Château Léoville Las Cases 2024

Ruby with purple highlights; a complex, delicate nose—subtle, distinguished, noble—with forest fruits, violet, tea, herbs, and, with more air, clear cassis; on the palate, highly elegant, masses of tannins support the fruit, the wine builds great tension, vertical, taut, precise, and of exalted length. Unmistakably Las Cases, in a style that is rather light-footed for the vintage.

Vivid and intense purple colour to the rim. Fragrant rosehip, violets and iris notes, deep and somewhat seductive in terms of aromatics. Supple and alive, the energy here is amazing. Tannins are chalky and filling, immediately covering the mouth with the clean and pure fruit underneath. This is quite massy still, but I love that it’s not at all too lean and focused. More wide and approachable than some with a cola and liquorice and wet stone element. Chewy, ripe, concentrated and fun. Much less serious than I was expecting, so well crafted with a real element of drinkability and freshness. Not thick or rich, but there’s enough flesh to fill the palate. Ageing 18 months, 75% new barrels. 6.3% press. 3.60 pH.

84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot. 31 hl/ha. Cask sample. Deep crimson. Fragrant nose and palate with dark-fruit, graphite and floral notes. Fairly solid structure, the tannins long and finely edged. Acidity as well so ‘classic’ and digestible. Powerful within the context of the vintage. (JL)

Juicy black currants, blackberries, Cuban cigar, cedar, and notes of crème de cassis fill the perfume. On the palate, the wine is long, vibrant, clean, and pure. There is a stately elegance to the currant-filled profile, with layers of blackberries and black cherries adding to its character. Firm, reserved, and refined, the fruits are fresh, boasting a classic profile, but classic in the best way. As always, Léoville Las Cases requires bottle aging. However, for Las Cases, this will be easy to taste with just about 5 years of age and should positively evolve for decades. This is in clear contention for wine of the vintage. Produced from a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Merlot, 13.1% ABV. Harvesting took place September 30 - October 9. Only 55% of the harvest was placed into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2030-2060. 95-97 pts

A bouquet that evokes an entire red-hued universe: heady flowers, succulent fruit, and silky-soft velvet. Deep aromas rise, followed by lifted notes of flower sap. On the palate, the wine unfolds with vibrant energy, like a controlled burst of tangy, sophisticated fruit. The texture is creamy and sensual, and the finish stretches gracefully, like a grosgrain ribbon gently gliding over the tongue.