Ratings & Tasting Notes:

100 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

One of the high points of this great vintage, the 2016 Léoville Las Cases is a brilliant wine that unwinds in the glass with aromas of dark berries, pencil shavings, cigar wrapper, loamy soil and violets. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it’s concentrated and complete, with beautifully refined tannins, vibrant acids and a long, mineral finish. Even in this series of great wines, it stands out for its cool classicism and unerring precision. Still an infant, while the 2016 is sufficiently polished to be far from forbidding, the real fireworks won’t begin for another decade. (WK)

100 points Jeb Dunnuck

The 2016 Léoville Las Cases is the finest vintage I’ve ever tasted from this estate; in fact, in this reviewer’s opinion, this magical, perfect wine couldn’t be better. Made from 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc aged 22 months in 90% new oak, it reveals a deep, saturated purple color as well as a thrilling bouquet of crème de cassis, iris flowers, graphite, crushed rocks, and freshly sharpened lead pencils. A perfect example of the old saying ‘an iron fist in a velvet glove,’ it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, stacked mid-palate, flawless integration of its acidity and tannins, and a monster finish. The balance and purity here are off the charts. Hide bottles for a decade or so and enjoy over the following half a century.

100 James Suckling

Very complex and alluringly spicy aromas that bubble in and out of the nose, together with fresh tobacco, raspberries and iodine, moving into blackcurrants, blackberries and a gently gravely, stony edge. The palate has incredible polish that is a foil for the intense power and concentration of this wine. The texture is flawless, building smoothly with fine-grained and focused tannins that sustain a long, fresh finish. The new 1986, which was a legend. This is probably better. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc. Try from 2024.

100 Decanter

Nothing under 20 years old supplies fruit for the grand vin de Léoville. It’s extremely dark and rich, a stately purple in colour with some violet around the rim. Right from the off it expands upwards and outwards, showing polished dark, dark fruits such as black cherry and cassis, alongside slate, liquorice and rosemary. It’s mouthfilling and almost less austere than all of the others, yet it’s a serious wine. The tannins close in on themselves at the end, showing how this is built to last. A great advert for the whole of Bordeaux, and for me it’s the clear wine of the vintage. (JA)

Cult Wines International Notes:

Château Léoville-Las Cases is a Second Growth estate in the Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux, France, renowned for producing wines that are often considered to be of First Growth quality. Located directly adjacent to the prestigious Château Latour, the property shares a similar terroir, which contributes to its powerful, structured, and long-lived wines.

The estate’s history dates back to the 17th century, when it was part of a much larger Léoville estate. After the French Revolution, the property was divided, with the largest and most significant portion forming what is now Léoville-Las Cases. The vineyard’s Grand Enclos parcel, a walled vineyard that touches the border of Pauillac, is considered the heart of the estate and is the source of its most exceptional grapes.

The flagship wine is known for its remarkable aging potential and a classic Bordeaux profile of concentrated blackcurrant, cassis, and cedar notes, underscored by a firm tannic structure and a mineral elegance. In addition to its grand vin, the estate also produces a highly regarded second wine, Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases, which offers a more approachable and earlier-drinking expression of the estate’s style.

Bottle Size:

750 mL

Storage History:

Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar.

Condition:

Please note: The bottle shown is the exact bottle being sold.

Outstanding condition.