1990 Château Léoville-Las Cases
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Tasting notes
The 1990 Léoville Las Cases can be a fabulous wine, although like others there is variation. This has a refined and delineated bouquet with more black fruit compared directly with the Poyferré, cedar and iris flower, scents of Earl Grey emerging with time. I admire the focus and it coheres beautifully in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with silky tannins (atypically for this Growth), impressive weight and grip, with a grippy finish (typical for this Growth). This coheres wonderfully in the glass, indicating that it could have improved further with a longer decant. Tasted single blind at the 1990 Bordeaux dinner at Medlar.
Critic scores
Average Score
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Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
90 is the best vintage of LLC for current consumption. The nose is striking, with its blend of black currants. dark red fruits, spices, cigar wrappers, and a hint of mint. The palate is also up to the task delivering a big mouthful of lively, peppery, chewy, currants in a refined mode that provides true staying power. Drink from 2024-2055.
Tasting the 1990 Léoville Las Cases just a few days after the 1989, it is clear which is the best vintage…this one. It has a sublime nose of melted black fruit, tar, cedar and bay leaf that shrugs off the heat of that summer better than most others. At 33 years of age, you could just lose yourself in these aromatics. The palate is clearly holding up well: beautifully defined and supple yet with typical Las-Cases backbone and depth. It builds magnificently in the glass toward a harmonious finish that reminds me of the 1985 in terms of its fleshiness. Wonderful. Tasted at the Lia's Wings/book dinner at Medlar restaurant.
Tasting the 1990 Léoville Las Cases just a few days after the 1989, it is clear which is the best vintage…this one. It has a sublime nose of melted black fruit, tar, cedar and bay leaf that shrugs off the heat of that summer better than most others. At 33 years of age, you could just lose yourself in these aromatics. The palate is clearly holding up well: beautifully defined and supple yet with typical Las-Cases backbone and depth. It builds magnificently in the glass toward a harmonious finish that reminds me of the 1985 in terms of its fleshiness. Wonderful. (NM)
About the producer
One of the leading estates in Bordeaux, Ch. Léoville Las Cases is one of the largest and oldest Classed Growths in the Médoc. Along with Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou, it is widely considered one of the best estates in Saint-Julien.