Léoville-Las Cases St.-Julien 2020

100 points La Revue du Vin de France: "Las Cases 2020, a wine of superlative depth, richness and, above all, definition. A wine that bursts onto the palate in wave after wave, with no end in sight. The enormous tannic structure is perfectly set and melts into the finish with absolute precision. (2024)"

99 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "Made from 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Merlot, the 2020 Leoville Las Cases is deep garnet-purple in color. After a swirl or two, it erupts from the glass with explosive scents of blackcurrant cordial, stewed blackberries, juicy blackberries, and violets, leading to suggestions of licorice, cinnamon toast, and fertile loam with a touch of truffles. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound with loads of nuanced black fruit, earthy, and floral layers, supported by very fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and multi-layered. Alcohol 13.68%. Drink: 2028-2068. (3/12/23)"

98+ points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "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. Drink: 2032-2070. (Feb 2023)"

98 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2020 Léoville Las-Cases has an intense nose with blackberry, wild strawberry, cassis and just a touch of licorice. It coheres wonderfully in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied and beautifully knit together, with filigree tannins and a bright, tensile finish that fans out with real panache. Of course, it's primal and nascent, yet you can already tell the class. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Drink: 2032-2065. (Nov 2024)"

98 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Another 2020 that's going to demand patience, the 2020 Château Léoville Las Cases is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend that includes 11% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot that was raised in 80% new French oak. It's a regal, medium to full-bodied, concentrated, flawlessly balanced 2020 with a pure core of cassis and darker currant fruits, a layered, seamless mouthfeel that carries substantial tannins, perfectly integrated oak, and subtle floral, mineral, and leafy herb nuances. Playing in the concentrated yet focused and structured style of the vintage, it's going to need a decade to hit the early phases of its prime drinking window and will have 50-75 years of longevity. Drink: 2035-2085. (3/29/23)"

98 points Peter Moser (Falstaff): "Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, firm core, delicate rim brightening. Fine noble wood nuances, dark berry fruit, ripe cherries, delicate hints of plums and candied orange zest, multi-faceted bouquet. Juicy, elegant, finesse-rich structure, ripe cherries, some liquorice, perfectly ripe tannins, mineral and long lasting, certain ageing potential, a wonderfully balanced wine that will be very seductive even young. (2028-2065). (2/22/23)"

98 points James Suckling: "A linear and very racy wine with super fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Superb. It’s full-bodied yet really focused and polished with a length and intensity. Lots of currants and graphite. Very classy and fine. The new 1996. Give it six to seven years to come around. (11/19/23)"

97+ points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "The 2020 Léoville Las Cases is a classic in the making, unwinding in the glass with aromas of cherries, cassis, loamy soil, violets and dark chocolate framed by a discreet touch of new oak. Full-bodied, broad and layered, it's rich and concentrated, with a deep core of fruit framed by sweet, powdery tannins and lively acids. Concluding with a long, resonant finish, it's built for the cellar. Drink: 2030-2060. (4/6/23)"

97 points Georgina Hindle (Decanter): "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. Drinking Window: 2029-2057. (1/3/23)"

97 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "The blend here is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot. I find a wealth of dark, perfumed and focused aromatics here, with red cherry, violet, touches of blackcurrant, toast, crushed white-gravel minerality and a little rose petal. It combines suggestions of density with these perfumed aromatics very well. The palate is still primary, but beautifully formed, with a melange of red cherry, damson, dark currant and tense cranberry fruits, wrapped around a dense spindle of tightly knit and finely polished tannins, with a beautifully sinewy harmony between structure and fruit. It finishes in a pure and cohesive style, with plenty of grip, but beautiful precision, lift and freshness. I think this will evolve into a very fine, lifted expression of the Las Cases terroir. It certainly brims with decades of potential. Chapeau! The alcohol is 13.5%. (Dec 2022)"

97 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot). Richly textured from the first moment, pencil lead, cassis, black cherry, cigar box, liqourice and espresso, just waves of utterly gorgeous flavours. I highly recommend that if you can find a way to taste a young Las Cases, it is worth your time, because the bare bones of what it will become are there, and remain visible for a few years before the entire thing clamps shut for a decade or more, prising open only one chink at a time. There are edges of violet and smoked caramel here, revealing a generous Las Cases compared to many vintages, but it will close down like the rest do, surely as night follows day. 50% new oak. The alcohol level is 1% less than 2018 and 0.5% less than in 2019, 3.65ph, 34hl/ha yield. Drink: 2032-2050. (12/7/22)"

96-98 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "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. (May 2021)"