Castle Léoville Las Cases - Saint-Julien 2015

Jeb DUNNUCK

99 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe11/30/2017

Vinifera

5 / 5

the5/31/2016

Très belle robe sombre. Nez sur des notes boisées, fruits noirs, un peu refermé. Grande bouche, ample, opulente, superbe trame avec une grande énergie sur la finale, particulièrement irradiante. Il transcende l’effet millésime avec son caractère avenant, presque immédiat, et apparaît très posé, très Las-Cases. Selon M. Delon, il n’est pas sans rappeler, dans son profil gustatif, le 1986, mais, précise ce dernier « après quinze ans de bouteille ».

The Wine Cellar Insider

95-97 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/30/2016

Showing a good depth of color, this wine is firm yet elegant, powerful yet polished. Full-bodied and loaded with ripe fruits and a wall of tannins to match, there are multiple waves of cedar, earth, blackberries and cassis. It's hard to say when this will be ready to drink but this is a very high quality, classically built wine for patient consumers, as it's going to take 15-20 years to show its best. Produced from a blend with an unusually high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon at 85%, followed by 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Merlot, this wine reached 13.8% alcohol with a pH of 3.70 and is now aging in 85% new, French oak barrels. The harvest took place from September 22 to October 9.

Wine Advocate

95-97 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/29/2016

The 2015 Leoville Las-Cases has the highest Cabernet contents in recent years, 85% and 9% of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc respectively, partly because some of the old Merlot vines were blended into the deuxième vin. Picked between 22 September and 9 October, a total of 15 days picking, it will be matured in 85% new oak. The alcohol level is 13.8%, higher than 2010 for example. Jean-Hubert Delon has crafted an extremely pure and tensile bouquet, almost pixelated with blackberry, briary, slate and oyster shell aromas that blossom in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, svelte and sensual on the entry, the tannins a little edgy with a gentle crescendo: black fruit, tons of minerals, real focus and precision towards the finish. This is a superlative Léoville Las-Cases with the substance to suggest long-term aging will be repaid.

Bettane & Desseauve

19,5 / 20

the4/28/2016

Ultra profond, ultra crémeux, ultra précis, très grand grain. Sublime ensemble, sans doute la texture la plus magique du Médoc en 2015, avec un velouté crémeux sans mollesse, rarissime pour un vin à plus de 90 % de cabernet-sauvignon. Tannin de cèdre et raffinement de rétro-olfaction dépassant peut être celle des premiers crus, du moins à ce stade. Mais, honnêtement, les vieilles vignes de l’enclos sont sans rivale aujourd’hui et le niveau d’élaboration difficile à surpasser. Le second vin, Petit-Lion, a la même prodigieuse finesse, en moins corsé évidemment.

Vinous

95-98 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe4/27/2016

A vivid, mesmerizing wine, the 2015 Léoville Las Cases is stunning in its beauty. Unusually rich and sumptuous for Las Cases, the 2015 possesses magnificent intensity and power from start to finish. Blackberry jam, charcoal, smoke, licorice and asphalt are some of the many notes that take shape in the glass, but the 2015 truly stands out for its vertical structure and overall intensity. At the same time, the 2015 is an unusually ripe, exotic Las Cases with much more flesh and voluptuousness in its curves than is the norm. In that sense, the 2015, is not at all typical for Las Cases. And yet it is striking. The 14+% alcohol is the highest recorded here.

Decanter.com

96 / 100

bySteven Spurrierthe4/27/2016

At 94% (85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc) this is the highest-ever Cab content in this grand vin. Very dense at first but full of power and elegance, with lots of energy. Beautifully made, and seems more Pauillac than St-Julien. This will be a very great wine.2025-2050

timatkin.com

94 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe4/20/2016

Jancis Robinson

17,5 /

byJancis Robinsonthe4/18/2016

85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot 9% Cabernet Franc - highest proportion of Cab ever. 85% new barrels. More voluptuous nose than some earlier vintages. Bone-dry finish. Pretty concentrated and with some richness. Solid and mineral but not (quite) as obdurate as it used to be. Fruit and ink combo. Minerals like Pauillac on the end. Grabs the attention. 13.85% Drink 2027-2040

Wine Enthusiast

96-98 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/15/2016

Barrel Sample. Seriously structured, this is a dark, brooding wine. Layered plums, blueberries and blackberries are enveloped in a dark structure of tannins and wood flavors. This will be a wine to age over many years with its concentration and density. 97 points

René Gabriel

19 / 20

the4/10/2016

85 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 9 % Cabernet Franc, 6 % Merlot. 39 hl/ha. Extrem dunkles Purpur, lila Reflexe. Wunderschönes, vielschichtiges Beerenbouquet, ausladend und mit pfeffriger Würze unterlegt, im Untergrund Edelhölzer und Trüffel. Im zweiten Ansatz kommt reife Banane und ein Hauch von Caramel zum Tragen, sowie viele Nuancen von Sandelholz. Im Gaumen cremig, füllig komplex, die Tannine sind reif, fett und reich und strahlen eine verführerische Süsse aus, gebündeltes, langes Finale. Ein grosser, genialer Las-Cases. Eigentlich müsste man sich diesen Wein auf die Einkaufsliste setzen. Leider gab es aber immer wieder Lancierungen, die nach der Primeurlancierung im Markt günstiger zu haben waren. So habe ich beispielsweise den Jahrgang 2006 für mich damals zu CHF 240 gekauft und bekam drei Jahre später Angebote, welche rund hundert Franken günstiger waren. Also war ich als Ambassador der Gelackmeierte. 19/20 2023 – 2046

Jamessuckling.com

96-97 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2016

This is an ethereal young wine with blackberry and violet aromas and flavors. Full body, very firm and silky tannins and a superb finish. Lovely length and purity to this. 85% cabernet sauvignon, 6% merlot and 9% cabernet franc.

Wine Spectator

94-97 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2016

Very tightly focused, with both charcoal and iron harnessing the core of dark currant and blackberry fruit flavors. Sleek in feel, but not for lack of depth, as this is brimming with dark fruit and terroir, just in a more austere fashion.—J.M.