Château Léoville Las Cases - St.-Julien 1996 (750ml)
Price: $365.00
| Producer | Château Léoville Las Cases |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Subregion | St.-Julien |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
| Vintage | 1996 |
| Size | 750ml |
Others: 100 Points
Jane Anson
I think we can officially declare 25 years as being the sweet spot for Léoville Las Cases - at least in slow-ageing vintages such as 1996, which is so perfectly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon. Still full-bodied and concentrated even now, but generous also, with cassis, tobacco and cigarbox smoke softening the edges of flint-chiselled tannic frame... Las Cases can be almost Burgundian-like in how elusive it is (in this case because of how stubborn and tannic it can prove), but when you get the one bottle that sings, it’s all worth it. This more than proves the point. Michel Delon owner at the time.
Wine Advocate: 98 Points
tasted 7/2016
The 1996 Leoville-Las Cases is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc picked between 25 September and 10 October (for fascinating insight, read Robert Parker's remarks about the blend with Michel Delon in the original tasting note). Now at 20 years, it has evolved into an absolutely stunning Saint Julien, clearly one of the best wines from the estate this decade. The bouquet is beautifully defined with intense black cherries, cedar, mint and a touch of oyster shell that seems to gain intensity in the glass. The palate is seamless from start to finish, extraordinarily pure, the 70% new oak totally assimilated of course, impressive weight and power allied with genuine finesse and tension towards the silky smooth finish. It stands as one of the best wines of the vintage without one iota of doubt and it will last 30-40 years without problem. You might call it "proper Claret." You might call it "delicious.
The Wine Cellar Insider: 98 Points
Tasted: Nov 2021
If you are seeking a vintage of Leoville Las Cases for current consumption, look no further. Full-bodied, concentrated, long, deep, and intense, the tannins are firm but soft, the fruit is perfectly ripe, and close to seamless finish must last at least 50 seconds or more. An hour in the decanter, or perhaps up to 2 hours kicks this stunner into high gear.
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