2020 Chateau Leoville Las Cases - St. Julien 2eme Cru Classe

Decanter.com – 97 pts – GH: *Perfumed touches on the nose, quite high toned, blackcurrant but almost liqueur with rose petal and candy floss nuances. On the point of ripeness, still tense, not hugely expansive in the mouth or particularly weighty but juicy with a really confident energy to it - vibrant and compelling. Tannins are perfectly integrated, so fine, this has a silky overall texture with a hint of grip coming towards the mid palate. Driven and straight, not deviating from the core. Almost unfriendly, but you know this has been well made - it’s sleek, with sinewy muscles, just caged right now needing time to come around. I love the precision to the elements, there’s such a sharp attention to detail with a liquorice, slate and pencil lead tang. The flavours need coaxing a little; this is a sleeping beauty waiting to awaken, but when it does it will be delicious because of the precision. A wonderful wine that makes you really think about how it’s going to evolve.* - 01/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 98 pts – PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, fester Kern, zarte Randaufhellung. Feine Edelholznuancen, dunkle Beerenfrucht, reife Kirschen, zart nach Pflaumen und kandierten Orangenzesten, facettenreiches Bukett. Saftig, elegant, finessenreich strukturiert, reife Kirschen, etwas Lakritze, perfekt gereifte Tannine, mineralisch und lange anhaftend, sicheres Reifepotenzial, ein wunderbar balancierter Wein, der bereits jung sehr verführerisch sein wird. (2028–2065).* - 02/2023

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 96-98pts: *The 2020 Léoville Las Cases is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot, aging in 80% new French oak barriques, weighing in with an alcohol of 13.68%, a pH of 3.8 and an IPT (tannins index) of 79. The Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested from the 21st to the 27th of September, the Merlot from the 12th to the 15th of September and the Cabernet Franc on the 18th and 19th of September. With an opaque purple-black color, it slowly unfurls to reveal beguiling notes of fresh blackcurrants, Morello cherries, candied violets and dark chocolate, giving way to an undercurrent of crushed rocks, unsmoked cigars, clove oil and fragrant earth. The medium-bodied palate is a powerhouse of energy, delivering tightly wound red and black fruits, mineral and floral layers, supported by fantastic tension and incredibly ripe, silt-like tannins. The finish has jaw-dropping fragrance and depth.* - 05/21

Vinum Magazin – 18/20 pts: *Auch Las Cases wirkt besonders stilvoll, harmonisch, sogar elegant, raffiniert, ungewohnt fruchtig sogar, doch gut strukturiert wie immer, mit Tannin ausnehmender Klasse und spürbarer Mineralität, was auch die lange Reife garantiert.* - 07/2023

WeinWisser – 20/20pts – GL, TW: *Tiefgründig, vielschichtiges Bouquet, Wildkirsche, schwarze Olive, edle Cassiswürze. Im zweiten Ansatz getrockneter Rosmarin, Estragon und Holundersaft. Am sublimen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, perfekt ausgereiften Tanninen, gut stützender, balancierter Rasse, dunkler Mineralik, perfekt geformter Körper. Im konzentrierten langanhaltenden Finale spielt der St. Julien seine ganze Klasse aus – wird immer länger, bleibt dabei elegant und geradlinig wie ein Pfeil – grandiose Leistung. «A Dark Cristal» meint Antoine lächelnd.* – 03/2023

JancisRobinson.com - 17,5+/20pts - JL: *81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot. Intense, subtle and reserved. Just a hint of spice and cedar. Dense and tightly woven on the palate, the texture smooth and refined. Tannins firm but finely etched, the manifest acidity reinforcing the structure and helping with length and persistence. Adequate flesh to mask the tannins. Plenty of potential.* - 11/2022

JamesSuckling.com - 98-99pts - JS: *This is incredibly classic in style with so much currant, lead pencil, crushed stone and sweet tobacco. It’s full-bodied with minerally, stoney and powerful tannins. It goes on and one. Real Las Cases here. Solid as a rock. Progresses to violet, graphite and licorice at the end.* - 05/21

Vinous.com – 98+ pts – AG: *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.* - 12/2022

Vinous.com – 97 pts – NM: *The 2020 Léoville Las-Cases, matured in 80% new oak and bottled in July, has retained that alluring Pauillac-like bouquet with disarming purity and intensity. There is a little more blue fruit joining the chorus line compared to its showing in barrel. Wonderful delineation. The palate is beautifully balanced with pliant, fine-boned tannins that frame the silky-smooth black fruit. Strawberry, cassis and spicy notes percolate through with aeration and flourish on the finish. This fulfills all its potential from barrel - a quite stunning Saint-Julien and a great Las-Cases.* - 12/2022

The Wine Cellar Insider - (96-98) pts - JL: *Dark garnet in color, the wine pops with aromas of tobacco leaf, cigar box, cedar, herbs, black currants, coffee and spice. Refined, fresh, polished and firm, the fruit is vibrant, long and intense. The tannins are ripe almost creamy in texture. The finish is long, regal and compelling, leaving you with layer, of black currants and cassis. Give this at least 12-15 years before popping a cork and enjoy it for the next 3 decades after that. The wine is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, 13.68% ABV, 3.80 pH. The harvest took place from September 12 - September 27, making this the earliest vintage since 1989.* - 05/2021