Château Léoville Las Cases 1985

Tasting characteristics and advice for Château Léoville Las Cases 1985

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a brick-tinged garnet hue, reflecting forty years of evolution in bottle. This deep color reveals Bordeaux-like highlights typical of a great wine that has reached full maturity.

Nose

The nose unfurls a captivating tertiary complexity, with aromas of candied blackcurrant alongside notes of mature blond tobacco. Hints of fresh truffle, aged leather, and damp woodland floor enrich the bouquet. With aeration, the wine gradually reveals nuances of toasted bread, graphite, minerals, and a touch of fresh mint, with subtle notes of black licorice.

Palate

The attack is surprising in its initial softness, extending into a remarkably seamless texture where the tannins show as velvety and perfectly integrated with the fruit. The body reveals itself as medium to full, sufficiently substantial without ever feeling heavy. The finish lingers with flavors of blackcurrant, ripe dark fruits, minerals, and white tobacco, accompanied by a subtle touch of iodine. The whole remains long, intense, and graceful.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs perfectly with braised red meats, notably a grilled rib of beef or a roasted rack of Pauillac lamb. Classic Bordeaux-style preparations such as an entrecôte with a red wine reduction or a braised beef cheek stew make ideal gastronomic matches. Game such as hare à la royale, woodcock, or partridge with richly reduced sauces finds in this wine an eminently fitting companion. Woodland mushrooms and truffled dishes beautifully highlight the wine’s earthy notes. Hard cheeses, particularly well-aged Comté or Beaufort, pair admirably with this mature vintage.

Serving and cellaring

Château Léoville Las Cases 1985 is ideally enjoyed at a temperature of 15 to 17°C. Decanting for around 30 minutes is beneficial, allowing gradual aeration and softening any residual tannins while removing any natural sediment. Now at full maturity, this wine offers an optimal drinking window extending to around 2040, or even beyond for bottles stored in perfect conditions.

A Second Growth from Saint-Julien at the height of its powers

The estate

Created between 1826 and 1840 during the breakup of the large Léoville estate, Château Léoville Las Cases is a Second Growth classified in 1855 in AOC Saint-Julien, in Bordeaux. Its 98-hectare vineyard in Saint-Julien-Beychevelle is structured around the walled Grand Clos of 50 to 55 hectares, adjoining Château Latour. Sole owner and current head, Jean-Hubert Delon—whose family has owned the estate since the late 19th century—preserves this historic heart, symbolized by the lion on the gate.

The vineyard

The vineyard of Château Léoville Las Cases spans 55 hectares of the famed Grand Clos, located to the north of Saint-Julien. This strategic geographic position provides exceptional exposure and distinct climatic characteristics, with the Gironde estuary creating a favorable moderating microclimate. The terroir is composed primarily of Günzian Quaternary gravels, resting on complex subsoils combining sand, clay, and gravel, ensuring perfect drainage while maintaining a steady water supply. The vines were on average more than 40 years old in the 1985 vintage.

The vintage

The 1985 vintage in Bordeaux stands out for its elegance rather than sheer power. The growing cycle began under unfavorable signs, with January recording the coldest temperatures since 1956. April, May, and June remained close to seasonal averages. Summer conditions proved irregular, with July slightly warmer and more humid than usual, followed by a comparatively cool August. The decisive factor emerged in September, which saw rare climatic perfection combining warmth, generous sunshine, and dry conditions. Harvest began late on September 29, marking the latest start of the decade. Merlot performed particularly well in this season, giving the vintage its distinct organoleptic signature.

Vinification and aging

The vinification process for Château Léoville Las Cases 1985, meticulously overseen by the château’s technical team, favors gentle extraction over aggressiveness, allowing the fruit to shine without excessive tannin extraction. Aging in oak barrels, carried out over 18 to 20 months, uses a proportion of new oak ranging from 50 to 100% depending on the wine’s needs and the winemaker’s assessment. This gradual aging approach gives the wine its characteristic complexity and elegance, with the oak never overpowering the fruit but rather enriching it with notes of toasted vanilla and perceptible minerality. The final blend is assembled after separate aging of the different parcels and grape varieties, favoring overall harmony rather than brute power.

Grape varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.