Chateau Leoville Las Cases 2. Cru Classe Saint-Julien 2006 i trækasse

La Revue du Vin de France

Robert Parker

Not surprisingly, Leoville Las Cases has produced another classic, potentially long-lived wine in 2006. Among the St.-Juliens, it, Ducru Beaucaillou, and Leoville Barton possess the potential for the greatest longevity. Interestingly, when I visited this chateau in January, proprietor Jean-Hubert Delon offered me two samples, one where the cork had been pulled immediately prior to tasting, and another that had been decanted four hours earlier. Both were superb, but the wine that had had extended aeration was clearly the finer offering. The opaque purple-hued 2006- only 40% of the crop made it into the final blend- exhibits a personality that mimics the superb 1996. Classic aromas of sweet black raspberries, kirsch, cassis, and subtle toasty oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine displaying moderately high tannin. This cuvee can often resemble a Pauillac wrapped in the St.-Julien appellation, and the 2006 is no exception. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, it will require significant cellaring before consumption. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2035+.

Wine Spectator

Offers a pure nose of crushed raspberry and violet, with anissed. Full-bodied, with beautiful, well-integrated tannins and a long, polished texture to the finish. Very beautiful. Harmonious and structured. Best after 2015.

Weinwisser

Decanter

Intense colour, fragrant and smoky, masses of extract, almost Californian, but then wild violets and terroir expression come through, extraordinary richness of fruit yet perfect balance. 2015-40

Falstaff

International Wine Cellar

Full ruby-red. Highly complex aromas of currant, mocha, tobacco, minerals, camphor and musky bitter chocolate. Lush and silky in the mouth if a bit youthfully subdued today. This dense, cabernet-dominated wine is big, rich and backward, finishing with serious tannic spine (at 75, this has the highest IPT since the '01). I got the impression that cellarmaster Bruno Rolland prefers this wine to the 2005, and time may yet prove him right.

Vinum

Wine Enthusiast

Exceptionally rich wine, packed with tense, but solid Cabernet fruits. Dusty tannins, very sweet, blackberries and plum flavors. A dry wine but leaving an impression of great elegance.

Jancis Robinson

The glass already feels weightier than Clos du Marquis! Very deep purple right out to rim. Big, big difference between this and Clos du Marquis on the nose – completely different. Rather opulent even. Rich and very fine and intense and certainly pulling out all the stops! There’s finesse here. Even Las Cases is not trying to be big and tough this year. Trying for suppleness and fully ripe fruit. Very lively and fine tannins. Amazing nose even though not that much alcohol. Very neat long finish.

Vinous