellent Clos du Marquis. Now the young vines are not even used for Clos du Marquis with the creation of "Le Petit Lion" . Lascases will never be cheap but this is a wine that wants to taste like a First Growth and it frequently does. This has a fantastic core of fruit. Quite sweet for Lascases, an opulent wine for this property. Great intensity of crème de cassis fruit and big ripe tannins. Sumptuous and serious. Profound.
Score: 19 Farr Vintners
The 2009 is one of the greatest Leoville Las Cases I have ever tasted, which is saying something given the many compelling wines that have been made at this estate. A final blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 9% Cabernet Franc has resulted in a wine that appears to be a hypothetical blend of the 1982, 1986, and 1996. Its 13.8% alcohol is perhaps the only thing that sets it apart from those vintages, which had nearly a full percentage point less. The high alcohol is barely noticeable in this 2009, which boasts an inky/purple color, monumental concentration, and great clarity and purity of creme de cassis, black cherry, spice box, graphite, and wet rock characteristics. Extremely full-bodied with a boatload of sweet tannin nearly concealed by the wine-s power, glycerin, and awesome fruit concentration, this intense effort never tastes heavy or tiring. This remarkable St.-Julien should be accessible in 3-4 years, and will evolve for 40-50. (Tasted once.) Drink 2013-2063.
Score: 96-100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188)
Tasted at the château. A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, with 6.4% vin de presse, delivering 13.4% alcohol and a pH of 3.65. The nose has brilliant delineation: this is the first thing that hits you, as if you can peer into the clos of the vineyard itself. Very expressive, almost feminine and wily, crystalline (this is something that I did not expect.) The palate is medium-bodied, saturated and supple on the entry, seamless tannins, a sense of controlled opulence here, very pure, rounded towards the finish, again, gliding across the mouth and caressing, rather than gripping it. The finish is very pure, almost Napa in style, but retaining sufficient structure and prudency of alcohol to allow that Saint Julien terroir to shine through. This is an irresistible Las-Cases, perhaps a modern day '85? Tasted March 2010.
Score: 96-98 Neal Martin, eRobertParker.com
Black color. What a nose. Black licorice, raspberry, currant and dried flowers galore. Full-bodied and superpowerful, with masses of fruit and toasted oak, but a blockbuster finish of fruit, tannins and everything else. I have never tasted such a flashy sample. I am blown away by this. A more fruit-forward style for Las Cases.
Score: 97-100 James Suckling, WineSpectator.com
The lovely fragrance of violets and lilac comes through on the nose, the perfumed lifted and refreshed by red fruits. Powerful black fruits on the palate enrich with first cassis then sloe backed up by dark chocolate and liquorice. The tannins feel ripe adding to the sweetness but there is enough structure and acidity to balance, to lift the flavours and give a sleek elegance to the finish. Drink 2022-2050.
Score: 95-98 Derek Smedley MW
Everything you'd expect from Las-Cases in a great vintage, this is wine with power and tannin to spare. Deeply coloured, almost chewy wine, with lots of oak, but incredible structure, freshness and concentration. Meaty, savoury and textured with very fine, polished tannins and impressive length. The Delon portfolio is extremely impressive in 2009. 20+ years
Score: 98 Tim Atkin MW
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