1982 Leoville Las Cases
By Chateau Leoville Las Cases
1982 Leoville Las Cases from Chateau Leoville Las Cases, St-Julien, Bordeaux
In the pantheon of Bordeaux’s finest, the 1982 vintage from St-Julien not only stands as a paragon of excellence but as a testament to the artistry of winemaking at Chateau Leoville Las Cases. Our journey back to this illustrious year reveals a canvas painted with perfection in climatic conditions, leading to an assemblage that has matured into one of the most sought-after wines for discerning investors and collectors alike.
A Vintage Par Excellence: A Cellar Investment Delight
With decades of maturation, the 1982 Leoville Las Cases exudes a mature and sophisticated character that manages to retain vestiges of its original exuberance. Masterful winemaking intersects with opulent conditions of 1982—a year marked by ideal weather patterns that steered the grapes towards an early and ample harvest imbued with ripeness and balance. This has allowed for a vintage that continues to thrive, offering a profound depth and complexity to those fortunate enough to uncork its splendour.
The Quintessential St-Julien Profile
The 1982 Leoville Las Cases boasts a tapestry of rich blackcurrant, cedar and truffle on the nose, inviting an exploration into its layered palate. On the tongue, it unfolds with powerful yet seamlessly integrated tannins, revealing well-preserved fruit underlined by earthy veins and hints of graphite that speak to its noble terroir. And now, as it reaches its plateau of maturity, it delivers unparalleled refinement—a hallmark of grandeur for the St-Julien appellation.
The strategic acquisition of this wine for one’s portfolio is not merely an investment in liquid luxury; it is an embrace of heritage and history. Few experiences in the world of fine wine can rival the pleasure derived from sharing a bottle whose narrative spans over four decades, mingling ancestral craftsmanship with the sublime evolution of time. At its core, investing in 1982 Leoville Las Cases from Chateau Leoville Las Cases is both a nod to past triumphs and a toast to future prosperity.
In summation, the 1982 vintage from Chateau Leoville Las Cases represents more than mere alchemy between vineyard and vintner—it is a beacon for style, stability and stature within any wine portfolio. Its undeniable prowess on both pallet and market makes this St-Julien treasure an indispensable piece for connoisseurs seeking to elevate their collection.
Market price (GBP)
£4,200.00
12x75cl
Highest score
95
POP score
280
Scores and tasting notes
I have had perfect bottles of this cuvee, but, perplexingly, the bottles from my cellar tend to be broodingly backward and require plenty of coaxing. This huge wine is, in many ways, just as massive as Leoville Barton, but it possesses a greater degree of elegance as well as unreal concentration. Classic lead pencil, cassis, kirsch, cedar, and spice characteristics are abundant in both the nose and full-bodied flavors. The tannins are still there, and, at least from my cellar, this 1982 does not appear to have changed much in the last 10-12 years. One wonders how much patience admirers of this brilliant St.-Julien will continue to exhibit. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050. Release price: ($160.00/case)
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 29 June 2009
Tasted at Pebbles/Zachy’s 1982 dinner in Hong Kong. The Leoville Las-Cases ’82 was once such a curmudgeonly Saint Julien. It has a delineated bouquet with tobacco, cloves and sous-bois – a little conservative when compared directly against Gruaud Larose. It is well balanced on the medium-bodied palate with broody black, tertiary fruit. There is a palpable stoicism to the Las-Cases ’82, an aloofness and distance that denies the imbiber a personal bond with the wine that is more impressive than pleasurable. Having tasted the 1986 Las-Cases just a few days before, I find that the ’86 has more completeness and persistency. Tasted November 2012.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jan 2013