2016 Château Léoville Las Cases 2ème Grand Cru Classé AOC

Das Jahr 2016 startete durch den reichhaltigen Niederschlag in den ersten drei Monaten zwar schwierig, aber mit vollen Wasserreservoirs. Milde Temperaturen im März sorgten für eine frühe Ausbildung der Knospen, die durch den Temperaturabfall im April etwas ausgebremst wurde. Die Wasserreserven zeigten sich im überdurchschnittlich trockenem Sommer als perfekten Ausgleich und hielten bis in den September. In der Erntezeit zeigte sich das Wetter von der absolut perfekten Seite und erlaubte so die Lese von Trauben einer herausragenden Qualität.

James Suckling 100/100

Very complex and alluringly spicy aromas that bubble in and out of the nose, together with fresh tobacco, raspberries and iodine, moving into blackcurrants, blackberries and a gently gravely, stony edge. The palate has incredible polish that is a foil for the intense power and concentration of this wine. The texture is flawless, building smoothly with fine-grained and focused tannins that sustain a long, fresh finish. The new 1986, which was a legend. This is probably better. A blend of 75 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 14 per cent merlot and 11 per cent cabernet franc. Try from 2024.

DECANTER 100/100

Nothing under 20 years old supplies fruit for the grand vin de Léoville. It's extremely dark and rich, a stately purple in colour with some violet around the rim. Right from the off it expands upwards and outwards, showing polished dark, dark fruits such as black cherry and cassis, alongside slate, liquorice and rosemary. It's mouthfilling and almost less austere than all of the others, yet it's a serious wine. The tannins close in on themselves at the end, showing how this is built to last. A great advert for the whole of Bordeaux, and for me it's the clear wine of the vintage. Oct 2018