Château Leoville Las Cases 2019 – 2ème Grand Cru Classé

Bordeaux Total René Gabriel:

(80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 35.5 hl/ha, 14.49% vol. Alkohol) Konzentriertes, tiefgründiges, komplexes, frisches Bouquet, Cassis, schwarze Beeren, Graphit, Zedern, fein Lakritze, schwarze Pfeffer, Feuerstein, Getreideriegel. Dichtverwobener, eleganter, kraftvoller, aromatischer Gaumen mit kräftiger, dunkler Frucht, sehr viel feinem Tannin, konzentrierter, vielfältiger Aromatik, eleganter, massiver Struktur, sehr langer, dunkler, aromatischer Abgang mit vielen Rückaromen. Kann noch zulegen. Trinkreife 2026-2055. Bewertung 19/20. -Bordeaux Total, André Kunz-

Robert Parker Wine Advocate:

The 2019 Léoville Las Cases is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 11% Merlot. Harvest began early for the Merlot, on the 18th of September, and the Cabernets were picked in October, finishing on the 8th of October. The IPT number (measurement of tannins) is 80—the same as 2018. The alcohol came at 14.02% (lower than 2018), but it does seem a little lower than this percentage, probably because the pH is a little lower this year, at 3.67. It is aging in French oak barriques, 90% new. The color is opaque purple-black, with a nose that unfurls slowly in the glass, beginning with vibrant, expressive black fruit notes of freshly crushed blackcurrants, ripe blackberries and fresh black cherries, followed by a beguiling array of floral and earth nuances—candied violets, lavender, fragrant soil, underbrush, crushed rocks and black truffles. The medium to full-bodied wine dances ever so gracefully on the palate, demurely revealing tightly wound layers of of bright, crunchy black fruits and tantalizing floral and mineral sparks, supported by a rock-solid structure of firm, finely grained tannins and fantastic tension, finishing with epic persistence. Although the style is completely different, the barrel sample is behaving a lot like the Haut-Brion sample was when I tasted it, in that it appears to be holding just that little bit extra back right now. I have to call it as I see it today, but I wouldn't be surprised if when I come back to taste this from bottle, it shows me all that and a lot more. Drink Date 2029-2075. Rating 97-99/100. -Lisa Perrotti-Brown-

Vinous:

The 2019 Léoville Las-Cases is tasted from two bottles, but it is the second that really delivers the goods. It has a beautifully-defined bouquet with blackberry, black olive, subtle marine scents and touches of crushed stone. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, cohesive, quite high toned towards the finish with touches of mint and cedar. Very fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. Drink Date 2026-2055. Rating 97/100. -Neal Martin-

James Suckling:

Currants and blackberries with crushed stones, bark and some conifer and pine cone. Perfumed. Discreet. Medium-to full-bodied with an integrated tannin structure that’s full of fine tannins that are weightless and seamless, building on the palate and coming out at the end. Needs five or six years to open. Texture of heavy silk. 79% cabernet sauvignon, 11% merlot and 10% cabernet franc. Try after 2027. Rating 98/100. -JamesSuckling.com-

falstaff.com:

Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feines Edelholz, ein Hauch von Nougat, schwarze Beeren unterlegt, etwas Kardamom, dunkle Kirschen, ein Hauch von kandierten Orangen. Kraftvoll, straff, engmaschig, frischer Säurebogen, würzige, tragende Tannine, ein Hauch von Schokolade im Abgang, überzeugende Balance, mineralisch und sehr lange anhaftend, Herzkirschen im Nachhall, ein Vin de Garde, kann mit einigen Stunden in der Karaffe auch bereits jung probiert werden, enormes Zukunftspotenzial. Trinkreife 2025-2065. Bewertung 100/100. -falstaff.com, Peter Moser- 

Jancis Robinson:

 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. Barrel sample.Deep purple-black to the rim. Dark and brooding with immense depth. Blackcurrant and graphite nuance. Beautiful lift on the palate, so much energy and power. Ingrained minerally freshness. Huge tannic base but the texture smooth and remarkably refined. Zest and force but absolute precision. Lingering and intense, stays on the palate for ever. One of the greats from this estate. Drink Date 2032-2050. Rating 19/20. -James Lawther MW-