Jerry Raphael

9.5

What a wonderful surprise; this wine was fantastic and seemed like a young wine not 36 years old. The color was red rim to rim no bricking at all and I kept looking at it wondering why considering its age. The nose and taste were both very integrated with lead pencil, a lot of dark fruits and a bit of spice. What also got me was the finish, just went on forever and so very smooth. I’m sure this wine would last a few more years but why wait; drinking so great right now.

I decanted the wine about 6 PM. My wine opener just drilled a hole in the fragile cork so decanted through a tea strainer into my to-go bottle and other then the cork bits there was very little sediment. Started drinking the wine about 9 PM with NYE Dinner at Anthony’s in Haddon Height.
— 3 days ago

Dan R

9.0

Drinking well. Savory and woody, a touch soft, slightly volatile. Peppery, both green and black. Killer with grass fed steak. Good now, this bottle was rather resolved and lacking structure — a day ago

Vino Joe

9.3

Tight as a drum at open. Loosened to trampoline tension after 2 hours. Finally was loose after 4. Spicy and hefty. More inward. A sophisticated mix and quite good but as with most Leoville Las Cases it needs to sit longer for the next iteration. — 11 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Popped and doubled decanted. Not that much sediment yet. Nose is rich in iron-scented wet clay, with sweet, dense cherry fruit trying to push its way through. Some dried underbrush as well. Densely-flavored initially, and then the relatively crisp acids take over, and the palate thins out a little but lingers. Flavors include barely-ripe cassis and dark cherry, with loads of minerally clay notes. Bone dry. Still feels a bit tight. Drinking well now but no rush. — 4 days ago

Martijn

9.3

This is really at an excellent point where fruit and some tertiary notes are combining so good together. — 3 days ago

Jakub Kalinowski

8.9

Classic left bank kosę - black current, cassis, cedar wood, a bit of pencils shavings, a gravelly undertone. Fresh, restrained, savoury, pure.
On the palate this has a very nice, smooth, velvety mouthfeel. Present tannins yet so nicely polished & juicy. Good purity of fruit - black currants, blackberries, a bit of plum. Ni e length & depth.
Exactly what I expect from a St Estephe - medium body, savoury tartness with just a touch of fruit and excellent food pairing.
From magnum — 14 days ago

Paco Suro

9.2

High QPR. — a month ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Drinking well showing black fruits, graphite, leather, wet earth, savory spice & sweet tobacco. No rush with plenty of years ahead — 5 hours ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Quick double decant. After 15 minutes, it’s already cookin’. Nose shows cassis, clay, a little underbrush, a slight menthol note, a little violet. Lots going on. Rich and a little macho in the mouth, like many ‘18s. There’s a fair whack of soft tannin, but it’s already drinking well. Intense and full. Not elegant, but gives you more than your money’s worth of flavor. Certainly will be better in 5 years or so. — 14 days ago

Steven Phillips

9.2

My second time trying the 2016 vintage. I’ll hang on to my remaining bottles as it’s only getting better. — 4 days ago