Chateau Leoville Las Cases 1982

JEB DUNNUCK: "Tasted at the domaine, the 1982 Leoville Las Cases is just about pure perfection, and while certainly mature, it has plenty of life ahead of it. Thrilling notes of blackcurrants, kirsch, tobacco leaf, cedar box, menthol, and exotic spices all emerge from this seamless, powerful yet magically elegant Leoville Las Cases. Opening up in the glass, with a smoky, singular character, it's an incredible wine from this terroir that has an almost Latour-like regal quality. It should continue drinking well for another 10-15 years and I'm sure will keep even longer."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "As I wrote earlier this year, the 1982 Léoville Las Cases is one of the least evolved wines of the vintage, and this impeccably conserved ex-château bottle was, if anything, even more youthful still. Retaining a saturated ruby-black hue at age 40, it unwinds in the glass with aromas of cassis and other dark fruits mingled with notions of pencil shavings and loamy soil. On the palate, it's full-bodied, broad-shouldered and muscular, with an ample core of fruit framed by voluminous, powdery tannins. Rich and concentrated, with an expansive, comparatively low-acid profile, it comes into its own with extended aeration—and with food."

WEINWISSER: "Extrem tiefe Farbe, fast noch ein Violettschimmer. Wuchtige, etwas medizinale Nase, verschwenderische Vielfalt. Ein Kraftprotz am Gaumen, ungewöhnlich kräftige Säure für einen 1982er, vielleicht der konzentrierteste Wein der Serie, im Vergleich mit den andern etwas rustikal, bei weitem nicht die Noblesse eines Cheval Blanc oder Mouton, gleichwohl ein charaktervoller, nie langweilig werdender Wein, trockenes, säurebetontes Finale."

DECANTER: "It's impossible, I know, to believe that a St-Julien might not be perfectly ready to drink at this ripe old age, but here we are, face to face with the conundrum that is Léoville Las Cases. You'll be happy to hear I had the 1981 Léoville recently and it was actually open, soft and ready to go. This 1982 is still a little stubborn on first opening, but gets better and better in the glass, with sweet brambly ripe fruits, and rippling tannins that are almost honeyed at this stage. Classic, dense, mineral minty touches on the finish, great persistency and a way still ahead of it. Michel Delon, father of today's owner, was in charge at this point (and until 2000) and the cellar master Bruno Rolland remembers that they were working in shorts at night in the vat house because even after harvest the temperature was not dropping below 20 degrees at night. They were the first estate in St Julien to start harvesting in 1982 by the way, on September 13. Petit Verdot 5% finishes the blend."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Karmingranat, dezente Ockerreflexe, breitere Randaufhellung. Zart tabakig unterlegte dunkle Waldbeernuancen, ein Hauch von Orangenzesten, ein Hauch von Kräuter und Nougat, mineralischer Touch. Am Gaumen elegant, rotbeerige Textur, verfügt dank einer präsenten Säurestruktur über gute Frische, Noten von Brombeeren, aber auch rote Früchte, finessenreich, mit zitronigem Touch im Nachhall."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "This wine has required a lot of patience from consumers. 36 years to be exact. However, this was worth the wait. The wine has softened, filled out and opened up. With a short decant, the cedar, tobacco and blackberry were accompanied by cigar box aromatics. Full-bodied, concentrated and complex, the wine is regal, a little bit firm and incredibly long and mouth-filling. If you have been waiting for the wine to mature, this is ready for consumption."

WINE SPECTATOR: "A racy, classy, silky wine. Inky-ruby color. Black cherry, mineral and wet earth aromas. Medium-bodied, with very silky tannins and a long, superfine finish. Has always been excellent.--1982 Bordeaux horizontal. Best after 2000."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Deep rusty ruby. Very firm and intense and pure on the nose. Almost a decongestant it's so direct! Lots of acidity on the palate though. The nose is so much more alluring than the palate! Very dry/drying finish. For smelling not drinking. Let's see if it mellows during the evening"