Vertical Tasting of Léoville Las Cases

TASTING NOTES

« Verticals of Léoville Las Cases »: discover Didier Frayssou's report on our Oenoschool tasting of 2 November 2016 and benefit from our opinions on 6 different vintages of the fine wine of the Marquis de Las Cases, as well as on the 2012 vintages of Clos du Marquis and Petit Lion.

Clos du Marquis 2012 **(*)

A wine with an intense, purple robe and a finely oaked nose of black fruits and blackcurrant. The attack on the palate is very fruity, round, and indulgent. The tannins are smooth, but the finish is a little short.

Petit Lion 2012 ***

A robe slightly less intense than the Clos du Marquis. The nose is similar but with a hint more vegetal character. The palate is marked by a stronger acidity, but the wine is far more elegant and long. It has the class of the fine wine without the concentration, and remains approachable at this young age — exactly what one expects from a second wine.

Léoville Las Cases 1962 ***(*)

A very light mahogany robe and a complex nose with smoky, meaty notes, cooked fruits and dried flowers, with a slight volatile hint. The palate is certainly medium-bodied, but the wine is very long with a lingering, gentle finish. A very lovely wine with fine aromatic complexity and still plenty of fruit. 

Léoville Las Cases 1981 ****

A medium-intensity, brick-red robe. A nose of red bell peppers, dried flowers, and tobacco. A wine with plenty of substance: the palate is fleshy and free of vegetal notes, with aromas of stewed fruits and tobacco. The tannins are smooth, the finish long and gentle. A lovely wine that does not show its age.

Léoville Las Cases 1992 ****

A brick-red robe with low-intensity mahogany reflections. The nose is quite noble: coffee, cedar, cigar box… The palate is refined and fluid, with great aromatic persistence: ripe bell peppers, liquorice, and tobacco come through, along with a fine acidity and smooth tannins. A great wine in a modest vintage.

Léoville Las Cases 1989 ***(*)

The robe is fairly intense, cloudy, with brick-red reflections. A nose of olive, cooked fruits, tea, and grilled bell peppers. The palate is still a little closed, sun-drenched but balanced by the estate's characteristic acidity, with bloody notes and smooth tannins.

Léoville Las Cases 1998 ****(*)

A marked intensity for this barely evolved robe. The nose is relatively inexpressive: coffee, cocoa, black fruits. The palate remains reserved. This is a concentrated wine with present but fleshy tannins. A model of balance that will need another 8 to 10 years to open up. The finest wine of the evening in terms of potential, even if one is left slightly wanting today.

Léoville Las Cases 2003 ****

The robe is close to the 1998, but slightly more evolved, more cloudy, and more matt. One perceives aromas of cooked fruits, light port notes, menthol, pine resin, and an oak presence that still comes through with creamy and vanilla notes. The attack is very fruity, the wine is concentrated, very long on the palate, and above all without excess alcohol — which is remarkable given the vintage.

Conclusion: We tasted wines of the nose (1962, 1981, 1992) that performed very well, with great aromatic elegance, in vintages that were not always easy. But also wines of the palate — 1989 slightly disappointing, 2003 remarkable for this atypical vintage, and 1998 superb. Nevertheless, there was a true consistency throughout the tasting, both in the freshness of the wines and in their finesse, their elegance, and their austere character reminiscent of Pauillac. A consistency that confirms the great elegance and the regularity of quality of these wines, for those who know how to wait for them.

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