Chateau Leoville Las Cases Saint Julien 2005
2nd Growth, Saint-Julien
Another titanic effort from the Delon family, the 2005 Leoville Las Cases is probably the greatest wine made at this estate since Jean-Hubert Delon’s father produced the 1986 and 1996. An inky/ruby/purple color is accompanied by reticent aromatics that, with considerable coaxing, offer up subtle notes of toasty vanillin intermixed with lead pencil shavings, wet rocks, and enormously ripe, intense black cherry and crème de cassis. The wine hits the palate with a full-bodied, layered mouth feel as well as enormous extract, concentration, and purity. This ageless, monumental claret requires a minimum of 15-20 years to approach maturity, and should last for a half century. It is about as classic a Leoville Las Cases as one will find. 98 points. - Robert Parker
This is breathtaking. Black in color, with incredible aromas of crushed blackberry, mineral, licorice and lead pencil. full-bodied, with a mind-blowing texture of seamless tannins that coat every millimeter of the palate. Goes on and on, with licorice, currant and flowers. 100 points. - James Suckling
An absolute treat to get to taste this wine in November, 2017. It was 10am and really wanted to close the shop and settle in with the bottle. Alas only a taste. A more powerful wine than the Clos Du Marquis – yet you can see the family resemblance – riper and richer (from the oldest vines) – a lot more power and depth, yet my descriptors and still similar; chalk, austere and powerful; layers of smoky blackcurrant, more licorice and savoury spice. The length is the give away – it really goes on and on. Very limited. - Ian Cook, FWC