Château Léoville Las Cases 2022

Wineadvocate

One of the wines of the vintage this year is the 2022 Léoville Las Cases, a monument in the making that combines unerring classicism with unusual sensuality and charm by the standards of this estate's sometimes youthfully forbidding wines. Exhibiting deep aromas of dark berries, violets, pencil lead, rose petals and tobacco leaf, it's full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, with terrific concentration, beautiful purity of fruit, abundant but refined tannins and a long, vibrant finish. On the several occasions that I tasted it, the 2022 was surprisingly open for a young Las Cases, but it wouldn't surprise me if it were to shut down after a few years in bottle. It's a blend of 83.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10.5% Cabernet Franc and 6% Merlot. - WK 04/2023

Vinous

The 2022 Léoville Las-Cases was picked 8-30 September with more infusion than extraction, matured in 84% new oak. Precocious, almost decadent blackberry and blueberry fruit on the nose, there is something lavish and audacious about this SaintJulien. There is an underlying estuarine element, a whiff off the banks of the Gironde. The palate is medium-bodied with polished tannins, very detailed, extremely pure, what you might call a "vertical" Las-Cases with fabulous precision on the finish. This surpasses the 2018-2020 trio and to use that clichéd expression, is a "tour de force". - NM 04/2023

Beck

Las Cases se révèle avec une rare subtilité. Lui qui aime bien rapidement mettre les choses au point, il a une entrée en matière qui le mérite de surprendre… et surtout de convaincre. Les nuances de Cabernet Franc sont évidentes, au travers de notes de violettes, la fraîcheur du Cabernet Sauvignon est de toute manière plussoyée quant au merlot, malgré une représentativité d'à peine 6 % confère le charme qu'on attend de lui. En bouche Las Cases surprend également. Il affiche une évidente rondeur, dès l'attaque, mais ce n'est que pour mieux montrer ses dents par la suite !! La puissance ça ne se gomme pas, par contre ça se canalise… et heureusement cette puissance a été parfaitement domptée. L'équilibre est parfait, l'ampleur, la sucrosité, la vivacité, la finesse, le charme et la tension… et tout ça réuni ! Quel symposium de saveur, quelle logique qualitative performante, quelle aptitude à faire avancer Las Cases vers des horizons dédiés à accessibilité plus rapide qu'à l'accoutumé, tout en assurant l'extraordinaire aptitude au vieillissement que l’on connaît de Las Cases. Une des très grandes réussites du millésime. - 04/2023

Suckling

This shows no gravity. The tannins are totally melted in the wine and give it fantastic structure, but the texture is so fresh and vivid. Crushed stone. Cloves. Chinese spices. Great finish. Opening and flying away. Orange peel. Very special. Thought-provoking. Endless. 83.5% cabernet sauvignon, 10.5% cabernet franc and 6% merlot. - 04/2023

Dunnuck

Looking at the Grand Vin 2022 Château Léoville Las Cases, it has an almost Pauillac-like style in its ripe, powerful aromatics of graphite, lead pencil shavings, cassis, and liquid rock-like minerality. Full-bodied, massively concentrated, and powerful on the palate, it nevertheless stays flawlessly balanced, has just about off-the-charts purity, ripe yet building tannins, and a great finish. This will clearly rank with the truly greats from this address and reminds me slightly of a mix of the 2016 and 2018. It is not, however, going to be for those looking for instant gratification. - 05/2023