Château Léoville Las Cases Saint-Julien 2014 - 2nd Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Certainly the closest second growth, and for many vintages, when the cork does not betray it, on a par with the best first growths. It owes its class and consistency to the selection of plots that allow it to be produced on the large enclosure adjacent to Château Latour, and to the exemplary perfectionism initiated by Michel Delon in the 1980s and fully continued by his son Jean-Hubert. The finesse and subtlety of its flavor are unmatched in the world, but the wine is now opening up more quickly than in the past. The young vines produce the Petit-Lion, which is lighter but no less elegant, and the rest of the estate produces the remarkable Clos-du-Marquis, which continues to offer astonishing value for money.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

Cabernet Sauvignon (79%), Cabernet Franc (11%) and Merlot (10%) have produced a wine with a deep, colorful robe. The complex bouquet reflects long aging (16 months in 85% new barrels) with toasted and vanilla notes that allow the grapes to express themselves through aromas of wild berries. The palate is full-bodied and smooth, with excellent balance and a structure that is both solid and elegant. Its aromas of black fruit and spices linger in a rich finish. A perfect example of a Saint-Julien.

About the estate:

Las Cases is not content with owning 98 hectares, three-fifths of the former Léoville estate, which was divided between 1826 and 1846 to create the three Léoville estates known today. The vineyard also owns the historic heart of the vineyard, the Grand Clos. Nearly 60 hectares are planted on beautiful gravel resting deep on clay-sand gravel, near Latour and the Gironde, complemented by the current Clos du Marquis. Added to this advantage is the fact that it has been managed since 1900 by the same family, the Delons (now Jean-Hubert), who have equipped it with state-of-the-art facilities, particularly since 2002.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

A brilliant effort, Léoville Las Cases 2014 is a well-crafted classic that will delight purists. Blending aromas of black berries and blackcurrant with notes of bitter chocolate, sweet spices, cigar paper, pencil shavings, and soft new oak, it is medium-bodied to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with tart notes and a deep, firm mid-palate framed by rich, powdery tannins. Concluding with a long and penetrating finish, the only ingredient missing is time. 2028-2070

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

With impressive substance, but above all a freshness on the palate that gives it sparkle, this 2014 is a Las Cases of great refinement, carried by an immense finish.

About the estate:

The strength of this legendary vintage undoubtedly lies in its famous vineyard, with its complex terroir and diverse, complementary plots. The grand vin is produced exclusively from this terroir, which in many ways resembles that of Château Latour. Depending on the vintage, it can have a more straightforward, Pauillac-style profile or a softer expression, more reminiscent of a Saint-Julien. The wine regularly displays an impressive blue-black color, even in average years. At its peak (which can be over twenty years), it offers a bouquet that surpasses that of an average Saint-Julien in complexity and nobility of flavors, with the finest aromatic nuances of Cabernet Sauvignon from the great Médoc terroirs. Owned by Jean-Hubert Delon, one of Bordeaux's finest connoisseurs of great French wines, this cru has shown unfailing consistency since the 1970s.

Wine Spectator

Wine Enthusiast

Jancis Robinson

James Suckling

About wine:

I love the nose of blackberries, blueberries, flowers, and citrus. Notes of stone and wet earth. Full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that are so long and consistent. Incredible length. A wine you'll want to drink now.

Yves Beck

About wine:

Intense garnet red with purple highlights. Intense, complex bouquet, marked by fruit and spices such as vanilla and cinnamon. Seductive notes of prunes, blackberries, and blackcurrants, followed by a refreshing touch of mint. I also detect typical notes of cedar and tobacco. The palate is elegant, powerful, and fruity. The body is full, creamy, and has a racy structure that perfectly supports the fruit. The tannins reveal themselves very slowly and are perfectly integrated. Grainy in nature, they have the necessary structure to accommodate the lively body. A very great wine, made to age, which will require patience. A very fine achievement. 2024-2049

Vert de Vin

About wine:

The nose is elegant, aromatic, precise, refined, and "dynamic." It reveals notes of fresh red fruit combined with subtle hints of tart blueberry candy, flowers (blueberry and a touch of violet), as well as subtle notes of spice, cedar, and gray pepper. The palate is fresh, fruity, chiseled, subtle, rich, beautifully executed, elegant, frank, straightforward, indulgent, and airy. Notes of crushed strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry are found on the palate. The tannins are fine, elegant, and silky. The finish is smooth. A lovely, fruity, rich, and indulgent wine.