Château Léoville Las Cases 2008
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The balance and structure of a Saint-Julien red wine
The estate
Producing wines that soar to higher heights of excellence and elegance from one vintage to the next, Château Léoville Las Cases is one of the most emblematic properties of the prestigious Saint-Julien appellation located on the left bank of the Bordeaux region.
The vineyard
A benchmark among Saint-Julien wines, Château Léoville Las Cases reigns over a 55-hectare vineyard that is planted within the famous Clos de Léoville, the complexity of which constitutes a veritable mosaic of terroirs. Located near the Gironde estuary, the vineyard benefits from the river's temperature regulating influence, guaranteeing mild temperatures and providing a barrier against frost. Combined with the presence of Gunz gravelly soil, resting upon subsoils of a gravelly-sandy nature with more or less deep clays, the terroir of Château Léoville Las Cases comprises all the conditions to produce fine vintages with a legendary allure.
The vintage
Although the cool spring weather caused a late budburst, the pleasant summer conditions between the end of July and the beginning of August favoured a rapid and uniform veraison period. A cool, rainy month of August until the beginning of September preceded a drier period as the harvest approached which enabled the grapes to reach an optimal ripeness level.
The blend
Château Léoville Las Cases 2008 comprises a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%), Cabernet Franc (12%) and Merlot (10%).
A classic style of Las Cases that is somewhat masculine for the vintage, tannic and backward, and less formidably concentrated than the 2009 or 2010, the 2008 needs 7-8 years of cellaring. Dense purple, the aromatics are closed, but with coaxing and aggressive swirling, notes of crushed rock, black currants and some forest floor notes emerge. Impressively built, medium to full-bodied, layered and stunningly concentrated, this is a sleeper vintage for Leoville Las Cases that should improve considerably, given how closed it was the day I tasted it. It is another 30+ year wine from proprietor Jean-Hubert Delon.