1996 Leoville Las Cases
By Chateau Leoville Las Cases
1996 Leoville Las Cases from Chateau Leoville Las Cases, St-Julien, Bordeaux
The 1996 Leoville Las Cases from Chateau Leoville Las Cases is a provocative testament to a vintage that challenged and offered an exemplary canvas for the winemakers in St-Julien. '96 still resonates in the cellars of connoisseurs who recognise its unique worth in the pantheon of Bordeaux. The intuition and skill employed by Chateau Leoville Las Cases balanced a year which presented an uneven growing season but ultimately finished triumphantly with a magnificent harvest.
The Distinct Symphony of '96
A splendidly arranged quintet of quality, the 1996 vintage exudes notes of ripe blackcurrant and cedar, interlaced with an earthy truffle undertone — unique signatures of this harvester's song. The wine's structured tannins harbour the complexity that signifies a remarkable aging potential, making it an engaging acquisition for fine wine investors who appreciate the diligence of time in creating depth and subtlety.
An Investment Grade Vintage
In investment spheres, rarity coupled with quality often denotes potential, and the 1996 Leoville Las Cases stands as one such prospect. Its vibrant acidity and compelling structure suggest that this wine will continue to evolve, suggesting a plateau of maturity not yet reached. A touchstone for the ever-discerning investor, this exceptional wine bears witness to both the fluctuations of nature and man's tenacious spirit.
As our palates have matured alongside such vintages, what emerges in a glass of '96 Leoville Las Cases is a ruminative journey through esteemed terroir. It's a venture into how meticulously nurtured grapevines can transcend mercurial weather conditions to create a vintage that whispers of resilience and grace.
In essence, the 1996 Leoville Las Cases from Chateau Leoville Las Cases encapsulates not just an exceptional year for St-Julien but also personifies the enduring narrative of Bordeaux — one where each bottle is as much about the storied past as it is about the unveiled future. For those vested in wine as both passion and portfolio, this particular vintage remains an appealing proposition where pedigree and performance converge splendidly.
Market price (HKD)
HK$26,764.92
12x75cl
Highest score
98
POP score
155.56
Scores and tasting notes
The 1996 Leoville-Las Cases is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc picked between 25 September and 10 October (for fascinating insight, read Robert Parker's remarks about the blend with Michel Delon in the original tasting note). Now at 20 years, it has evolved into an absolutely stunning Saint Julien, clearly one of the best wines from the estate this decade. The bouquet is beautifully defined with intense black cherries, cedar, mint and a touch of oyster shell that seems to gain intensity in the glass. The palate is seamless from start to finish, extraordinarily pure, the 70% new oak totally assimilated of course, impressive weight and power allied with genuine finesse and tension towards the silky smooth finish. It stands as one of the best wines of the vintage without one iota of doubt and it will last 30-40 years without problem. You might call it "proper Claret." You might call it "delicious." Tasted July 2016.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 28 October 2016
Having previously rated it nearly perfect, I was apprehensive of a letdown about tasting the 1996 Leoville Las Cases once it had been bottled, but that concern was quickly dismissed once I put my nose in the glass. A profound Leoville Las Cases, it is one of the great modern day wines of Bordeaux. This wine's hallmark remains a sur-maturite (over-ripeness) of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. Yet the wine has retained its intrinsic classicism, symmetry, and profound potential for complexity and elegance. The black/purple color is followed by a spectacular nose of cassis, cherry liqueur, pain grille, and minerals. It is powerful and rich on the attack, with beautifully integrated tannin, massive concentration, yet no hint of heaviness or disjointedness. As this wine sits in the glass it grows in stature and richness. It is a remarkable, seamless, palate-staining, and extraordinarily elegant wine - the quintessential St.-Julien. Despite the sweetness of the tannin, I would recommend cellaring this wine for 7-8 years. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2035.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #122 April 1999
Tasted at Roberson’s Las-Cases vertical. The 1996 is more masculine on the nose with graphite and tobacco, a touch of sea salt developing with time, an estuarine tincture that is refreshing and speaks of its place. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, a saline touch on the entry, much more closed than the nose, obdurate as usual, quite austere towards the cedar and tobacco and mint dominated finish. Tasted February 2011.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jul 2011