2007 Ch. Léoville-Las Cases, St Julien

Owner Jean-Hubert Delon has described Las Cases as `a First Growth for wine drinkers' and his 2007 has lived up royally to its billing. Arguably the best wine in the Médoc (yes, including the First Growths) its concentration, fleshiness and complexity are atypical for the vintage. Restrained blackcurrant, vanilla, minerals and coffee on the nose act as an amuse bouche for the multi-layered, incredibly elegant palate of intense cassis, dark chocolate and very, very fine tannins. Nipping at the heels of its 2005 and 2006, this seamless, focused Las Cases is, for 2007, nothing short of a masterpiece.

Huge colour, really impressive purple-black, intense, yet very fragrant and very pure fruit on the nose, great length and precision on the palate, great depth and finely grained tannins, a wine for the long term.
(Steven Spurrier - Decanter - Apr 08)

Mid crimson. Tingly fruit. 15% press wine, as in 1995. Good energy. Cuts off quite suddenly after a rich, sweet start. So soft with flattering black fruits on the front palate and then tough and tarry on the finish. A bit toughened up. Not fine or gentle. Very tough compared with the Clos du Marquis. Not in the spirit of the vintage but certainly in the spirit of Las Cases. An interesting comparison with that other wine which usually has no shortage of tannin, Ch Latour.
(Jancis Robinson – www.jancisrobinson.com – Apr 08)