Chateau Leoville Las Cases 1995

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "A clear winner in this mixed vintage, the wine is concentrated, deep and fresh, with a ripe, blackberry essence. Full bodied and long, the wine is young, yet, with the ripeness in the tannins and the fruit, it´s already enjoyable in your glass. In time, another 10 years or so, this will be even better!"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "If it were not for the prodigious 1996, everyone would be concentrating on getting their hands on a few bottles of the fabulous 1995 Leoville-Las-Cases, which is one of the vintage´s great success stories. The wine boasts an opaque ruby/purple color, and exceptionally pure, beautifully knit aromas of black fruits, minerals, vanillin, and spice. On the attack, it is staggeringly rich, yet displays more noticeable tannin than its younger sibling. Exceptionally ripe cassis fruit, the judicious use of toasty new oak, and a thrilling mineral character intertwined with the high quality of fruit routinely obtained by Las Cases, make this a compelling effort. There is probably nearly as much tannin as in the 1996, but it is not as perfectly sweet as in the 1996. The finish is incredibly long in this classic. Only 35% of the harvest was of sufficient quality for the 1995 Leoville-Las-Cases. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Pure violets, minerals and blackberries on the nose. Full-bodied, chewy and powerful. Still holding back a lot. This wine needs to break its chains. Give it time.--´95/´96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2010. 18,000 cases made."