2011 Château Léoville-Las Cases
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Tasting notes
The 2011 Leoville Lascases weighs in at a respectable 13.4 % alcohol from a blend of 76% Cab Sauv and 12% of both Cab Franc and Merlot. It is magnificent and very elegant with a sanguinary nose complicated with sweet dark fruit and evn a whiff of gravel. Alhough it has a very high tannin index of 81, the tannins are burried in the silky palate until they srface at the end in the long dry finish. This will need time but has the potential to be a classic.
Critic scores
Jeannie Cho Lee MW
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
A vintage that tended to be underrated early on, due to its youthful austerity and the excitement generated by its two immediate predecessors, the 2011 Léoville Las Cases is emerging as a sleeper that will delight Médoc purists. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cassis, dark berries, sweet spices, loamy soil, cigar wrapper and pencil shavings, it's medium to full-bodied, concentrated and structured, with chewy tannins, tangy acids and a long, penetrating finish. Built for the long haul, its austerity without asperity is immensely appealing in a world of ever sweeter, softer Bordeaux.
The 2011 Léoville Las-Cases is much more introspective on the nose than its peers, though it unfolds to reveal quite mineral-driven black fruit, leather and graphite aromas. It never fully lets go. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, fine acidity, fresh and lively with a focused, graphite-tinged finish. Maybe a little conservative in keeping with the vintage, though this is well crafted. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting.
About the producer
One of the leading estates in Bordeaux, Ch. Léoville Las Cases is one of the largest and oldest Classed Growths in the Médoc. Along with Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou, it is widely considered one of the best estates in Saint-Julien.