Description
Blend: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot
Wood case ships separately.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
So subtle and complex, with aromas of violets, lavender, dark roses and fresh currants. Very open. A wonderful hint of herbs. Full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that give a multilayered texture to his and a savory, succulent finish that emphasizes brightness and length. Tangy and vivid at the end. Primary and pure. 86% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc and 4% merlot. Best after 2028, but exciting to taste now.
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Decanter
Bright, gorgeous, expressive aromatics of dark purple and black fruit. A sense of opulence and clear Cabernet effects on the nose. Supple and agile, juicy and succulent, a rich almost thick cherry juiciness, fleshy, ripe and cool. Lovely minty, liquorice and graphite undertone that keep the freshness going to a long finish. It’s a bit bolder than I expected for LLC and also a bit bigger for the vintage. A characterful style, certainly not missing any body but retains pure charm - this is out to please, certainly not tough or too serious, this is more easy to approach. Lots of herbal elements, pencil lead, graphite and wet stone with cloves and cinnamon. It’s still compact no doubt, but despite the power there’s finesse and it ends clean and lifted. Up there with the best of the vintage. With 4% Merlot, it’s the lowest percentage ever in the blend - 2022 was 5%. 43hl/ha yield. Harvest September 9 to October 2. 6.6% press. 3.79pH. Ageing 18 months, 50% new.
Barrel Sample: 98 -
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2023 Château Leoville Las Cases is another absolute classic 2023 from the Médoc. Pure crème de cassis, leather, graphite, violets, and a Latour-like sense of minerality define the aromatics, and it's incredibly concentrated, has medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, focused, structured mouthfeel, and plenty of both tannins and acidity. While the tannins are incredibly ripe and polished, this beauty is nevertheless one for the cellar and will demand bottle age.
Barrel Sample: 94-97 -
Vinous
The 2023 Léoville Las Cases is a wine of understatement and class. In so many vintages, Las Cases is quite authoritative, but I find the 2023 rather quiet and unexpressive today. It’s a rather intellectual Las Cases, a wine with tremendous potential, but also a wine that is quite reserved at this early stage. Time in the glass brings out hints of blueberry, graphite, spice and mocha. It will be interesting to see where this goes. This is a very austere, classically built Las Cases for readers who can be patient. –Antonio Galloni
Barrel Sample: 94-97 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and only 4% Merlot, the 2023 Léoville Las Cases is one of the more serious, structured wines of the vintage, reminiscent of a modern-day version of the estate's excellent 2001. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cherries, cassis and plums mingled with hints of licorice, mint and creamy new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a taut core of fruit, lively acids and plenty of fine, youthfully firm tannins. It will require and reward patience.
Barrel Sample: 94-96 -
Wine Spectator
Stolid at first, this is inky, dark and tightly wound, but violet and iris notes steadily emerge as a core of cold cassis, plum paste and blackberry puree slowly awakens. The finish is dusted with cold charcoal, and a rigid cast iron spine brings a regal austerity into play, yet there’s enough fruit to burn as this waits for its structural side to loosen. A serious wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Best from 2030 through 2050.
PDX1962974CA_0 Item# 1962974