Château Léoville Las Cases Saint-Julien 2025 - 2nd Grand Cru Classé (Primeurs)

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Certainly the closest second growth, and for many vintages now—provided the cork doesn’t let it down—on par with the best first growths. It owes its class and consistency to the plot selection that allows it to be produced on the large vineyard adjacent to that of Château Latour, and to an exemplary perfectionism initiated by Michel Delon in the 1980s and fully carried forward by his son Jean-Hubert. The finesse and subtlety of its flavor have few equals in the world, yet the wine is kind enough to open up more quickly than in the past. The young vines yield the Petit-Lion, lighter in style but no less elegant, and the rest of the estate produces the remarkable Clos-du-Marquis, whose value for money remains as astonishing as ever.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

Las Cases not only owns 98 hectares—three-fifths of the former Léoville estate, which was divided between 1826 and 1846 to create the three Léoville estates known today—but the estate also owns the historic heart of the vineyard, the Grand Clos. Nearly 60 hectares are planted on fine gravel resting deep on sandy-clay gravel, near Latour and the Gironde River, 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, particularly since 2002, with state-of-the-art facilities.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

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

About the estate:

The strength of this legendary vintage undoubtedly lies in its famous vineyard, with its complex terroir and diverse, complementary plots. In fact, this great wine is produced exclusively from this terroir, which in many ways resembles that of Château Latour. Depending on the vintage, it may exhibit a more straightforward, Pauillac-style profile or, conversely, display a softer character more reminiscent of a Saint-Julien. The wine regularly displays an impressive blue-black color, even in average vintages. At its peak (which can extend beyond twenty years), it offers a bouquet that surpasses that of a typical Saint-Julien in complexity and nobility of flavor, featuring 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 demonstrated unfailing consistency since the 1970s.

Wine Spectator

Wine Enthusiast

Jancis Robinson

James Suckling

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Made from a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Merlot, with 80% aged in new oak barrels, the 2025 Château Léoville Las Cases is one of the vintage’s flagship wines and stands out for its incredible elegance, balance, purity, and exceptional richness. The harvest began on September 5—an unprecedented date for this estate—and ended on the 20th. Blackcurrant, graphite, liquid minerality, and freshly sharpened pencil define the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, with a round and complex texture, beautiful tannins, and a breathtaking finish. If that doesn’t make you roll your eyes, nothing will. It has an alcohol content of 13.65% and a pH of 3.56.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Las Cases surprises with its bouquet and notes of very ripe black berries, but to me this seems like nothing more than a strategy designed to capture the taster’s attention, because in the end, it’s Cabernet—the undisputed king—that takes center stage in the bouquet! Notes of eucalyptus blend with aromas of blackberries and pomegranates before giving way to sharper, fresher nuances where vigor, character, and subtlety create a harmony that is, so to speak, unlikely. Las Cases remains Las Cases; it transcends renovations and investments, yet it is nonetheless delighted to be able to flourish and benefit from even more dedicated attention. What a remarkable wine, what a splendid expression of the terroir, what energy. Léoville Las Cases 3.0! Timeless, traditional, contemporary. 2030–2080

Jean-Marc Quarin

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

With its deep, dark color, it takes less than a second to realize that this is a wine that combines power and concentration, exudes a majestic presence, and effortlessly reveals, layer by layer, vibrant aromas of blackberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, and black cherries. The finish is long, full-bodied, enveloping, and powerful, with a pronounced mineral note that adds depth and complexity. Here is another Léoville-Las-Cases that will age and evolve for over 50 years. The blend consists of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Merlot. 13.6% alcohol, pH of 3.56. The harvest took place from September 5 to 20. Yields were 23 hectoliters per hectare. Best enjoyed between 2032 and 2075.