Château Léoville Las Cases - St.-Julien 1996 (750ml)
Price: $415.00
| Producer | Château Léoville Las Cases |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Subregion | St. Julien |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
| Vintage | 1996 |
| Sku | 10602 |
| Size | 750ml |
Wine Advocate: 98 Points
The 1996 Leoville-Las Cases is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon 14% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc picked between 25 September and 10 October (for fascinating insight read Robert Parker's remarks about the blend with Michel Delon in the original tasting note). Now at 20 years it has evolved into an absolutely stunning Saint Julien clearly one of the best wines from the estate this decade. The bouquet is beautifully defined with intense black cherries cedar mint and a touch of oyster shell that seems to gain intensity in the glass. The palate is seamless from start to finish extraordinarily pure the 70% new oak totally assimilated of course impressive weight and power allied with genuine finesse and tension towards the silky smooth finish. It stands as one of the best wines of the vintage without one iota of doubt and it will last 30-40 years without problem. You might call it "proper Claret." You might call it "delicious." Tasted July 2016.
Vinous: 96+ Points
Saturated bright dark ruby. Perfumed vibrant very youthful aromas of cassis violet and bitter chocolate. Dense and powerful with great clarity of flavor thanks to a terrific spine of acidity. Almost painfully structured wine but not at all hard. Finishes very long and gripping with a note of bitter chocolate. Drink 2012 through 2040.
vWine Spectator: 92 Points
A racy, silky red. Intense aromas of blackberries and raspberries. Full- to medium-bodied, with a lovely concentration of fine tannins and a long, long finish. Not as good as the '95. Best after 2002.
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