Winemaker and Vineyard: The Clos Léoville las Cases contains a terroir of great complexity. Made up primarily of Quaternary gravel on gravelly-sandy and gravelly-clay subsoils, one also encounters 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. In addition, 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 composition of the grapes: regular but limited water supply and low nutritional inputs promote the expression of great Cabernets Sauvignons and Cabernet Francs that always reach their quintessence. This incomparable terroir gives the Grand Vin its unique personality.

Tasting: The 2019 Léoville Las Cases is a brilliant young wine that will delight Bordeaux purists. Unwinding in the glass with scents of cassis, dark berries, cigar wrapper and pencil shavings, it’s full-bodied, layered and tightly wound, with a deep core of fruit, lively acids and an abundance of rich, powdery tannins. Concentrated and serious, much like its immediate neighbor Château Latour, it is likely to emerge as one of the vintage’s longest lived—and greatest—wines.

One of the greatest and most consistent estates of the Médoc, Léoville Las Cases is in terrific form today. The core of the estate is the 50-hectare "Clos," surrounded by walls and bordering the Gironde to the immediate south of its neighbor, Latour. In the vineyards, where Cabernet Sauvignon rules, the team are experimenting with cover crops and biodynamic methods, and in the cellars and chai, winemaking remains very traditional. The 2019 is one of the very finest wines of the vintage, though as ever, it is not intended for consumers seeking immediate gratification. robertparker.com (07.04.2022)

Service: Serve at room temperature (16-18°C) to accompany truffled partridges.