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1966 Château Léoville Las Cases St. Julien Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

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1966
Château Léoville Las Cases  (St. Julien)
90
Best showing of this yet, from wines all from the same case. Rustic, yet charming in an old school way. More tobacco, green leaf, cedar chest, lead pencil, green pepper and wet earth than fruit. But there were elements of cherry able to poke through. Strict on the palate, the wine ended with earthy, red fruits and hints of green olive. Popped and poured, the wine improved in the glass, just a bit. Yes, this was how they made most Bordeaux in those days. Still, it was a nice blast from the past and it was fun to share this birth-year bottle with a friend who had just hit 50, last year.

Best showing of this yet, from wines all from the same case. Rustic, yet charming in an old school way. More tobacco, green leaf, cedar chest, lead pencil, green pepper and wet earth than fruit. But there were elements of cherry able to poke through. Strict on the palate, the wine ended with earthy, red fruits and hints of green olive. Popped and poured, the wine improved in the glass, just a bit. Yes, this was how they made most Bordeaux in those days. Still, it was a nice blast from the past and it was fun to share this birth-year bottle with a friend who had just hit 50, last year.

6,492 Views   Tasted
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Very light in color, this was all about the nose. Smoke, tobacco, gravel, spice, earth, cigar and ash. This was not as good as the bottle. I'd avoid buying this in the marketplace for too much money and will drink up my remaining bottles over the next year or two.

Very light in color, this was all about the nose. Smoke, tobacco, gravel, spice, earth, cigar and ash. This was not as good as the bottle. I'd avoid buying this in the marketplace for too much money and will drink up my remaining bottles over the next year or two.

5,500 Views   Tasted
Ruby with amber in the color, the wine looked even older than its 45 years of age. The nose offered tobacco, earth, forest floor, smoke, cigar box, coffee and hints of cherries. Soft, light and without much backbone, this luncheon styled Claret ended with end a light, cassis and cherry note. This was a fine aged Bordeaux, without fault. It was the perfect lunch wine. This was a correct bottle. It came from the cellars of the original buyer who purchased it on release. This was popped and poured. It did not degrade in the glass for the the first hour, but it never improved. If you have a bottle, do not decant, there is not enough stuffing to handle the air.

Ruby with amber in the color, the wine looked even older than its 45 years of age. The nose offered tobacco, earth, forest floor, smoke, cigar box, coffee and hints of cherries. Soft, light and without much backbone, this luncheon styled Claret ended with end a light, cassis and cherry note. This was a fine aged Bordeaux, without fault. It was the perfect lunch wine. This was a correct bottle. It came from the cellars of the original buyer who purchased it on release. This was popped and poured. It did not degrade in the glass for the the first hour, but it never improved. If you have a bottle, do not decant, there is not enough stuffing to handle the air.

5,480 Views   Tasted

When to Drink Chateau Leoville Las Cases, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Leoville Las Cases is not a wine to drink on the young side. The wine is usually far too tannic, powerful, and reserved during its youth. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 3-6 hours, give or take.

This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau Leoville Las Cases is usually better with at least 15 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Latour offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 20-50 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Leoville Las Cases with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Leoville Las Cases is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau Leoville Las Cases is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Leoville Las Cases is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheeses.

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