2006 Leoville Las Cases
By Chateau Leoville Las Cases
2006 Leoville Las Cases from Chateau Leoville Las Cases, St-Julien, Bordeaux
This illustrious wine, the 2006 Leoville Las Cases from Chateau Leoville Las Cases, is an entrancing example of the winemaker's art from one of Bordeaux's most respected second growth estates. As a wine critic with a deep-rooted affinity for the nuances of Bordeaux vintages, the 2006 iteration offers an intriguing contrast to the riper expressions that emerged in years adjacent.
A Vintage of Structure and Stamina
Amidst St-Julien's constellation of prestigious wines, the 2006 Leoville Las Cases shines with a firm structure that beckons aficionados of decidedly robust Bordeaux. Sculpted by a growing season marked by climatic ups and downs, this vintage trades the opulence of '05 and '09 for a stately reserve and remarkable depth. The narrative of 2006's weather patterns—a hot July followed by a variable August and an exceptionally sunny September—lends itself to the pronounced tannic backbone and poised acidity present in this substantial vintage.
Savouring Depth and Complexities
The bouquet is rich with smoky cassis, hints of cedarwood, and subtle undertones of spice — a poetic olfactory tale spun from the storied terroir of St-Julien. This captivating blend threads together Cabernet Sauvignon's power with Merlot's plushness and Cabernet Franc’s aromatic intrigue. Sipping the 2006 Leoville Las Cases is to discover a palate layered not only with generous fruit but interplayed with savoury complexities and earthier narratives.
As one considers this wine not merely as an indulgence but also as an investment, its steady evolution in the bottle signals tremendous potential for longevity. With over fifteen years under its belt, it demonstrates the stalwart augmentation expected from top-tier Bordeaux, making it an enticing asset for fine wine portfolios.
Connoisseur's Summary
For enthusiasts seeking to enrich their collection with a wine that embodies St-Julien's distinctive refinement fused with authoritative presence, the 2006 Leoville Las Cases from Chateau Leoville Las Cases stands as a beacon. Its ongoing maturation suggests an arc of development that promises continued pleasure and investment merit for many years to come—an essential candidate for any discerning investor looking to weave classical Bordeaux finesse into their holdings.
Market price (GBP)
£1,340.00
12x75cl
Highest score
96
POP score
83.75
Scores and tasting notes
Tasted blind at Southwold ’06 Bordeaux tasting. Jean-Hubert’s crown jewel is always difficult to assess in blind conditions, although the longer you leave it in your glass, the more it unfurls and your points start ratcheting up. The 2006 is no different: a rich, meaty nose with mulberry, sloe, pencil lead, a touch of shoe polish. The palate is medium-bodied, very sleek and smooth on the entry, ripe and rounded, quite sensuous and ravishing with plush black fruit, well-integrated new oak and a decadent, domineering primal finish that will demand 10-12 years cellaring. Tasted January 2010.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Sep 2010
Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London and then blind at Farr Vintners horizontal, the 2006 Château Léoville Las-Cases has a very complex bouquet with heady scents of blackcurrant, kirsch, crushed violets, rock salt and just a hint of cassis. It is backward and can barely contain its energy. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, very symmetrical and poised, a fine line of acidity interwoven through the black fruit, touches of citrus fruit developing towards the poised and tensile finish. This is a beautiful wine from Jean-Hubert Delon, but it needs several years in bottle. Tasted April 2016.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 29 May 2016
Not surprisingly, Leoville Las Cases has produced another classic, potentially long-lived wine in 2006. Among the St.-Juliens, it, Ducru Beaucaillou, and Leoville Barton possess the potential for the greatest longevity. Interestingly, when I visited this chateau in January, proprietor Jean-Hubert Delon offered me two samples, one where the cork had been pulled immediately prior to tasting, and another that had been decanted four hours earlier. Both were superb, but the wine that had had extended aeration was clearly the finer offering. The opaque purple-hued 2006- only 40% of the crop made it into the final blend- exhibits a personality that mimics the superb 1996. Classic aromas of sweet black raspberries, kirsch, cassis, and subtle toasty oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine displaying moderately high tannin. This cuvee can often resemble a Pauillac wrapped in the St.-Julien appellation, and the 2006 is no exception. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, it will require significant cellaring before consumption. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2035+.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #181 Feb 2009