Léoville Las Cases - Saint-Julien 2011

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

92 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe8/31/2014

Brilliant dark red-ruby.  Captivating aromas of raspberry, blackcurrant, Asian spices and graphite.   Brisk and juicy in the mouth, showing excellent cut to its flavors of red berries, pepper, sweet spices and minerals.  Finishes with a firm tannic spine and lingering notes of dark cherry and violet.  Backward but very promising.  As usual, owner Jean-Hubert Delon has come up with one of the top ten wines of the vintage.  This 2011 lacks only the incredible silkiness of tannins of LLC's best vintages; otherwise it's an absolute gem. (92(+?) points)

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/2/2014

One of the more formidably backward and potentially long-lived wines of the vintage, the medium to full-bodied 2011 Leoville Las Cases behaves like a first-growth, which in a sense it truly is. Revealing a dense inky/purple color, it is a structured, rich, impressively endowed effort that is meant for the long haul. Atypical for this vintage, it requires 5-7 years of bottle age and should drink well for two decades thereafter.  The final blend was 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Yields were a low 27 hectoliters per hectare, and the natural alcohol achieved 13.4%.

Wine Spectator

95 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2014

This has some toast to shed, but retains a terrific core of crushed plum and blackberry confiture. Has a beautiful ripple of charcoal for texture, honest acidity for balance and a bolt of iron that keeps this firmly grounded. A brick-house Cabernet. Best from 2018 through 2030. 8,330 cases made.

Jamessuckling.com

95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/19/2014

This shows so much spice and berry character on the nose. Focused and beautiful. Full body with a clearly outstanding core of fruit and polished tannins. The finish lasts for minutes. Reminds me of the superb 1996. Try in 2020.

La Revue du Vin de France

16,5-17,5 / 20

the5/31/2012

Jean-Hubert Delon n'a pas voulu transiger et le 2011, malgré le contexte du millésime, est largement dominé par les cabernets (76% de suavignon, 11% de franc). Il en résulte un vin racé, plus austère que beaucoup de ses voisins, mais doté d'un potentiel énorme et surtout d'une définition exceptionnelle. Une grande longueur et des tanins ciselés signent ce vin promis à un très bel avenir.

Le Point

17,5-18 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/17/2012

Nez séveux, poivré, fruits noirs, bouche élégante, tendue, jolis tanins fins et croquants, beaucoup d'allonge. Un grand classique Léovile, austère et charnu. O= 2020 G= 20 ans

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

92-94 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe5/12/2012

(76% cabernet sauvignon and 12% each merlot and 12% cabernet franc; 26 hectoliters per hectare): Good deep red. Outstanding verve to the aromas of raspberry, white pepper, violet, rose petal and sweet spices; today the cabernet franc component is very apparent. At once velvety and racy on the palate, with great energy and class to the red fruit, floral and mineral flavors. An electric wine that jolts the palate, and yet the exceptionally silky finish features creamy-sweet mouth-saturating tannins. If the 2007 was more Saint-Julien in style and the 2008 more like Pauillac, the subtly complex 2011 is very much Léoville. I'm not sure Jean-Hubert Delon could make a bad Léoville-Las-Cases even if he tried to. This should turn out to be one of the top five wines of the vintage.

Decanter.com

17 / 20

the4/30/2012

Dense colour, nose still shut in yet the richness is there and the fruit will come out, a real statement of vineyard style, a superb long-term wine. Drink 2020-2050.

Wine Advocate

93-95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2012

One of the thrilling successes of the vintage is, not surprisingly, the 2011 Leoville Las Cases. Analytically, this ripe wine has statistical numbers that are almost identical to their 2010. The fruit was cropped at 27 hectoliters per hectare, the wine aged in 80% new French oak, and the final blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc came in at 13.4% natural alcohol. It boasts an opaque inky/purple color along with gloriously pure aromas of creme de cassis, black raspberries, vanillin and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied with abundant glycerin and ripe but noticeable tannin, this beauty is potentially one of the longest lived and finest wines of the vintage. It should be drinkable in 5-6 years and last for 2-3 decades. (93-95+ points)

Jancis Robinson

18-19 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/30/2012

Grande robe, nez très noble de cèdre, ensemble puissant et civilisé, tanins complexes, remarquable départ pour un vin destiné à rivaliser avec les premiers crus classés du secteur.

WeinWisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/30/2012

76,4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12,2% Cabernet Franc, 11,4% Merlot. 27hl/ha. Sattes Purpur Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Komplexes Bouquet, viel Cassis und auch Brombeerblüten, zart vanillig im Untergrund. Im Gaumen trotz der enormen Konzentration mit viel Schmelz ausgestattet, so merkt man die verlangende Adstringenz fast nicht. Die Fruchtaromatik zeigt sich im Gaumen in allen Facetten, wenig rote, sehr viel blaue und auch etwas Schwarze Beeren. Das Finale ist lang mit ein paar dezent extrahierten Noten, welche aber auch das Potenzial unterstreichen. Momentan leicht hinter den beiden Vorjahrgängen, aber deutlich über dem 2008er. 2019-2053

Wine Advocate

93-95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/27/2012

The Grand Vin is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc cropped at just 27hl/ha and raised in 80% new oak. It has a comparatively opulent bouquet compared to its peers with sumptuous blackberry, wild strawberry, minerals and cedar, offering touches of Margaux-like floral notes with continued aeration. The palate is full-bodied with good grip and is certainly a Saint Julien with great substance considering the vintage although it does not quite fan out on the finish a la 2009 or 2010. But it is very composed and well balanced with some very pure blackberry, boysenberry and spicy notes lingering long in the mouth. Excellent. Tasted April 2012

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/27/2012

From 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.4% alcohol and will be aged in 80% new oak. The pH is 3.63. Inky in color, this is one of the darkest, most concentrated wines of the vintage. Espresso bean, black cherry, truffle, gravel, cedar wood, tobacco and cassis are found in the perfume. Powerful and rich with ample tannins, acidity and structure, this classic wine ends with a long, fresh cassis and ripe blackberry finish. Like all the best vintages of Leoville Las Cases, this needs a lot of time in the cellar before consumption. 93-95 Pts

Asian Palate

92-94 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe4/20/2012

The aromatics are subtle on this wine, but on the palate, the flavours are generous, tannins velvety and the finish long. This wine has many subtleties and is classic Leoville Las cases. Great depth, well balanced wine with wonderful potential to age for decades. A classy St Julien that is one of the stars from this appellation.

Jancis Robinson

18 / 20

byJulia Harding MWthe4/18/2012

Drink 2021-2040 Very low yields this year. Some fruit burnt in the heat spike of June. Across the whole estate the yields were 26 hl/ha. 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc. Rich inky crimson with deep purple crimson rim. Not as open on the nose as the Clos du Marquis. 'Very Léoville Las Cases.' Deep and dark and closed on the nose though you know it is intense. Great power and structure in the mouth but the structure is less obdurate than in many years. Dense but not heavy. Very firm. (JH) 13.4%

Wine Spectator

93-96 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/10/2012

This has very solid guts, with dark, almost brooding plum compote, currant paste and anise notes, followed by a hint of roasted juniper wood on the finish, which smolders nicely. An iron hint lurks throughout as well.—J.M.

Jamessuckling.com

93-94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/1/2012

Intense aromas of currants and blackberries with minerals. Full body, with an serious density for the vintage, and racy tannin and acidity. It goes on very long. Reminds me a little of 1996. Very classic style.