Château Léoville Las Cases 2009

Let yourself go and sink into this deep dark chasm that will swallow you whole if you let it. Enormous concentration, but every bit as much finesse, the finish extremely long and fine. And this is just beginning to give its best! Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)

Dark, intense and slightly evolved color. Superb, very aromatic, subtle nose, with ripe, fresh and pure fruitiness. Creamy shades. Lots of nobility. Airy from the attack, melting in development, particularly aromatic, juicy and noble in the mid-palate, then powerful, the wine evolves suave, tasty, deep and complex in the finish, without any austerity. It's long and particularly good. Don't deprive yourself of tasting this Las Cases young, even if it will last another 50 years (before 2060).

The 2009 is one of the greatest Leoville 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% Cabernet 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. (Tasted once.) - Robert Parker Jr