Léoville Las Cases - Saint-Julien 2012

Wine Advocate

92-92

byNeal Martinthe9/20/2022

The 2012 Léoville Las-Cases is much more closed on the nose, quite strict with blackberry, cedar and gravelly aromas, later hints of cassis and a splash of soy. The palate is medium-bodied with a fairly oaky entry, though there is fruit concentration to soak that up with bottle age. Maybe it just lacks a bit of personality at the moment and a second bottle at Bordeaux Index's horizontal confirms a bit of roughness, a bit hard-edged at this stage. Give this time. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.

Wine Advocate

93

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2015

The bigger sister or brother of Le Petit Lion, depending on your point of view, the 2012 Leoville Las Cases has gorgeous minerality, plenty of blueberry and blackcurrant fruit that is super-pure, an opaque ruby/purple color, medium body and firm structured, slightly austere personality. This wine is built for the long-term. A blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc, it attained 13.5% alcohol, which is substantial for a 2012 Médoc. It has depth and richness, but also a boatload of tannin. Forget it for 8-10 years and drink over the following 15-20. (93+)

Jamessuckling.com

93

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2015

So pure on the nose with aromas of blackcurrants, raspberries and licorice. Hints of stones. Full body, polished yet chewy tannins and a long and racy finish. Layered tannins. Citrusy undertones. Bright acidity. Better in 2019.

Wine Spectator

94

byJames Molesworththe2/10/2015

This is very tight at this early stage, with a wall of smoldering charcoal holding the core of dark plum, blackberry paste and cassis in reserve. The sleek finish shows admirable length and a mouthwatering echo of iron. This harnesses the austerity of the vintage to its advantage, and should unwind slowly in the cellar. Best from 2018 through 2030. 10,000 cases made. –JM

Wine Spectator

94

byJames Molesworththe1/7/2015

This is among the tightest wines at this early stage, with a wall of smoldering charcoal holding the core of dark plum, blackberry paste and cassis in reserve. The sleek finish shows admirable length and a mouthwatering echo of iron. This harnesses the austerity of the vintage to its advantage, and should unwind slowly in the cellar. Best from 2018 through 2030.— J.M.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

92-94

byIan D'Agatathe6/30/2013

(74% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot and 11% cabernet franc; 3.6 pH; 5.4 g/l total acidity; 70 IPT; 13.5% alcohol; 80% new oak; 33 h/h):  Dark ruby-red.  Spice and vanillin nuances complicate red cherry, blackcurrant, cedar and graphite on the captivating, classic nose.  Then suave and refined in the mouth, with clean flavors of blackcurrant, cedar and herbs.  Finishes very long and pure, with insidious complexity and atypical levels of sweet creamy flesh for a 2012 Bordeaux from the Left Bank.  I found this outstanding wine to be very LLC in style, not unlike a lighter version of the 2010.  The grapes were picked on 12 different days between October 4 and 18.  For my money, it's one of the two best wines from the Left Bank in 2012.

timatkin.com

96

byTim Atkin MWthe6/30/2013

“A wine that isn’t far from being great” is how Jean-Hubert Delon modestly describes his 2012, comparing it favourably to his 2010. It’s certainly one of the Left Bank successes of the vintage: precise, dense and almost chiseled in that classic Las Cases way. The wine is surprisingly rich for its alcohol level, with very serious Médocain tannins and a touch more plumpness than the 2011, thanks to the addition of a little more Merlot. A claret for grown ups. Drink: 2022-40

Le Point

17,5-18

byJacques Dupontthe5/16/2013

Fruits rouges, épices, tendu, frais, élégant, tanins de grande qualité, aromatique, aimable et structuré, long, avec un très joli fruit en finale. Très pur. O= 2017 G= 14 ans.

Asian Palate

91

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe5/15/2013

Full bodied, generous red with velvety texture and very classic Las Cases notes of cassis, herbs, tobacco and plums. Nice density and depth for this vintage with medium body and ripe Cabernet fruit - in 2012 there is 74% Cabernet with 15% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc.

Wine Advocate

91-93

byNeal Martinthe5/2/2013

Picked over 12 days between 4th and 18th October, the Grand Vin is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc with 9% pressed wine and it will be matured in 80% new oak. It has a deep, clayey-scented bouquet with blackberry, briary and espresso. The palate is fresh and lively on the entry and the tannins appear very fine, lending this Las-Cases the potential to be very feminine and lithe. It demonstrates admirable focus, it is not a particularly overly ambitious Grand Vin and appears extremely well controlled on the finish. Tasted April 2013.

Wine Spectator

93-96

byJames Molesworththe4/30/2013

Displays a solid core of plum, blackberry and cassis, lined with roasted apple wood and backed by a hint of ganache and briar. Shows excellent integration overall, with a serious iron note buried on the finish. A rock-solid version for this vintage. —J.M.

matthewjukes.com

18

byMatthew Jukesthe4/30/2013

Always masculine and strident this is a firm, structured '12 with bravado and rippling muscle - wondrous.

Wine Advocate

93-95

byRobert Parkerthe4/26/2013

The seriously endowed 2012 Las Cases exhibits a dense purple color as well as surprisingly sweet tannin and a forwardness that one does not normally find at this address. Medium to full-bodied with beautiful black currant, graphite, crushed rock and subtle oaky notes, it possesses lots of minerality and precision, impressive power, a rich mid-palate (which sets it apart from other St.-Juliens), and a long finish. It appears this beauty will be drinkable in 5-6 years, and last for 25 or more. One of the best, if not the finest wines made in St.-Julien in 2012 is Jean-Hubert Delon’s famed Leoville Las Cases. A blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc, it tips the scales at 13.5% alcohol, which is interesting given the fact that its next door neighbor, Latour, only hit 12.8%. Delon said rot was no problem in their well-drained, gravelly vineyards (which are of first-growth quality in fact if not in name).Drink: 2018 - 2043

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95

byJeff Levethe4/26/2013

74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc, that was harvested from October 4 to October 18, produced a wine with deep color that reached 13.47% alcohol and will be aged in 80% new French oak. With a perfume that wants to get noticed due to its jammy blackberry, cassis, licorice, forest floor, tobacco and vanilla notes that get better with each swirl. On the palate, the wine is big, polished, intense and powerful, yet there is a refined side to the tannins. Made to age, this should develop well. 93-95 Pts

Jancis Robinson

17

byJancis Robinsonthe4/23/2013

Drink 2025-2038Black crimson. Angular and savoury. Appetising above all. Not deep, nor sweet. Even slightly skinny. Very vibrato with the vintage character. Not one of the standouts of the vintage. Too angular.

Decanter.com

18,25

bySteven Spurrierthe4/22/2013

Superb colour, great depth of concentration shows the Pauillac character of Las Cases, severe and uncompromising now, but a great future. 18.25/20pts ( 94/100pts)Drink: 2019 - 2040

Jean-Marc QUARIN

17,3

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/22/2013

Couleur sombre, intense, belle et pourpre. Nez très aromatique, mûr crémeux et profond. Très belle entrée en bouche grasse et moelleuse. Le vin se développe tramé, suave, complexe au milieu avec du goût, une chair tendre qui circule au-dessus d’une trame serrée. C’est délicieux et très bien constitué. Très bonne longueur. Degré d’alcool 13°5. pH 3.6. IPT 70. Assemblage : 74 % cabernet sauvignon, 11 % cabernet franc, 15 % merlot. Rendement 33 hectolitres à l’hectare. Sélection un tiers de premier vin. Élevage 80 % de bois neufs.

Jamessuckling.com

94-95

byJames Sucklingthe4/4/2013

A structured and powerful Las Cases. It really grabs you and makes you take note. Yet there is polish and refinement in the texture. Full body, with intense tannins and long, lively finish. The fruit acid balance is very pretty.