Château Léoville Las Cases is one of Saint-Julien’s reference points: a 1855 Second Growth that routinely performs at “super-second” level. The 2014 grand vin is a Cabernet Sauvignon–led blend (given as 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and the balance Merlot in multiple reviews), built around the estate’s gravelly Médoc power and its characteristically strict structure. Alcohol is around 13.5%, and élevage is reported as substantial, including 50% new oak in Jane Anson’s note.
Across critics, 2014 is described as classic, tightly coiled Las Cases—less about early charm than long-haul detail. William Kelley (Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate) calls it “a tightly wound classic that will delight purists,” layering “dark berries and cassis” with “cigar wrapper, pencil shavings and sweet new oak,” and ending on a “long, penetrating finish,” concluding that “the only missing ingredient is time.” That 96+ review stands out as an excellent endorsement of both quality and aging curve.
James Suckling delivers the highest score at 98, praising “blackberries, blueberries, flowers and citrus” and “ultra-fine tannins… long and seamless,” with “incredible length.” Wine Enthusiast’s Roger Voss is similarly emphatic at 97, highlighting “powerful fruit, rich tannins and a structure that is built to last,” and advising, “Drink from 2028.”
The aromatic profile frequently turns on cassis, graphite and mineral tones. Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth (95) finds it “densely packed… with layers of cold charcoal and graphite,” while Jeb Dunnuck (94+) notes “crème de cassis, graphite, licorice and subtle background oak,” calling it “backward, tight, [and] age-worthy.” Decanter (95) captures the house style neatly: “Fine, chalky tannins… severe in the Las Cases style but a wine of great class.”
More recent tastings underline how it is evolving rather than opening fully. Neal Martin at Vinous (95) describes a “more tertiary” complexity with “autumn leaves and cigar smoke,” and Jane Anson (96) sums up its temperament: “demanding attention but expecting you to wait.”
