Chateau Leoville Las Cases 1998

DECANTER: „1998 was a late flowering year but the grapes achieved perfect ripeness by harvest time. It's an excellent vintage that's generally known as a Right Bank year, but is more than holding its own over in St-Julien. At this point we are starting to see what a mature Léoville can do: the edges are softening to a russet colour and the cigar-box edge is apparent, alongside notes of hedgerow, undergrowth, rosemary, black cherry, cassis, and a touch of menthol on the finish."

JAMES SUCKLING: „Loads of tobacco and mushroom with some wet earth and currant throughout. Medium-bodied, creamy and juicy with lovely energy. Real Bordeaux here. Savory finish. Drink now."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: „This is developed well over the wines, putting on more weight and complexity. Now, you find a ready-to-go Las Cases delivering a complex set of aromatics; black and red currants, smoke, cigar box, wet earth, cedar, and tobacco. The wine is full, firm, stoic and also fresh. Classic in style, the finish is all about its freshness and lifted characteristics that come along with its chewy, bright, red, spicy fruits. An hour or 2 of air will help. The wine blends 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, 12.9% ABV."

WINE SPECTATOR: „Impressive dark, almost purple color. Intense aromas of crushed blackberries, minerals, mint and currant follow through to a full body, with licorice and berry character and a long, velvety finish. Needs a bit of time still, but very enjoyable already. Very serious for the vintage."

JEB DUNNUCK: „Harvested under rainy conditions (1998 was great for the Right Bank and much more difficult for the later ripening Left Bank), the 1998 Léoville Las Cases offers a complex, nuanced, and elegant style that lacks some ripeness yet stays classic and balanced, with no green or off flavors. Cedar, lead pencil, currants, leafy herbs, and ample spice notes all emerge from this medium to full-bodied Saint Julien that has fine tannins, a seamless texture, and terrific elegance. Drink it over the coming decade or so."

FALSTAFF: „Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, breitere Randaufhellung. Reife Pflaumen, zarte Schokonote, zart karamellig. Saftig, süße Frucht, feste Tannine, ein kraftvoller Wein, eher opulenter Stil, zarte vegetale Würze im Abgang, leicht austrocknend im Abgang."