CHÂTEAU LÉOVILLE LAS CASES
2023 2ème Cru Classé Saint Julien
| Grapes | Cab Franc, Merlot, Cab Sauv |
| Colour | Red |
| Origin | France, Bordeaux |
| Sub-district | Haut Médoc |
| Village | Saint Julien |
| Classification | 2ème Cru Classé |
| ABV | 13.1% |
Structured and powerful, this is not as forbidding as En Primeur in many vintages of Las Cases, showing both flesh and florality, but the tannic walls of this great estate remain fully in place, coupled with layers of cassis and bilberry fruits, subtle hints of bitter aniseed, fennel, cola, espresso, squid ink, textured slate tannins. Expect inky depths and unashamed austerity, a wine that will take its time to open, making no excuses for demanding patience. So so good, with a balance and classicism that delivers on the best of the vintage. 80% new oak, 6.6% press wine, 3.79h, harvest September 9 to October 2, 43hl/h yield. First year in the new cellars, with 43.5ha going into the main wine from the historic walled vineyard site. Drinking range: 2035 - 2055 Rating: 98 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (Apr 2024)
Alternatively, we may well have some bottles in one of our shops - why not give us a call on 0207 244 0522 or send an email to: sales@leaandsandeman.co.uk.
Or, check the RELATED PRODUCTS below for different vintages or wines of a similar style.
The 2023 Léoville Las Cases is a wine of understatement and class. In so many vintages, Las Cases is quite authoritative, but I find the 2023 rather quiet and unexpressive today. It’s a rather intellectual Las Cases, a wine with tremendous potential, but also a wine that is quite reserved at this early stage. Time in the glass brings out hints of blueberry, graphite, spice and mocha. It will be interesting to see where this goes. This is a very austere, classically built Las Cases for readers who can be patient. Drinking range: 2033 - 2073 Rating: 94-97 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)
This is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 4% Merlot, picked at a yield of 43 hl/ha from 43.5 hectares. This is one of the lowest percentages of Merlot in the blend in many years. It includes 6.6% press wine. Aromatically this feels classic for the St Julien appellation and the estate, with an upper layer of sweet blackcurrant, griottes, violets, salted liquorice and gorse flowers. The palate does its best to follow this lead, with a juicy and substantial core of fruit, with ribbons of fine, tightly knit tannins, although the overall style feel integrated, juicy and balanced. It finishes correct, spiced and has a little length, although not too much. This is a delicious Las-Cases which will not challenge the great vintages, but which will still give a huge amount of pleasure given time. The alcohol on analysis is 13.1%. Rating: 93-95 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)
Château Léoville Las Cases (Grand Vin de Léoville du Marquis de Las Cases, 2ème Cru Saint-Julien) 86 Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 Cabernet Franc, 4 Merlot 80% new oak 13.1% alc 3.79 pH 72 IPT This is not only a stunning Las Cases, but it is also likely to be remembered as a genuine classic. There is extraordinary power delivered here with such control and command that it does its best to confound the senses. On the one hand, ordered and disciplined and then, at once, refreshing, and decorous, there is a style of grandeur here that can only be found at this mighty Saint-Julien property. While the delivery of the beautiful fruit flavours is carefully controlled, at times, bordering on balletic, unexpected moments of flamboyance catch one unawares. I find this style of Las Cases riveting, not least because the considerable percentage of Cabernet, relatively low alcohol and crystal-clear acidity ought to signal a wine of uncommon strictness and composure, but there is an enchanting core of pure cassis that grabs the senses and doesn’t let go. Rating: 19+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Apr 2024)
Château Léoville Las Cases
St Julien Deuxième cru 1855 One of the leading "super-seconds" - a second growth chateau who's wines rival, in terms of quality and often price, the fabled First Growths of the Haut-Médoc. Before the Revolution, the Leoville estate was one of the largest and grandest in the region. At the time, it was in the aristrocratic ownership of the family of the Marquis de Las-Cases-Beauvoir. Unsurprisingly, the Marquis had to flee. To avoid Leoville being seized, the family decided to sell up but the complicated ownership of the estate, which was split between siblings, prevented the sale of Leoville as a whole and, in the end, only a small portion was sold off, to Hugh Barton, and this became Château Leoville Barton. The remainder of the estate came back to the Marquis' family when his son, Pierre-Jean, inherited most of Leoville, the only exception being a small portion inherited by his sister Jeanne. Jeanne's daughter married Baron Jean-Marie de Poyferré and, in 1840, this portion of the estate sheered off to become Château Leoville Poyferré. To stop further divisions among inheriting children, a holding company was founded to own Château Las Cases. Théophile Skawinski, who managed the estate, bought some shares which later passed to his son-in-law André Delon. The Delon family continued to buy share as they became available until, eventually, they became the owners of Château Leoville Las Cases. The bulk of Las Cases's vineyards - the Grand Clos - sit at the very northern end of St Julien, facing Château Latour across the Ruisseau de Juillac. The vines are planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The hand-picked grapes are fermented in an unusual array of wooden, stainless-steel and cement tanks. Wines spend 20 months in oak, with the proportion of new wood for the grand vin varying from 50% to 100% depending on the vintage. Château Leoville Las Cases have one of the most highly regarded "second wines" in Bordeaux - Clos du Marquis. The first vintage was in 1902, long predating most of its competitors. Its status as a true "second wine" is sometimes disputed, as there is a distinct Clos du Marquis vineyard, a little way to the west of the Grand Clos, although the cuvée does include some declassifications from the grand vin and fruit of younger vines. Its status as a "second wine" also belies the quality which exceeds many of the region's "first" wines.
- For full delivery details see our Delivery page.
- We offer free nationwide* delivery for all orders over £150 with our own vans. We also offer an express delivery service for an additional charge.
- Order & Collect from any of our 5 London shops. Order by Midnight for collection the next working day from 11am.
- Private wine storage: we offer a full In Bond and Duty Paid private wine storage service - find out more here.
RELATED PRODUCTS
2009 CHÂTEAU LAGRANGE 3ème Cru Classé Saint Julien
Bordeaux France 13.5% Red
.
Tasted at the château during the 2015 primeur campaign, 2009 Lagrange is opening slowly and moving on from fruit aromas to tobacco and spice. Very attractive, a hedonistic wine that can be enjoyed from now, but whi...(read more)
L&S
ORDER COLLECT
ORDER ONLINE AND COLLECT FROM ONE OF OUR SHOPS