Léoville Las Cases 2018 75cl

An elegant, complex nose of blackberries, blueberries and herbal and spice notes with dark-chocolate and earthy undertones. Violets, flowers and graphite, too. It’s full-bodied with firm, layered tannins and a crushed-stone undertone throughout the fresh, velvety and layered palate. Very complex, muscular and formed. The finish is endless. Lowest percentage of press wine ever in this. So deep. Try after 2027.

The 2018 Léoville Las Cases is composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and 9% Merlot, harvested September 15 to October 4 with yields of 35.5 hectoliters per hectare, it has 14.49% alcohol and was aged in 90% new barriques. Deep purple-black colored, it needs a fair bit of coaxing to reveal striking scents of blackcurrant pastilles, wild blueberries and redcurrant jelly, giving way to notions of crushed rocks, lavender, Indian spices, unsmoked cigars and black truffles, plus a provocative waft of rose oil. The full-bodied palate is densely laden with black fruit preserves and earthy layers, accented by bright, lively red berry and floral sparks. It has a rock-solid frame of firm, ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing very long and wonderfully minerally. The tannins are so beautifully approachable even at this youthful stage, making it delicious to drink now, but afford it 5-6 years in bottle to allow those finer nuances to emerge and drink it over the next 40+ years.

Kunz Fassprobe 19: (80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 35.5 hl/ha, 14.49% vol. Alkohol) Konzentriertes, tiefgründiges, komplexes, frisches Bouquet, Cassis, schwarze Beeren, Graphit, Zedern, fein Lakritze, schwarze Pfeffer, Feuerstein, Getreideriegel. Dichtverwobener, eleganter, kraftvoller, aromatischer Gaumen mit kräftiger, dunkler Frucht, sehr viel feinem Tannin, konzentrierter, vielfältiger Aromatik, eleganter, massiver Struktur, sehr langer, dunkler, aromatischer Abgang mit vielen Rückaromen. Kann noch zulegen.

Reserved, even reticent, at first, but like a cold fireplace brought back to life it slowly reveals beautifully handcrafted notes of cassis, plum reduction and blackberry puree along with hints of charcoal, warm cast iron and sweet bay leaf. A violet note chimes on the seriously long finish, adding a tantalizing treble note. A precise, regal, terroir-driven wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2028 through 2042. 10,000 cases made.