Léoville-Las Cases St.-Julien 2019

100 points Peter Moser (Falstaff): "Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on rim. Fine oak, a hint of nougat, dark berries underneath, some cardamom, dark cherries, a hint of candied oranges. Powerful, taut, tightly meshed, fresh acidity, spicy, supporting tannins, a hint of chocolate on the finish, convincing balance, mineral and very long lasting, cherries on the finish, a vin de garde, can also be tasted young with a few hours in the carafe, enormous future potential. (2/23/22)"

99+ points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "Made from 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Leoville Las Cases is deep garnet-purple in color. It bursts from the glass with seductive scents of black cherry compote, creme de cassis, violets, and dark chocolate, leading to wafts of cedar and star anise. The full-bodied palate has amazingly fine tannins and great tension supporting the mineral-accented black fruits, finishing very long. Alcohol 14.02%. Drink: 2026-2066. (5/9/22)"

99 points La Revue du Vin de France: "2019 is a flamboyant Las Cases of great breed. Obviously sized for a long life, it already shows a balance and accessibility that makes it irresistible. Its tannic signature and the restrained power of its fruit take it to the top. (2022)"

97-99 points Wine Enthusiast: "This is an immense wine. Made from 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, it shows great structure, richness and aging potential. The tannins are ripe, showing the gentlest of extraction and are what is going to drive this wine for many years."

98 points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "The 2019 Léoville Las Cases is a brilliant young wine that will delight Bordeaux purists. Unwinding in the glass with scents of cassis, dark berries, cigar wrapper and pencil shavings, it’s full-bodied, layered and tightly wound, with a deep core of fruit, lively acids and an abundance of rich, powdery tannins. Concentrated and serious, much like its immediate neighbor Château Latour, it is likely to emerge as one of the vintage’s longest lived—and greatest—wines. Drink: 2035-2065. (4/7/22)"

98 points Wine Spectator: "Remarkably sleek and pure, considering the generally burly and obvious tannic profile of the vintage. Delivers a pure and unadulterated beam of cassis and plum reduction flavors inlaid seamlessly with a glistening iron girder that seems to have no end point through the finish, where violet, anise and black tea notes shimmer. Reserved overall, with a beautiful austerity, this is an example of how great terroir always shines through—even in extreme years. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2030 through 2050. (3/31/22)"

98 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc). This is just a great Las Cases where the structure expands upwards and outwards, making your tastebuds sit up and pay attention. The scraping minerality almost feels like you are on limestone instead of gravel soils, until the tannins kick in and you hit a wall of slate, spice, liquorice, rosebud, violet. Dark autumnal fruits of blackcurrant and bilberry are set against smoke and flint, giving no ground, demanding you slow down and take your time. It opens up, but you need to work for it. Exudes authority, a wine that delivers the essence of the property. Harvest September 18 to October 8. 3.67pH, 90% new oak. Drink: 2030-2050. Alcohol 14.0%. (10/26/21)"

98 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, this has a very pure, fresh and almost understated nose, with a focused purity of fruit, led by blackcurrant, damson and white peach, with a little citrus freshness which adds a fabulous lift to the nose. It all feels elegantly integrated, which translates nicely onto the palate, beautifully textured at the start, with a seamless polish to the upper layers, layers of dark fruits including black cherry, damson and currant beneath, touched with sooty notes but also more floral elements too. This all sits enmeshed within a frame of ripe, very elegant and fine tannins which coat the mouth through the middle and length. Pure, focused and reserved, with understated intensity and sinewy composition, this is a very fine Las-Cases which will cellar well. The alcohol is 14.02%. (Dec 2021)"

98 points James Suckling: "Currants and blackberries with crushed stones, bark and some conifer and pine cone. Perfumed. Discreet. Medium-to full-bodied with an integrated tannin structure that’s full of fine tannins that are weightless and seamless, building on the palate and coming out at the end. Needs five or six years to open. Texture of heavy silk. 79% cabernet sauvignon, 11% merlot and 10% cabernet franc. Try after 2027. (2/1/22)"

97+ points Jeb Dunnuck: "More backward, deep, and layered, the Grand Vin 2019 Château Léoville Las Cases is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that saw 90% new French oak. Just awesome aromatics of pure crème de cassis, graphite, tobacco leaf, burning embers, and gravelly earth all soar from the glass. This is followed by a quintessential Léoville Las Cases that's medium to full-bodied, pure, concentrated, and regal on the palate, with beautiful tannins. The purity of fruit is spot on, it's flawlessly balanced, and it’s going to age for decades. While it offers pleasure today, I'd wager it will take 10-15 years to hit maturity and will be a 50+ year wine. Drink: 2022-2072. (4/11/22)"

97 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2019 Léoville Las-Cases is tasted from two bottles, but it is the second that really delivers the goods. It has a beautifully-defined bouquet with blackberry, black olive, subtle marine scents and touches of crushed stone. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, cohesive, quite high toned towards the finish with touches of mint and cedar. Very fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. Drink: 2026-2055. (Feb 2023)"