Made from 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Merlot, the 2020 Leoville Las Cases is deep garnet-purple in color. After a swirl or two, it erupts from the glass with explosive scents of blackcurrant cordial, stewed blackberries, juicy blackberries, and violets, leading to suggestions of licorice, cinnamon toast, and fertile loam with a touch of truffles. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound with loads of nuanced black fruit, earthy, and floral layers, supported by very fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and multi-layered.
The 2020 Léoville Las Cases has developed into a powerhouse. Then again, that is Las Cases. En primeur, I thought the 2020 was a bit shy, but its true personality has to emerge. Blackberry jam, gravel, spice, menthol, licorice, espresso and plum all saturate the palate. Vivid and explosive, the 2020 is dizzyingly rich, with plenty of Las Cases tannins that will require patience. I am not sure when the 2020 will be ready to drink, but it won't be anytime soon. Las Cases is one of the wines of the vintage in 2020, that much is pretty clear.
A linear and very racy wine with super fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Superb. It’s full-bodied yet really focused and polished with a length and intensity. Lots of currants and graphite. Very classy and fine. The new 1996. Give it six to seven years to come around.
Another 2020 that's going to demand patience, the 2020 Château Léoville Las Cases is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend that includes 11% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot that was raised in 80% new French oak. It's a regal, medium to full-bodied, concentrated, flawlessly balanced 2020 with a pure core of cassis and darker currant fruits, a layered, seamless mouthfeel that carries substantial tannins, perfectly integrated oak, and subtle floral, mineral, and leafy herb nuances. Playing in the concentrated yet focused and structured style of the vintage, it's going to need a decade to hit the early phases of its prime drinking window and will have 50-75 years of longevity.
Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, firm core, delicate rim brightening. Fine noble wood nuances, dark berry fruit, ripe cherries, delicate hints of plums and candied orange zest, multi-faceted bouquet. Juicy, elegant, finesse-rich structure, ripe cherries, some liquorice, perfectly ripe tannins, mineral and long lasting, certain ageing potential, a wonderfully balanced wine that will be very seductive even young.
The 2020 Léoville Las Cases is a classic in the making, unwinding in the glass with aromas of cherries, cassis, loamy soil, violets and dark chocolate framed by a discreet touch of new oak. Full-bodied, broad and layered, it's rich and concentrated, with a deep core of fruit framed by sweet, powdery tannins and lively acids. Concluding with a long, resonant finish, it's built for the cellar.
The wine's richness comes both from the dark tannins and the pure, classic black currant flavors. Acidity, yes, but surrounded by dense fruits and tannins that give the wine considerable structure and the potential to age for many years. An impressive wine.
Harvest DateSeptember 12th through September 27th 2020
PH3.8
TA3.65g/100mLs
Shop All Wines Chateau Leoville-Las Cases Saint-Julien 2020 (Pre-Arrival) Arriving February 2024
Chateau Leoville-Las Cases Saint-Julien 2020 (Pre-Arrival)Arriving February 2024
Bordeaux Blends | France
TWI99, VN98+, JS98, JD98, FS98, WE96-98, WA97+
New
$350.00
$269.00 | 750mL
23% off retail!
Act Fast, Only 16 Left!
Château Léoville-Las Cases is a Second Growth Bordeaux legend, one of the largest estates in St. Julien, and a top producer and innovator for generations. 99 POINTS for a wine that is truly pushing perfection here – at a price that is downright spectacular for a top-scoring Second Growth Grand Vin such as this! We were only allocated 5 CASES, set to arrive in February 2024...make sure you make a few of them yours TODAY!
Château Léoville-Las Cases was truly a royal estate on Bordeaux’s Left Bank, passed down through members of the noble Las Cases family until the end of the 19th century. Once amongst the largest vineyards in all of Bordeaux – a sizeable chunk was sold off in the aftermath of the French Revolution (gotta re-distribute that royal wealth!) that would eventually give rise to Leoville Barton and Leoville Poyferre. Léoville-Las Cases maintained the grand portion of this division, some 98 hectares, of which only 55 are available for use in this Grand Vin. The total planting make-up is around 67% cabernet sauvignon, 23% merlot, and 10% cabernet franc (though there are a handful of petit verdot vines mixed into the vineyard as well) on St. Julien’s prized gravelly sand and clay mix. The vineyard rests along the northern boundary of the appellation – and only a stone’s throw to neighboring Pauillac, and furthermore separated from the prestigious Chateau Latour by a very small stream known as “The Juillac”.
The 2020 vintage is proving to be a year of ideal balance and complexity – a near-perfect vintage marred only by the lower yields and the resulting scarcity of these wines. The best producers are mostly spoken for already, even so early in release, and we’ll cut to the quick...deals are hard to come by! We’re absolutely thrilled to have secured five cases to offer at over $80 less than the suggested retail price, and while we will certainly try to get more...there are no promises in today’s highly competitive market for top Bordeaux. Check out these exceptional reviews from all the major critics, and move with haste to secure yours today!
About the Producer
One of the oldest Medoc estates, Domaine de Leoville belonged to some of the wealthiest and most influential noble French families before it was acquired by the Las Cases family. The estate was split up between 1826 and 1840 as a result of the French Revolution. Chateau Leoville Las Cases was created, thanks to a kind of birthright, from 3/5 of the original estate and the heart of the domain in Saint Julien. Today the estate is owned and run by the Delon family who purchased the chateau and its 242 acres in 1976. This is a pristine parcel of magnums that we scored direct from the Chateau, the porvenance does not get better than this!
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