Château Léoville Las Cases - Saint-Julien 2005

Vinous

98 / 100

par Antonio Galloni le 15/11/2015

A wine for the ages, the 2005 Léoville Las Cases is slow to come out of the gate, but its beauty and pedigree are evident. The 2005 Las Cases is one of the only wines in this tasting that still needs time in bottle, something that won't come as a surprise to fans of this St. Julien estate. The 2005 offers plenty of the typical Las Cases power, but it is also remarkably nuanced and translucent for a wine of its sheer size. When all is said and done, it is in my top three or four wines of the night.
Drink 2020 - 2045.

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

par Robert Parker le 30/06/2015

This is a prodigious effort. A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot and Cabernet Franc (only 37% of the crop qualified for Las Cases), this dense ruby/purple wine has a stunningly pure bouquet of dark fruit, wet rocks, graphite, and subtle background toast/vanillin. Full-bodied, masculine, and very deep and concentrated, this titanic effort is at least 8-10 years away from its plateau of maturity. The Delon family have produced another legend. Anticipated maturity: 2023-2050+. (97+)

Jancis Robinson

18 / 20

par Jancis Robinson le 09/02/2015

Mid to deep crimson. A stony, mineral undertow on the nose but with lovely lift and haunting scents too. Firm with a very ripe spread of flavours that almost distract from the weight of fine tannins underneath. Unlike some wines, this wears its tannic charge effortlessly. Racy and lifted. A very successful Las Cases.

13% Drink 2020-2045
(18++)

La Revue du Vin de France

19,5 / 20

le 20/10/2014

Après une heure de décantation, il se montre encore impénétrable et serré au nez. La bouche est impressionnante de fougue. Les arômes de fruits frais et les tanins tapissent la palais. Doté d'un volume monumental et d'une longueur impressionnate, ce vin peut attendre au moins une décennie.

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

par Neal Martin le 13/06/2009

Tasted single blind at Southwold. There are layers and layers of new oak on the nose with touches of vanilla and coconut lacing the sappy black fruits. The full-bodied palate has immense concentration, smooth and voluptuous in texture with pure blackberry and blueberry. The finish has very good definition and poise. Powerful – iron fist in velvet glove etc. Drink 2015-2030+ Tasted January 2009. 95+

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

95 / 100

par Stephen Tanzer le 30/06/2008

Saturated ruby-red. A confiture of dark berries on the nose, with a complicating torrefaction note of coffee. Fat, sweet, plump and full, with a silky, enveloping texture rare for this wine in its youth. The highly concentrated cassis, violet and bitter chocolate flavors really take over the mouth and stay awhile. The huge, chocolatey finish features big, ripe, building tannins. One can easily taste this massive wine today, but there are great reserves here to ensure a long and slow evolution in bottle-and I would not be at all surprised if it shut down soon for a very long time. Our cabernet sauvignon was perfectly ripe in both '05 and '06, noted cellarmaster Rolland. 95 (+?)

Wine Advocate

98 / 100

par Robert Parker le 07/05/2008

Another titanic effort from the Delon family, the 2005 Leoville Las Cases is probably the greatest wine made at this estate since Jean-Hubert Delon’s father produced the 1986 and 1996. Only 37% of the production made it into the 2005, a blend of primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with less than 13% Merlot and Cabernet Franc. An inky/ruby/purple color is accompanied by reticent aromatics that, with considerable coaxing, offer up subtle notes of toasty vanillin intermixed with lead pencil shavings, wet rocks, and enormously ripe, intense black cherry and creme de cassis. The wine hits the palate with a full-bodied, layered mouthfeel as well as enormous extract, concentration, and purity. This ageless, monumental claret requires a minimum of 15-20 years to approach maturity, and should last for a half century. It is about as classic a Leoville Las Cases as one will find. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2060

Wine Spectator

100 / 100

par James Suckling le 05/02/2008

Black in color, with amazing aromas of crushed blackberry, mineral, licorice and lead pencil. Breathtaking. Full-bodied, with a mind-blowing texture of seamless tannins that coat every millimeter of the palate. Goes on and on, with licorice, currant and flowers. An incredible red; time will tell if it's better than the 2000. Best after 2017.

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

par Robert Parker le 04/05/2007

The 2005 Leoville Las Cases is revealing more power, weight, and richness than it did last year. Made from 37% of the total production, it is a blend of 87.6% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc. A dense ruby/purple hue is accompanied by abundant amounts of sweet black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, pain grille, graphite, and crushed rock-like characteristics. The high tannin levels and freshness noted a year ago remain intact, but the wine has filled out in the middle, revealing greater richness as well as fuller body. It appears set for an incredibly long life. From its birth, Jean-Hubert Delon has compared the 2005 to the 1996 and 1986 produced by his father, and that has become even more evident as it has aged in barrel. This classic St.-Julien should be at its peak between 2018-2050+.

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

par Robert Parker le 27/04/2006

For Jean-Hubert Delon, Leoville Las-Cases’ 2005 is reminiscent of the 1996 and 1986. Only 37% of the production made it into the final blend of 87.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7.6% Merlot, and 4.8% Cabernet Franc. The 13.1% alcohol content is actually lower than the 2002's, because of the high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. The vibrant, fresh 2005 reveals high tannin along with a beautiful deep ruby/purple color, and classic notes of cassis and cherries intermixed with minerals and a judicious touch of toasty oak. This concentrated, classically built, structured claret is meant for the long haul, but it will not provide much pleasure over the next decade. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030+.

Wine Spectator

95-100 / 100

par James Suckling le 28/03/2006

Sensational aromas of currants, berries, minerals and flowers. Full-bodied, with big, chewy tannins. Starts off slowly, then builds on the palate and goes on and on. Could be even better than 2000, and I gave that 100. This wine makes my head spin. Amazing. Layered and long. This is so 100-points. —J.S.