2005 Saint-Julien, Château Léoville Las Cases
About Producer
Created by Jean de Moytié in 1638 as Mont-Moytié, the Domaine de Léoville came to prominence in 1740 when it was passed down by marriage to Alexandre de Gasq, seigneur de Léoville, Président à mortier of the Parliament of Bordeaux. In the wake of the French Revolution, the estate was split up in 1826 and then in 1840, and Château Léoville Las Cases, in reference to the Marquis de Las Cases, one of the co-heirs of the estate, was created with 3/5 of the original estate, including the heart of the domaine. With 55 ha sitting on Quaternary gravel over gravelly sand and gravelly clay subsoils, and its famous enclosed vineyard abutting the vines of Latour, Léoville Las Cases is often not that far removed from the first growths of Bordeaux in great vintages. After an erratic post-WWII period, the estate has managed to produce, since the early 1980s, a string of vintages that have come close to perfection, thanks to the continued perfectionism of Michel Delon and his son Jean-Hubert. Should a revision of Bordeaux 1855 classification take place, Léoville Las Cases would deserve serious support for first growth status.
Varietals
Blend of 87% cabernet sauvignon, the balance being merlot and cabernet franc. Only 37% of the crop was deemed meeting the standards for the Grand Vin.
About Appellation
Sandwiched between Margaux and Pauillac, Saint-Julien AOC is home to 11 grands crus classés in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. The 910ha vineyards sit on a top layer of gravel on clay and limestone soil covered with large white stones ('galets'). While there are traces of vines planted here since the 8th century, extensive viticulture only started off in the 17th century when members of the local nobility and bourgeoisie created large vineyards. Like most of the Médoc, cabernet sauvignon reigns supreme, followed by merlot which plays an invariably supporting role. There are also lesser plantings of cabernet franc and petit verdot. The best estates have vines planted on gentle slopes along the Gironde estuary where terroir and micro-climate are the finest.
Tasting Notes
Enthralling nose of dark fruits, liquorice, tobacco, graphite and floral scents, dense mouthfeel with cashmere-like texture, remarkable concentration and excellent depth, multilayered flavours of blackberry, black currant, morello cherry, ripe fig, ganache, truffle and vanilla notes liberally laced with sous-bois and mineral undertones, resolved tannins and racy acidity carrying through a stunningly pure, long finish. Having taken its time to unleash its innate beauty, this 2005 has finally started to come round and words are in short supply to describe the majestic poise and class of this gorgeous wine which is clearly destined to a very long life. I can't help but swoon over its incipient magnificence, and am thrilled to check on it when it will be in full bloom in a few years time. Brimming with composed grandeur, vibrant freshness and captivating complexity, this is undeniably one of the estate’s greatest achievements in recent years. (12/2022)