2023 Chateau Leoville-Las Cases 'Grand Vin de Leoville'

97-99. Barrel Sample. With 86% of the blend, this is a Cabernet Sauvignon wine. With its fragrant fruit aromas and well-packed black-currant flavors, the wine has succulence, allied to tannins. The wine's impressive structure goes with its stylish character giving plenty of aging.

Einmal mehr eine Nase zum Wegträumen, tief, nobel, floral, verspielt, pure Emotion; am Gaumen dicht gebaut, ein Monument, mit Eleganz und beeindruckender Leichtigkeit, sensationelle Tanninqualität, knackige Frucht, alle Elemente sind perfekt austariert, grosse Länge. Ein majestätischer Las Cases.

Cigar wrapper, creme de cassis, flowers, cherries, mint, and blackberries produce the bouquet. The palate is intense, full-bodied, concentrated, racy, and vibrant. The fruit has lift, length, purity, and a creamy edge to the racy-mouth-feel. The finish lingers, with layers of perfectly, ripe, berries that build, and expand in the mid-palate, through to the juicy, sapid finish. As always, Leoville Las Cases requires bottle aging. But for Las Cases, it is going to be a pleasure to taste relatively early, with just a decade of age. Produced from a blend 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Merlot. 13.10% ABV. 3.79 pH. Harvesting took place September 9 - October 2. This is not only the third time in the history of the estate with more Cabernet Franc than Merlot in the blend. It is also the smallest amount of Merlot ever placed into the Grand Vin. It is also interesting to note that LLC was the first major wine to be released in the 2023 campaign, setting the stage for what could take place this year. Drink from 2030-2065.

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Adrian van Velsen’s 2023 En Primeur tasting notes will appear under VINUM

A magnificent wine, detailed and showing amazing energy. Vibrant mid-palalte, the evenly distributed layers of flavour create a sensation of grandeur. Superbly fine tannins coat the mouth with laserlike precision. A maginficent, clearly defined grand wine.

Exceptional quality of cabernet comes through here, with a lot of graphite, lead pencil, crushed stone, walnut and currant fruit. It grows and expands on the palate, remaining in focus at the same time. Refined and seamless with beautiful tannins that show power and intensity. It rolls across the palate with verve. 86% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc and 4% merlot.

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