Château Léoville Las Cases Saint-Julien 2020 - 2nd Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Certainly the closest second growth, and for many vintages, when the cork does not betray it, on a par with the best first growths. It owes its class and consistency to the selection of plots that allow it to be produced on the large enclosure adjacent to Château Latour, and to the exemplary perfectionism initiated by Michel Delon in the 1980s and fully continued by his son Jean-Hubert. The finesse and subtlety of its flavor are unmatched in the world, but the wine is now opening up more quickly than in the past. The young vines produce the Petit-Lion, which is lighter but no less elegant, and the rest of the estate produces the remarkable Clos-du-Marquis, which continues to offer astonishing value for money.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

This 2020 vintage from Léoville Las Cases is nothing short of perfection. Nothing stands out here; everything seems to be in place for a long, very long life. The color is of a density and depth that command respect. Although a little austere at this stage, the nose hints at its future complexity; after aeration, it reveals pure, fresh fruitiness, tinged with sweet spices, cedar, licorice, and graphite. The palate exudes an impression of extraordinary power and firmness, but a firmness without harshness: the prevailing sensation is one of elegance, metronomic precision, silkiness and, above all, great freshness. A great classic in the timeless sense of the term. 2030-2048

About the estate:

Las Cases is not content with owning 98 hectares, three-fifths of the former Léoville estate, which was divided between 1826 and 1846 to create the three Léoville estates known today. The vineyard also owns the historic heart of the vineyard, the Grand Clos. Nearly 60 hectares are planted on beautiful gravel resting deep on clay-sand gravel, near Latour and the Gironde, complemented by the current Clos du Marquis. Added to this advantage is the fact that it has been managed since 1900 by the same family, the Delons (now Jean-Hubert), who have equipped it with state-of-the-art facilities, particularly since 2002.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

Las Cases 2020 is a superlative wine in terms of its depth, richness, and above all, its definition. A wine that rolls over the palate in successive waves and seems to go on forever. The enormous tannic structure is perfectly balanced and melts into the finish with absolute precision.

About the estate:

The strength of this legendary vintage undoubtedly lies in its famous vineyard, with its complex terroir and diverse, complementary plots. The grand vin is produced exclusively from this terroir, which in many ways resembles that of Château Latour. Depending on the vintage, it can have a more straightforward, Pauillac-style profile or a softer expression, more reminiscent of a Saint-Julien. The wine regularly displays an impressive blue-black color, even in average years. At its peak (which can be over twenty years), it offers a bouquet that surpasses that of an average Saint-Julien in complexity and nobility of flavors, with the finest aromatic nuances of Cabernet Sauvignon from the great Médoc terroirs. Owned by Jean-Hubert Delon, one of Bordeaux's finest connoisseurs of great French wines, this cru has shown unfailing consistency since the 1970s.

Wine Spectator

Wine Enthusiast

Jancis Robinson

James Suckling

About wine:

A linear, very racy wine with extremely fine tannins that stretch out across the entire length. Superb. It is full-bodied, yet very precise and refined, with remarkable length and intensity. Lots of currants and graphite. Very elegant and refined. The new 1996. Give it 6 to 7 years to assert itself.

Le Figaro vins

About wine:

A noble nose with notes of blue fruits, Asian spices, soy sauce, star anise, and mountain air. Very refined on the palate: supple yet structured, concentrated yet juicy. Already very harmonious and will remain so for decades. Beautiful persistence, with the impression of gravelly terroir throughout the finish. 2028-2062

Terre de Vins

About wine:

Favorite . With an eye on the power of Pauillac but still firmly rooted in the elegant classicism of Saint-Julien, Léoville Las Cases once again imposes its haute couture style without fanfare. The wine's structure is superb, slender, deep, and chiseled. The focused, racy substance explodes in a corolla of juicy fruit, set with pixelated tannins and articulated around superb tension. Behind its apparent austerity, this is a great wine of place and precision, meditative and distinctive, marked by an extraordinary texture in the quality of its definition. Promises long aging potential.

Yves Beck