2012 Leoville-Las Cases (St-Julien)

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. 93-95 points

Lovely deep, intense colour of purple. Very aromatic nose that is ripe, creamy and profound. Very nice, richly supple attack that is soft and smooth. The wine develops with structure and smoothness to become complex in the middle with taste; tender body, which flows over a tight tannin structure. It’s delicious and very well constituted. Very good length. 94 points

`A wine that isn’t far from being great` is how Jean-Hubert Delon modestly describes his 2012, compar ing 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. 96 points

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. 91-93 points