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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

Certainly the second cru classé closest, and for many vintages now, when the cork doesn't give it away, to the level of the finest premiers crus. It owes its class and consistency to the parcel-by-parcel selection that produces it on the large enclosure adjoining that of Château Latour, and to an exemplary perfectionism initiated by Michel Delon in the 1980s and fully pursued by his son Jean-Hubert. The finesse and subtlety of its flavor have few equals in the world, but the wine does us the favor of opening up more quickly than in the past. The young vines produce the lighter but no less elegant petit-lion, and the rest of the estate the remarkable clos-du-marquis, whose value for money remains as astonishing as ever.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

Cabernet-sauvignon (79%), Cabernet franc (11%) and Merlot (10%) have produced a wine with a deep, colorful robe. The complex bouquet reflects long ageing (sixteen months in 85% new barrels), with toasty, vanilla notes that allow the grapes to express themselves through scents of wild berries. The palate is full-bodied and well-coated, with excellent balance and a structure that is both solid and elegant. Its aromas of black fruit and spices linger through to a rich finish. An accomplished model of Saint Julien.

About the domain :

With 98 hectares, Las Cases not only owns three-fifths of the former Léoville estate, which was divided between 1826 and 1846 to create the three Léovilles known today, but also the historic heart of the vineyard, the Grand Clos. Nearly 60 hectares planted on fine gravel resting deeply on sandy-clay gravel, in the vicinity of Latour and the Gironde, completed by the current Clos du Marquis. Added to this advantage is the fact that the estate has been run since 1900 by the same family, the Delon (now Jean-Hubert), who have equipped it with state-of-the-art equipment, particularly since 2002.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

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

About the domain :

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

About the wine:

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

About the domain :

The strength of this legendary cru undoubtedly lies in its famous Clos, with its complex terroir and diverse, complementary parcels. The grand vin comes exclusively from this terroir, which in many ways evokes that of Château Latour. Depending on the vintage, it may have a straighter, Pauillac profile, or a softer, more St-Julien expression. The wine regularly sports an impressive blue-black color, even in average years. At its peak (which can reach over twenty years), it offers a bouquet exceeding in complexity and nobility of flavor that of a lambda Saint Julien, 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 fine French wines, this cru has demonstrated unfailing consistency since the 1970s.

Wine Spectator

Wine Enthusiast

Jancis Robinson

James Suckling

About the wine:

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

Yves Beck

About the 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. Typical notes of cedar and tobacco. The palate is elegant, powerful and fruity. Full-bodied, creamy, with a racy structure that perfectly supports the fruit. The tannins reveal themselves very slowly and are perfectly integrated. Grainy, they have the necessary size to accommodate the lively structure. A great wine, made to go with the times and which you'll need to know how to wait for. A great success. 2024-2049

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is elegant, aromatic, precise, elegant and "dynamic". Notes of fresh red fruit are combined with hints of tart blueberry candy, flowers (blueberry and a touch of violet) and hints of spice, cedar and gray pepper. The palate is fresh, fruity, chiselled, subtle, full-bodied, elegant, straightforward, gourmand and airy. On the palate, notes of crushed strawberry, raspberry and blackberry. The tannins are fine, elegant and silky. The finish is suave. A lovely fruity wine, rich and greedy.