Château Léoville Las Cases 2016, Saint-Julien 2° Grand Cru Classé - Parker 100

Winemaker and Vineyard: Clos Léoville Las Cases has a very complex terroir. It is mainly composed of Quaternary gravel on gravelly-sandy and gravelly-clay subsoils, with more or less deep and compact clays, sometimes even outcropping. The proximity of the Gironde is responsible for this unique diversity of soils, created over geological periods, by successive superpositions. Moreover, the river generates a very specific microclimate that allows for early ripening of the grapes and protects the vineyard from frost. This range of geological combinations influences the development of the vine and the constitution of the grapes: regular but limited water supply and low nutritional inputs favor the expression of great Cabernet Sauvignons and Cabernet Francs, which always reach their quintessence. This unparalleled terroir gives the Grand Vin its unique personality.

Tasting: A brilliant young wine, the 2016 Léoville Barton unwinds in the glass with aromas of cassis, dark berries and cigar box mingled with subtle hints of loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's seamless and exquisitely balanced, with beautifully refined tannins, bright acids and a long, penetrating finish. Its structural refinement is such that it's far from forbidding to open right now, yet patience will be richly rewarded (robertparker.com, 11.08.2022).

Service: The 2016 Château Léoville-Las Cases pairs excellently with beef dishes, particularly roastbeef.