2016 Château Léoville Las Cases

A mild spring followed by intense summer heat defined Las Cases in 1989, with harvest conducted under optimal conditions through September. The estate's deep gravel soils near Latour produced profound cassis and black fruit notes layered with cedar and crushed stones. The wine displays remarkable concentration and power, embodying the muscular style of this northern Saint-Julien terroir.

Early spring warmth and consistent summer heat brought perfect ripening to Las Cases in 1990, with harvest under clear September skies. The estate's prime gravelly parcels yielded intense dark fruits interwoven with graphite, tobacco, and minerals. The wine demonstrates profound depth while maintaining Las Cases' signature power and refinement.

Variable weather challenged Las Cases in 1993, with careful selection and precise harvest timing proving crucial. The estate's well-draining gravel soils and strict sorting produced classic cassis notes with cedar and mineral undertones. The wine showcases the terroir's capacity to deliver structure and refinement even in demanding vintages.

Challenging spring rains followed by a warm summer tested Las Cases in 1994, with precise harvest timing proving essential. The estate's gravel soils near Latour yielded classic cassis and cedar notes with mineral undertones. The wine demonstrates Las Cases' ability to produce structured wines even in difficult years.

Variable spring weather followed by a dry summer challenged Las Cases in 1999, with careful selection crucial to quality. The estate's well-draining gravel soils yielded refined cassis notes with cedar and crushed stone. The wine showcases Las Cases' signature power while maintaining precision and balance.

A warm spring and consistently sunny summer created ideal ripening at Las Cases in 2000, with harvest under clear September skies. The estate's prime gravel parcels yielded intense dark fruits layered with graphite, tobacco, and crushed stone. The wine displays profound depth and structure, embodying the muscular style of this northern Saint-Julien terroir.

Variable spring weather followed by a dry summer brought mixed conditions to Las Cases in 2001, with precise harvest timing crucial. The estate's well-draining gravel soils produced classic cassis notes with cedar and mineral undertones. The wine demonstrates remarkable balance between power and finesse, showcasing Las Cases' consistent quality.

The 2005 growing season at Leoville Las Cases was characterized by near-perfect conditions, with a warm, dry summer and ideal weather during harvest. These factors led to optimal ripeness in both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, resulting in grapes with exceptional concentration and balance. The 2005 Leoville Las Cases captures the essence of this legendary vintage, showcasing both power and elegance in perfect harmony.

October's challenging conditions demanded precise harvest timing, while the Grand Clos' efficient drainage and deep gravel soils proved crucial. Maritime influences from the nearby Gironde helped moderate the late season rains across Las Cases' prime northern parcels. The wine captures the vintage's classical nature through refined blackcurrant notes and crushed stone minerality, maintaining the property's strict standards despite the year's challenges.

The 2008 growing season at Leoville Las Cases saw a cool, damp summer followed by a sunny, dry autumn that saved the vintage. The estate's meticulous vineyard management and patient approach to harvesting allowed for optimal ripeness in their Cabernet Sauvignon. The resulting 2008 Leoville Las Cases showcases the vintage's freshness and purity, while maintaining the power and longevity for which the chateau is known.

At Léoville Las Cases, the 2009 growing season provided near-perfect conditions with warm days and cool nights throughout the summer. The estate's deep gravel soils and old vines handled the warmth beautifully, while the proximity to the Gironde estuary provided crucial temperature moderation. These ideal conditions allowed for perfect ripening across all varieties, creating what many consider the most complete LLC since the legendary 1982.

The estate's prime position against the Gironde and deep gravel soils provided crucial drainage during challenging conditions, particularly in the historic Clos du Marquis parcels. October sunshine allowed precise plot-by-plot harvesting across the château's prime sites. The wine delivers classic Saint-Julien graphite and blackcurrant notes, showing Las Cases' signature power and noble structure.

The estate's prime position on Saint-Julien's gravel plateau provided crucial drainage through variable late season conditions. The Grand Vin parcels bordering Latour captured optimal October sun, building phenolic ripeness steadily. The wine reveals concentrated black fruits, pronounced graphite notes, and the profound structure inherent to this commanding terroir.

The 2016 growing season at Leoville Las Cases began with a wet spring, followed by a long, dry summer and perfect conditions during harvest. These factors led to grapes with exceptional ripeness, concentration, and freshness. The 2016 Leoville Las Cases captures the essence of this outstanding vintage, combining power and elegance with unprecedented precision and balance.

The Grand Clos's deep gravel soils and proximity to the Gironde protected against April frost, preserving the estate's historic Cabernet Sauvignon plots. Summer's moderate warmth and cooling maritime influences allowed for steady ripening across Las Cases's prime parcels. The wine displays classic Saint-Julien graphite and dark fruit precision, with the vintage's natural concentration evident in its structured core.

The growing season at Las Cases began with a rainy spring, followed by a hot, dry summer that was perfectly moderated by the estate's proximity to the Gironde. The deep gravel soils provided crucial water regulation during the dry period, while cool nights in September preserved freshness and aromatic complexity. The team's precise parcel-by-parcel harvesting decisions captured optimal ripeness while maintaining the estate's signature freshness.

The 2020 season at Las Cases began early, with a warm spring followed by a hot summer that tested even the estate's old vines and deep gravel soils. The proximity to the Gironde proved crucial in moderating temperatures, while early morning harvesting helped preserve freshness. The team's expertise in handling warm vintages resulted in wines that combine power with remarkable precision.

At Las Cases, the team faced multiple challenges including spring frost and persistent disease pressure throughout the growing season. The estate's exceptional terroir, with its proximity to the Gironde and deep gravel soils, proved crucial in maintaining quality. Extreme selection and precise harvesting decisions, coupled with gentle extraction in the cellar, allowed the team to produce a wine that upholds the estate's exacting standards.