1997 Leoville Las Cases
By Chateau Leoville Las Cases
1997 Leoville Las Cases from Chateau Leoville Las Cases, St-Julien, Bordeaux, France
Investors and connoisseurs alike invariably hold the 1997 vintage from Chateau Leoville Las Cases in high esteem, renowned for its grace and approachability. Standing resolute among the challenging weather conditions that year, the wine encapsulates the fortitude of the St-Julien terroir.
A Testament to Vinicultural Mastery
An exemplar of viticultural finesse in a year that tested many Bordeaux producers, the 1997 vintage from Chateau Leoville Las Cases is a remarkable achievement. A testament to the Chateau’s deft craftsmanship, it displays an exceptional balance between mature fruit and tannic structure—attributes that closely align with its ageing potential within an investor's portfolio.
Deciphering the 1997 Veil
Beneath the veil of this wine's evolution lies a precise tableau of complex aromas – blackberry and cassis merge seamlessly with earthy undertones of cedar and leather. The palate reveals a confident stride; it is sinewy yet adorned with a supple layer of fruit that has mellowed beautifully over time. This compelling tension between enduring vigour and mellow refinement sets the 1997 Leoville Las Cases apart from other vintages.
The climatic vagaries of '97 coerced vineyards into revealing their adaptive prowess. Chateau Leoville Las Cases, resolute in craft and legacy, transformed these hurdles into a beacon of matured opulence within their cherished St-Julien vineyards.
As the years have sculpted this offering, it now stands at a crossroads—a pictorial representation of seasoned sophistication awaiting the discerning palate or investor looking to diversify with an age-worthy piece of oenological artistry.
Unveiling a Symphony of Maturity
In conclusion, the 1997 vintage from Chateau Leoville Las Cases beautifully affirms its prestige within the investment panorama. With tasting notes underlined by a melody of aged nuance, it remains suggestive of not merely a drink but an experience—an involvement with refined history that speaks volumes of St-Julien's traditional resilience.
Market price (GBP)
£1,550.00
12x75cl
Highest score
90
POP score
155
Scores and tasting notes
A star of the vintage, this classy, cedary, black currant, and sweet cherry-scented, dense ruby-colored Las Cases exhibits a beautiful dosage of new oak, medium body, expansive, ripe, concentrated flavors, plenty of glycerin, and exceptional purity. It is low in acidity, and already delicious. Anticipated maturity: now-2016.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 20 April 2000
Tasted at the Las-Cases off-line at The Square. The 1997 Las-Cases is a solid performer for the vintage. It displays fine definition and freshness on the nose with blackberry leaf, crushed stone and briary, imbued with a sense of joie-de-vivre perhaps lacking on the '99. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins lending it masculinity and structure. I like the tension here: a '97 with energy and vivacity with a long sweet tail of black fruit towards the finish. Drinking now, but it will keep for another decade. Tasted February 2011.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jul 2011