Chateau Leoville Las Cases 2018

WEINWISSER: "80 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 11 % Merlot, 9 % Cabernet Franc, Lese war vom 15. September – 4. Oktober, 35,5 hl/ha, 14,49 %-vol., 20 Monate im Barrique, 90 % neue Fässer. Undurchsichtiges Purpur. Ein unglaublich dichtes Konzentrat, mit Wildkirschen und Lakritze. Im zweiten Ansatz eine volle Ladung Cassiswürze, schwarze Oliven und zartes Veilchenparfüm. Am sublimen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, straffem Tanningerüst, bleibt die ganze Zeit über filigran und schlank wie ein Pfeil und endet mit einem energiegeladenen langen Finale mit exotischem Holz und dunkle Schokotrüffel, ist mit gewaltigem Lagerpotential ausgestattet! Die unangefochtene Nummer 1 aus St.-Julien."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Pure magic and one of the finest expressions of this estate I could imagine, as well as a perfect wine, the 2018 Château Léoville Las Cases comes from a mix of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, and 9% Cabernet Franc that spent 19 months in (I believe) all new French oak. Its dense purple color is followed by a profound wine loaded with notions of crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, melon, crushed stone, tobacco, and violets. Full-bodied, concentrated, and massive on the palate, yet also incredibly well delineated and precise, it has a wonderful mix of seemingly ripe, sunny fruit from a warm year yet the minerality, purity, and precision of a cooler year. This wine is going to be just about immortal; however, do your best to hide bottles for a solid 10-15 years."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zarte Edelholzwürze, feines schwarzes Waldbeerkonfit, ein Hauch von Lakritze und Brombeeren, facettenreiches Bukett. Kraftvoll, extraktsüße, reife Supertannine, mineralisch und sehr lange anhaftend, tolle Frische, reife schwarze Kirschen, wird längere Zeit auf der Flasche brauchen, Riesenpotenzial, ein Wein de Garde."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2018 Léoville Las Cases is composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and 9% Merlot, harvested September 15 to October 4 with yields of 35.5 hectoliters per hectare, it has 14.49% alcohol and was aged in 90% new barriques. Deep purple-black colored, it needs a fair bit of coaxing to reveal striking scents of blackcurrant pastilles, wild blueberries and redcurrant jelly, giving way to notions of crushed rocks, lavender, Indian spices, unsmoked cigars and black truffles, plus a provocative waft of rose oil. The full-bodied palate is densely laden with black fruit preserves and earthy layers, accented by bright, lively red berry and floral sparks. It has a rock-solid frame of firm, ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing very long and wonderfully minerally. The tannins are so beautifully approachable even at this youthful stage, making it delicious to drink now, but afford it 5-6 years in bottle to allow those finer nuances to emerge and drink it over the next 40+ years."

JAMES SUCKLING: "An elegant, complex nose of blackberries, blueberries and herbal and spice notes with dark-chocolate and earthy undertones. Violets, flowers and graphite, too. It’s full-bodied with firm, layered tannins and a crushed-stone undertone throughout the fresh, velvety and layered palate. Very complex, muscular and formed. The finish is endless. Lowest percentage of press wine ever in this. So deep. Try after 2027."

DECANTER: "This has such a textured, ripe, plump and poised black fruit character that is clear from the aromatics alone. Mouthfilling with huge texture and density, full of licorice root, black chocolate shavings and cocoa pod with crème de cassis edging. This is delicious and has chewy tannins that you can pick up with a shovel. One of the 'wines of the vintage'. Only 2% of press wine (unusually low, as it can go up to 15% in some years). It grips on tight to the finish - extremely impressive. 90% new oak. 80IPT. 3.65pH. A yield of 35.5hl/ha. Drinking Window 2028 - 2050"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Stylistically different, but not far off from the level of quality found in the perfect 2016, this is a future legendary vintage of Leoville Las Cases. As you begin to nose the wine you find a boatload of crème de cassis, Cuban cigars, smoke, forest leaf, tobacco, blackberry, coffee bean, flowers and earthy aromas. Full-bodied, rich and dense, the wine meshes power with soft, supple, round, rich layers of fruit that feel just great as they coat your palate. Long and intense, comparing this with the 2016 and 2019 over the decades is going to be a lot of fun. The wine was made from a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc,14.5 ABV."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Layered with dry tannins and concentrated texture, this major wine offers an impressive structure and promises considerable aging. Black-currant fruits are still tied to the tannins. The wine exudes richness and a classic profile. To say this wine will age is an understatement. Do not touch before 2028 at the earliest."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Reserved, even reticent, at first, but like a cold fireplace brought back to life it slowly reveals beautifully handcrafted notes of cassis, plum reduction and blackberry puree along with hints of charcoal, warm cast iron and sweet bay leaf. A violet note chimes on the seriously long finish, adding a tantalizing treble note. A precise, regal, terroir-driven wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2028 through 2042."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. First bottle TCA. Bright, dense crimson. Rather enticingly enigmatic on the nose. Then rich and ripe and expansive on the palate. Lovely balance and restraint. Really builds towards the end. Very fine tannins."