Vintage 1996
A.O.C. Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France
Château Léoville Las Cases is the most legendary wine of Saint-Julien: on a quality par with the Haut-Médoc’s first growths (being situated next door to Latour), without the hefty price premium to match. It is also one of the largest, oldest and most picturesque of the district’s classified growths, and used to be even bigger: encompassing two other present day growths: Leoville Poyferre and Leoville Barton. The man largely responsible for Léoville’s success was the late Michel Delon who acquired the estate in 1950, and who consistently made the best wine in the Haut-Médoc in the last two decades. Today, the estate is managed by his son, Jean-Hubert, who looks set to continue the great work of his peerless father. ———
“The 1996 is more masculine on the nose with graphite and tobacco, a touch of sea salt developing with time, an estuarine tincture that is refreshing and speaks of its place. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, a saline touch on the entry, much more closed than the nose, obdurate as usual, quite austere towards the cedar and tobacco and mint dominated finish.” eRobertParker.com (May 2011)
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