2002 Leoville Las Cases

Only 43% of the production made it into the final blend of this remarkable 2002. Produced from a low 17 hectoliters per hectare, it includes 66.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Merlot, 13.9% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot. It has the highest alcohol ever achieved in a Leoville Las Cases (13.5%) as well as a lofty pH of 3.85. Nevertheless, the impression is one of a structured wine with considerable density, a ruby/purple color, layers of flavor, and a classic overall personality. The wine exhibits pure black currant, licorice-infused fruit, huge body, a viscous mid-palate, and a long, heady finish. I suspect this wine won’t be nearly as charming as the 2003 in its youth, but it hasn’t yet closed down, and I am amazed at just how rich, intense, and full-bodied it tastes even after bottling. This is certainly one of the half dozen or so candidates for wine of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2030+.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #158, Apr 2005)

Tasted blind at Farr’s 2002 Bordeaux tasting. A ripe blackberry nose with graphite, blueberry, wild hedgerow and a touch of leather. A sweet entry, a lot of extraction here with firm, solid, chewy tannins but well defined and clean. Real density and weight to this wine. Grippy…lacquers the palate with its fruit, one of the most persistent ’02 Clarets but it certainly needs time. Tasted October 2009.

– eRobertParker.com, Jan 2010

Quality 886 | Brand 994 | Economics 878 | buzz brand, investment staple
Quality: Predicted life of 14 years, one of the longest drinking windows in its peer group, which averages 9 years Brand: Strong restaurant presence, featuring on 42 of the world's top wine lists, including Tim Raue Economics: Above its peer group average price of £40 for the 2002 vintage Production: Lower production than its peer group average of 186,000 bottles

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017