2022 Chateau Leoville Las Cases - St. Julien 2eme Cru Classe

Decanter.com – (98-100) pts – GH: *A luminous and utterly brilliant wine in 2022 that really sets itself apart. Hints of black bramble fruit, spicy peppercorns, violets, sweet cherries, crushed stones, ink and cocoa powder on the nose - all so very appealing. Tension and direction from the get go, this is sleek and slick, dense but such alluring coolness, with crushed stones and blueberries giving minerality as well as juicy acidity providing lift. It’s not out to shine right now, but there’s such confidence on show. Direct, slowly expanding effortlessly as it goes from start to finish, elongating the fine tannic structure that supports but doesn't overwhelm. So poised and refined, charming in a dark, utterly seductive way. Firm, but fruity, cool and calm, coming in waves. One of the wines of the vintage with striking power but delivered so perfectly with everything in balance. 3.80pH. 85 IPT. A yield of 36-37hl/ha. 98-100 points.* - 04/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 98 pts – PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, tintig, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart nach Nugat und Gewürzen, reife dunkle Beerenfrucht ist unterlegt, zart nach Lakritze und Cassis, ein Hauch von Orangenzesten, ein Hauch von Nugat. Stoffig, elegant, feine Extraktsüße, reife schwarze Kirschen, feine tragende Tannine, mineralisch und sehr lange, saliner Nachhall, tolles Zukunftspotenzial, frisch und verführerisch, ein Klassiker.* - 01/2023

Vinum Magazin – 19/20 pts: *Zurückhaltende Ausbauaromatik; beginnt fleischig, wuchtige Entwicklung über mit herrlich sattem Tannin, immense Spannkraft und Rasse und superbe Länge: Meisterlich gekelterter, perfekt ausbalancierter Las Cases.* - 04/2023

WeinWisser – 20/20pts – GL, TW: *83.5 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 10.5 % Cabernet Franc, 6 % Merlot, pH 3.8, 14.25 Vol.-%, 37 hl/ha, Presswein 8 %. Unglaublich tiefgründiges Bouquet, frisch gepflückte Alpenheidelbeere, edle Cassiswürze, betörender Irisduft und dunkle Mineralik. Im zweiten Ansatz Szechuanpfeffer, Holundergelee und heller Tabak. Am durchtrainierten und komplexen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, engmaschigem Tanninkorsett, edlem mineralischen Kern sowie perfekt balancierter Rasse. Im konzentrierten, ewig langen Finale katapultiert sich der St. Julien nach vorne und endet mit Wildkirsche und tiefschürfender Terroirwürze; unglaublich kraftvoll und rein, alles am richtigen Platz. Ein Gigant, der einem den Atem raubt. Ganz klar: Bestnote!* – 04/2023

JancisRobinson.com – 18+/20pts – JL: *83.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10.5% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot. Cask sample. Deep crimson colour. Complex, powerful and refined with blackcurrant, violet, spice and cedar notes. Juicy and dense with layered fruit and tannins. Big structure but the tannins almost hidden. Picks up pace on the finish. Long. One of the top wines this year.* - 04/2023

Vinous.com – (98-100) pts – NM: *The 2022 Léoville Las-Cases was picked 8-30 September with more infusion than extraction, matured in 84% new oak. Precocious, almost decadent blackberry and blueberry fruit on the nose, there is something lavish and audacious about this Saint-Julien. There is an underlying estuarine element, a whiff off the banks of the Gironde. The palate is medium-bodied with polished tannins, very detailed, extremely pure, what you might call a "vertical" Las-Cases with fabulous precision on the finish. This surpasses the 2018-2020 trio and to use that clichéd expression, is a "tour de force".* - 04/2023

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (98-100) pts – JL: *Inky in color, the wine is all about its full-body, intensity, levels of concentration, and sense of purity. The wine starts off with violets, cassis, blackberries, Cuban cigar wrapper, ash, smoke, licorice, and mint. On the palate, the levels of concentration are readily apparent. Yet, even with all its depth of flavor, there is refinement, lift, and complexity that requires time and effort to unfurl. The fruit is uncommonly rich in the mid-palate the tannins are strong, ripe and firm. The seamless finish, with its wall of rich, black and blue fruit hits the 60 second mark with ease. As always, Leoville Las Cases requires bottle aging. But, with 2022, my guess is the wine will start to shine after a decade of age, evolving and improving for 40-50 years with ease. Produced from a blend 83.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10.5% Cabernet Franc and 6% Merlot. 14.25% ABV. 3.80 pH. Harvesting took place September 8 - September 30. Yields were 36 hectoliters per hectare. This is only the second time in the history of the estate that you find more Cabernet Franc than Merlot in the blend. Drink from 2030-2065.* - 05/2023