CHATEAU LEOVILLE-LAS-CASES 'Grand Vin de Leoville' 2eme Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 2008 Bottle

Description

The 2008 Léoville Las Cases is an exceptional Bordeaux that has received high acclaim, notably 96 points from Vinous for its broody, earthy bouquet with intense tobacco and graphite aromas. The palate impresses with layers of tobacco-tinged black fruit, sea salt, and graphite, showcasing precision and harmony with a persistent finish. The Wine Advocate rated it 95+ points, highlighting its vibrant, youthful character and aromas of dark berries, cherries, and pencil shavings, indicating its serious potential for ageing. James Suckling awarded it 95 points for its balanced, silky texture and intense fruit, while Wine Enthusiast emphasised its superb tannins and ageing potential, also scoring it 95 points. Decanter granted it 94 points, praising its rich structure and primary Cabernet characteristics, noting it requires more time to fully develop.

*****

VINOUS 96 points
The 2008 Léoville Las Cases has a backward, broody, earthy bouquet with intense tobacco and graphite aromas, more like a Pauillac than a Saint Julien, no surprise given that it lies on the border. The palate is very impressive: layers of tobacco-tinged black fruit, sea salt and graphite. This is very precise and harmonious with a persistent and multi-layered finish that leaves you mightily impressed. (Tasted at BI Wine & Spirit’s annual 10-Year On tasting.) - Neal Martin

THE WINE ADVOCATE 95+ points
Reviewed by: William Kelley
Drink Date: 2026 - 2065
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.

JAMES SUCKLING 95 points
Super racy and balanced. Masses of licorice and currants, intense aromas. Full and very silky with an intensity of fruit. Reminds me of the 1996. Best after 2015.

WINE ENTHUSIAST 95 points
With its superb tannins, the wine has a great solid core of structure. Over it is an edifice of direct black berry fruits, elegant texture and intense acidity. Impressive, a wine for aging. — Roger Voss

DECANTER 94 points
Tasted by: Jane Anson
(at BI, London, 01 Jan 2018)
Part of How Bordeaux 2008 wines taste now: 70 top names rated
Drinking Window: 2022 - 2038
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.