Professional Reviews
Antonio Galloni
AG
98
"The 2020 Léoville Las Cases has developed into a powerhouse. Then again, that is Las Cases. En primeur, I thought the 2020 was a bit shy, but its true personality has to emerge. Blackberry jam, gravel, spice, menthol, licorice, espresso and plum all saturate the palate. Vivid and explosive, the 2020 is dizzyingly rich, with plenty of Las Cases tannins that will require patience. I am not sure when the 2020 will be ready to drink, but it won't be anytime soon. Las Cases is one of the wines of the vintage in 2020, that much is pretty clear."
Robert Parker
RP
98
"The 2020 Léoville Las Cases is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot, aging in 80% new French oak barriques, weighing in with an alcohol of 13.68%, a pH of 3.8 and an IPT (tannins index) of 79. The Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested from the 21st to the 27th of September, the Merlot from the 12th to the 15th of September and the Cabernet Franc on the 18th and 19th of September. With an opaque purple-black color, it slowly unfurls to reveal beguiling notes of fresh blackcurrants, Morello cherries, candied violets and dark chocolate, giving way to an undercurrent of crushed rocks, unsmoked cigars, clove oil and fragrant earth. The medium-bodied palate is a powerhouse of energy, delivering tightly wound red and black fruits, mineral and floral layers, supported by fantastic tension and incredibly ripe, silt-like tannins. The finish has jaw-dropping fragrance and depth."
Jancis Robinson
JR
18
"Dense and reserved with an abundance of dark, ripe fruit. Tannins really very fine, providing length and persistence but no aggression. A measured wine with good concentration and a saline freshness but without the muscle seen some years. More St-Julien than Pauillac this year."
Decanter
D
93
"Beautiful fragrance, so floral and open, pink and purple flowers with red and black fruits. Lively, expressive but rich, heavily scented with hints of milk chocolate. Supple, this has energy from the start, yet there is an immediate density and a savoury edge of black liquorice and aniseed with some fresh mint and a continuing florality. Still a little exuberant, coiled and pent up, but detailed and nuanced. The fruit purity and precision is excellent, the weight is perfect and this has an undercurrent of soft salinity, a minerality with wet stone nuances. Will take a few years to come around, still with a kick of heat on the finish that suggests it’s a serious wine with more to give. Such a long finish."
Wine Spectator
WS
96
"Sleek and slightly austere in feel, with a cold cast iron note framing a core of tightly compressed cassis, plum and blackberry fruit flavors. Shows subtle flashes of tobacco and smoldering charcoal as well, as the finish lingers with verve. A stoic wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot."
Wine Enthusiast
WE
98
"The wine's richness comes both from the dark tannins and the pure, classic black currant flavors. Acidity, yes, but surrounded by dense fruits and tannins that give the wine considerable structure and the potential to age for many years. An impressive wine."
