Andrew Jefford | Saturated dark black-red, this is certainly the most deeply colored of all of the St-Julien cohort. There is also a meaty seriousness of purpose to its knife-and-fork aromatic profile, with some citrus sweetness and stony warmth to add layers of charm and intrigue to the firmly expressed, curranty fruits. On the palate, too, there is a seriousness of purpose, a push and a force to this wine that puts it above its St-Julien peers in this tasting, with its searching depth of blackcurrant fruit just teased to the perfect cusp of fresh ripeness. It matches Montrose in these respects, yet the ripeness and wealth here is more drinker- friendly, even though the tannins are a little softer and lighter than in Montrose. Commanding and authoritative yet vibrant and long, Léoville-Las- Cases is a vintage reference. | 94

Michael Schuster | Dense, closed, subtly ripe-fruited and minerally aromatic to smell; full, concentrated, firmly tannic, a superb, long-term balance; deep, complex, flavory wine, tenacious to taste, subtle, savory, scented, and very persistent; fine, Long-term Las Cases. Give it at least ten years; ideally twice as much for the real reward. 2028-50+. | 94