One of the most classic, regal wines in the vintage, the 2008 Léoville Las Cases is made from 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Merlot. Possessing an incredible Cabernet character in its graphite, crushed rocks, green tobacco, and crème de cassis-like fruit, this beauty is medium to full-bodied, has integrated acidity, a deep, layered texture, and a distinct minerality and salinity on the finish. It’s just now at the early stages of its drink window, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it become one of the longest-lived wines in the vintage. It should hit prime time in another 4-5 years and keep for 30 years or more.

Already showing secondary nuances of olives, herbs, truffle, cedar chest, lead pencil and barbecue smoke make the nose. The wine is full bodied, firm, tannic, classically styled and still youthful. Another 5-10 years will bring the wine more softness and development. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=2008&wine=Chateau%20Leoville%20Las%20Cases

(95+ points) Another underrated vintage for this estate, the 2008 Léoville Las Cases is a vibrant, youthfully primary wine that's aging at a slower pace than the 2009. Unfurling to reveal aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with subtle hints of pencil shavings and nicely integrated new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, taut and layered, with tangy acids, ripe tannins and a long, penetrating finish. Displaying compelling purity and energy, it's a serious Las Cases that will richly reward the patient but which is still some way away from its drinking window. - William Kelley

Firm, rich tannins quietly declare their confidence - this is not yet at its real drinking window as the structure will require another five years to soften. The emphasis is clearly on the primary Cabernet, with an attack that focusses on cassis and the finish on menthol. This is Médoc personified, showing graphite notes, forest floor and tobacco, barely revving out of the gate.

Great to taste this alongside the other two names from this trilogy of St Juliens that once formed the vast Lionville estate. In 1855, Las Cases was owned by Théodore Galhaud, a prominent Bordeaux wine merchant. It's right on brand in 2008, muscular and brooding, and a little reserved, needs serious coaxing, and I would give two to three hours in a carafe to uncurl those bilberry and blackcurrant fruits that sit alongside pencil lead, cigar box, slate, all thos classic St Julien signatures that this property delivers so consistently. 50% new oak, Delon family owners in 2017 (as they had been throughout the 20th century).

Tasted ex-château and single blind in Southwold. We opened both bottles of the Château Leoville Las-Cases 2008 the first inexplicably missing a little substance but the second much more deserving. This has a very classic austere bouquet with blackberry cedar sous-bois and tobacco. It has fine definition and comes across quite Graves-like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins slightly dusty black fruit but with fine delineation towards the long graphite finish. Tasted January 2012.

This is loaded for the vintage with layer upon layer of crushed blackberry fig paste and mulled black currant offset by smolder-ing tobacco charcoal and anise notes. The finish is all iron and roasted earth for now with the density to be among the longest-lived wines of the vintage. Best from 2013 through 2023. From France.-J.M.