1945-1998 Las Cases, twenty vintages

An excellent evening of twenty vintages of Château Léoville Las Cases. Rarely have there been more bottles in excellent condition at a vertical tasting. The wines of the 70's although very good in many cases, seems to be of a different style with more acidity, a leaner and more cherries and sweet and sour style, than the very fruit forward and rounder style, of both the 60's and older, and again from 1982 and younger. The 1945 was not decanted, but should have been, for about half an hour. The 59 and 61 was briefly decanted and would both have liked 45 minutes to an hour. The 82 and 86 got four to five hours, and would not have been harmed by even more, and the same goes for the younger ones. The 94 was the only one that could actually have had less (about five hours). Wines tasted from old to young.


1998 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Deep ruby. Cassis, some coffee, leather. Complex and layered. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruit forward and up front now. Needs ten years to come around, feels very young. 92

1995 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Ruby. Scented, cassis, leather, some vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, balanced and ripe feel, fruity and long, way to young. Forget it for ten years or more. 93

1994 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Ruby. Young 94. Scented. Licorice, cassis. Vanilla and oak. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, oak up front and has problems to balance. Drying. 87

1990 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Ruby, thin garnet rim. Scented and quite up front. Licorice, cassis and a quite rich nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins,  a bit sweet, sweeter than 89. Lovely and long, but lacks a bit of nuance for me. Needs ten years to shed some fat. 93

1989 Château Léoville Las Cases:

In neck fill. Ruby, very thin garnet rim. Cassis, somewhat scented, ever so slightly gamey and a touch of licorice. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, warmer fruit and feels ripe. Touch of coffee and plum compot. Long. 94

1986 Château Léoville Las Cases:

In neck fill. Ruby. Scented, deep and intense. So youthful and more open than the last few bottles, but also more air. Five hours in decanter, and could still have more. Layered and nuanced, very refined. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, superb texture and structure, still very youthful, superb bottle and incredibly long. 99

1985 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Very top shoulder fill. Ruby, garnet rim. Layered, slightly spicy, cassis, leather, scented and very nuanced. Excellent nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, very long, if ever so slightly lean. 95

1983 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Very top shoulder fill. Deep ruby, garnet rim. Off bottle. Warm storage.

1982 Château Léoville Las Cases:

One cm below cork fill. Ruby, thin garnet rim. Fresh nose, very nuanced for 82, layered, some cassis, some cedar, some scented notes, floral, not that ripe, very complex. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, layered and nuanced, refreshing and mouthwatering. Lacks that heaviness of some, superb. Very long. A stunning 82. 97

1981  Château Léoville Las Cases:

Top shoulder fill. Ruby, thin brick rim. Slightly scented nose. Flat palate, easy and short. 85

1979 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Lower top shoulder fill. Bright ruby, garnet rim. A bit dry and somewhat warm nose, slightly dusty. Fresh acidity and more fruity palate. Ripe and few tannins, not top bottle, but good enough. 89

1978 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Top shoulder fill. Ruby, garnet rim. Very tight, with air rose hips, leather, some bell peppers, almost spicy, pepper and cool blackcurrants. Fresh acidity, polished tannins, almost creamy, very fresh feel. Lovely bottle. Long. 92

1976 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Top shoulder fill. Ruby, garnet rim. Some bell peppers, blackcurrants, black tea, leather and cedar. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lovely freshness, playful and elegant, some would say sour, but for me refreshing. Lovely and refreshing finish. 92

1975 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Bottom neck fill. Slightly corked.

1971 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Very top shoulder fill. Ruby, thin brick rim. Some cassis,  vanilla and butter scotch.  Way more fragrant and scented after an hour. Fresh acidity, lively and ripe tannins. Fruit leaves the acidity halfway and even if quite lovely palate, it's to short. Lovely while it lasts.89

1966 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Bottom neck fill. Ruby, thin garnet rim. Cedar, almost "rough" cassis, tea and asparagus. Fuller with even more air. Fresh acidity, tannins polishes off, somewhat sweet and sour, long. More scented and rounder after an hour. 93

1961 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Very top shoulder fill. Bright ruby, thin orange rim. Extremelly closed, even after an hour in decanter, it's tight. Like last excellent bottle, surprisingly youthful. Etheral, somewhat minty and cool, cassis, touch of prunes, leather. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant and still youthful, layered palate, very long. 97

1959 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Top shoulder fill. Bright ruby, thin orange rim. Rich, cassis, cedar, leather, touch of sweet tobacco. Floral and scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, mellow but rich, lovely palate. Very refreshing and long. 98

1955 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Danish bottling (Carl Reffs) Mid shoulder fill. Ruby with orange rim. Prunes, somewhat scented, some dust. Lovely acidity, somewhat maderized on the palate, lacks some fruit, dries a bit. Better than last bottle. 84

1945 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Mid shoulder fill. Bright ruby, thin orange rim. Stunning nose, scented, layered, somewhat rich. Subdued yet intense, floral, cedar, superb. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, mellow and polished, but still there, the slightly warm and sweet fruit of the vintage is somewhat subdued. Extreme length. 98