2009 Ch. Léoville-Las Cases, St. Julien

The 2009 Ch. Léoville-Las Cases is an incredible wine. Ripe, creamy, juicy blackcurrants dance across the palate, perfectly in harmony with sweet spice and freshness. Fabulous, intense waves of supple fruit roll on and on in the mouth whilst a massive level of chiselled, Cabernet tannins crash on the tongue and then just disappear. Beautifully harmonious, this has wonderful poise and balance yet the greatness of the wine underneath is clear. This will undoubtedly be one of the wines of the vintage.

Deep purple red, naturally concentrated bouquet over really smooth, sophisticated fruit with a taffeta lift, great purity and depth of vineyard fruit, superb elegance and length.
(Steven Spurrier - Decanter - Apr 2010)

Very deep crimson. Subtle with great depth of fruit and a hint of tobacco. This seems much sweeter and lusher than Léoville Las Cases usually does even if there is a lot of tannin underneath. Really quite voluptuous – what Bruno Borie claimed in Ducru? – but lots of fancy tannin and a bit of alcohol on the finish. Very firm but a bit of a step change with all that sweetness on the top.
(Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com - Apr 2010)

The 2009 is one of the greatest Leovifle Las Cases I have ever tasted, which is saying something given the many compelling wines that have been made at this estate. A final blend of 76% Cabemet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 9% Cabernet Franc has resulted in a wine that appears to be a hypothetical blend of the 1982, 1986, and 1996. Its 13.8% alcohol is perhaps the only thing that sets it apart from those vintages, which had nearly a full percentage point less. The high alcohol is barely noticeable in this 2009, which boasts an inky/purple color, monumental concentration, and great clarity and purity of creme de cassis, black cherry, spice box, graphite, and wet rock characteristics. Extremely full-bodied with a boatload of sweet tannin nearly concealed by the wine's power, glycerin, and awesome fruit concentration, this intense effort never tastes heavy or tiring. This remarkable St.-Julien should be accessible in 3-4 years, and will evolve for 40-50.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - April 2010)

Black color. What a nose. Black licorice, raspberry, currant and dried flowers galore. Full-bodied and superpowerful, with masses of fruit and toasted oak, but a blockbuster finish of fruit, tannins and everything else. I have never tasted such a flashy sample. I am blown away by this. A more fruit-forward style for Las Cases.
(James Suckling - Wine Spectator - March 2010)