Magnum Château Léoville Las Cases - Saint-Julien 2006 b5952cb1c3ab96cb3c8c63cfb3dccaca

Wine Advocate

96 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/31/2016

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London and then blind at Farr Vintners horizontal, the 2006 Château Léoville Las-Cases has a very complex bouquet with heady scents of blackcurrant, kirsch, crushed violets, rock salt and just a hint of cassis. It is backward and can barely contain its energy. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, very symmetrical and poised, a fine line of acidity interwoven through the black fruit, touches of citrus fruit developing towards the poised and tensile finish. This is a beautiful wine from Jean-Hubert Delon, but it needs several years in bottle. Tasted April 2016.

Jancis Robinson

17.50 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe1/27/2010

Dark purple. Very dark and youthful-looking. Racy, punchy nose with pretty youthful fruit at the moment. Then neat weight with quite a bit of acidity but solid - very dense and not too mean. Well melded but youthful. Racy and not very concentrated but a nice texture. This will always lack richness but it is competent and well balanced in leaner St-Julien style. Manages to rise above 2006's shortcomings. Very solid - for the long term. Drink 2015-2030

Wine Spectator

95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/31/2009

Offers a pure nose of crushed raspberry and violet, with anissed. Full-bodied, with beautiful, well-integrated tannins and a long, polished texture to the finish. Very beautiful. Harmonious and structured. Best after 2015.

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/1/2009

Not surprisingly, Leoville Las Cases has produced another classic, potentially long-lived wine in 2006. Among the St.-Juliens, it, Ducru Beaucaillou, and Leoville Barton possess the potential for the greatest longevity. Interestingly, when I visited this chateau in January, proprietor Jean-Hubert Delon offered me two samples, one where the cork had been pulled immediately prior to tasting, and another that had been decanted four hours earlier. Both were superb, but the wine that had had extended aeration was clearly the finer offering. The opaque purple-hued 2006- only 40% of the crop made it into the final blend- exhibits a personality that mimics the superb 1996. Classic aromas of sweet black raspberries, kirsch, cassis, and subtle toasty oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine displaying moderately high tannin. This cuvee can often resemble a Pauillac wrapped in the St.-Julien appellation, and the 2006 is no exception. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, it will require significant cellaring before consumption. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2035+.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

92-94 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe6/30/2008

Full ruby-red. Highly complex aromas of currant, mocha, tobacco, minerals, camphor and musky bitter chocolate. Lush and silky in the mouth if a bit youthfully subdued today. This dense, cabernet-dominated wine is big, rich and backward, finishing with serious tannic spine (at 75, this has the highest IPT since the '01). I got the impression that cellarmaster Bruno Rolland prefers this wine to the 2005, and time may yet prove him right.

La Revue du Vin de France

17.50-18.50 / 20

the7/6/2007

Jean-Hubert Delon qualifie Las Cases 2006 de 1986 moderne. Le vin possède effectivement une trame similaire avec une grande concentration, un niveau élevé d'alcool et une structure tannique importante, mais sa finale se montre plus civilisée que chez son aîn. Richement doté, avec ses arômes de crème de cassi et de torréfaction, il possède beaucoup de sève et une minéralité marquée,a vec des tanins abondants qui nécessiteront une longue garde pour s'arrondir.

Decanter Magazine

19 / 20

the6/30/2007

Intense colour, fragrant and smoky, masses of extract, almost Californian, but then wild violets and terroir expression come through, extraordinary richness of fruit yet perfect balance. 2015-40

Le Point

18.50 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/24/2007

Fruits noirs, violette, séveux, bouche veloutée en attaque mais tendue, puissante, tanins très serrés mais sans dureté, très savoureux. Une grande richesse, sans l'onctuosité sans doute de 2005, un côté plus sévère mais une belle bouteille de garde.

Falstaff

93-95 / 100

the5/24/2007

Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe. In der Nase feine Lebkuchengewürzanklänge, angenehme süße Beerenfrucht, Veilchen, Edelholz, ungemein vielschichtig. Am Gaumen sehr stoffig, opulent und süß, ein Wein, der Mund völlig auskleidet, mächtige, geschmeidige Tannine und einen großen Charme besitzt, das will man nicht freiwillig ausspucken, herrliche Länge, dazu kommt die tolle Frische des Jahrgangs, einfach überzeugend.

Wein Wisser

20 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/7/2007

2016-2035. Tiefes Granat mit lila Schimmer. Verrücktes Bouquet, Dörrbananen, dunkle Hölzer, Kokos und Pralinen, Black Currant, Sandelholz, üppig und buttrig im Ansatz. Im Gaumen an einen grossen Ribera del Duero erinnernd, ein fast Tempranillo-hafte Süsse aufweisend, aufgrund des ausufernden Sandelholztouch an amerikanisches Eichenholz erinnernd, Erotik pur. Nach dem kurz zuvor verkosteten Zweitwein war die Erwartung an den Grand Vin nicht riesig gross. Doch einmal mehr zeigt sich, was eine absolut rigorose Selektion bringt ("between looking good and great" - wie bei Revlon) dieser Las Cases 2006 ist "very great". Vom Stil und Geschmack her eine Art 1986er, von der Klasse her ein Jahrhundertwein.

Wine Advocate

93-95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/3/2007

Perfectionist owner Jean-Hubert Delon believes the 2006 Leoville Las Cases recalls the greatness of the 1986 and 1996. The natural alcohol came in at 13.3%, and only 40% of the production made it into the final blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Merlot, and a dollop of Cabernet Franc. This backward, deep ruby/purple-hued effort exhibits sweet, pure black cherry, raspberry, and cassis characteristics, soft, ripe tannin, and medium body. It reveals a strong similarity to its next door neighbor, Chateau Latour. The 2006 Las Cases will require 5-8 years of bottle age, and should drink well for 25-30 years.

Vinum

18 / 20

the4/30/2007

Monumentaler, extraktreicher, herber, beeindruckender Las Cases, langes, sehr langes Fruchtfinale, für die Ewigkeit gebaut. 2016 bis 2030

TAST

18.50 / 20

the4/30/2007

Un des vins suprêmes du millésime ; tension étonnante du corps et du tannin, admirable richesse aromatique tournée cette année du côté de Pauillac, équilibre quasi idéal entre la masse de la texture et de l’alcool et une acidité rafraîchissante en finale. On hésite entre le 1996 et le 1986 pour un vin du même style ! Remarquable Clos du Marquis, riche en grands cabernets francs et merlots (16,5/20).

Wine Advocate

96-98 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/15/2007

Tasted at the château. If somebody opined that this is the best wine of 2006, then I might not disagree. Jean-Hubert Delon has done wonders with a difficult vintage and produced a sublime wine that has the potential to surpass the 2005…it is that good. A deep purple, opaque core. The nose is stunning: sensuous cedary black fruits, crushed violets, and a hint of peppermint. Utterly seductive. The palate does not disappoint: beautifully balanced with perfect acidity, elegant sumptuous and vivacious. Certainly one of the best Las-Cases I have tasted at this stage, a Saint Julien to aspire to this year.

Wine Enthusiast

94-96 / 100

the4/15/2007

Exceptionally rich wine, packed with tense, but solid Cabernet fruits. Dusty tannins, very sweet, blackberries and plum flavors. A dry wine but leaving an impression of great elegance. —R.V.

Jancis Robinson

18 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/11/2007

The glass already feels weightier than Clos du Marquis! Very deep purple right out to rim. Big, big difference between this and Clos du Marquis on the nose – completely different. Rather opulent even. Rich and very fine and intense and certainly pulling out all the stops! There’s finesse here. Even Las Cases is not trying to be big and tough this year. Trying for suppleness and fully ripe fruit. Very lively and fine tannins. Amazing nose even though not that much alcohol. Very neat long finish.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

17.25 / 20

the4/11/2007

Cette année le vin se présente différemment que de coutume et avec un peu moins d'austérité. La raison en incombe à des fermentations malolactiques achevées plus tôt. Par conséquent, le vin a été descendu en barriques avec quasiment un mois d'avance sur le processus normal. Cette absence d'austérité s'explique par cet élevage un peu plus long. Très belle couleur noire, intense et vive. Nez fruité, frais et parfaitement mûr. La densité prévaut dès l'entrée en bouche. Le vin se développe gras, caressant et prend un peu plus d'allure dans la seconde partie du palais. Il y acquiert une complexité supplémentaire, sans austérité, sans note acide, sans fruité lavé. Tanins fins suivis d'une grande longueur qui le distingue de ses pairs.

Wine Spectator

95-100 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/29/2007

Fabulous aromas of mineral, currant and blackberry. Full and supersilky, with a long finish. Very fine tannins, even though there are loads of them. Long and round. Reminiscent of the excellent 1996 Las Cases, but better.