2013 Château Léoville Las Cases
How does this wine taste?
How full and heavy the wine feels in your mouth, like the difference between skimmed milk and cream. More alcohol, sugar and oak ageing make a wine fuller.
The drying, grippy feel on your gums and tongue, as with strong tea. It comes from the skins and seeds of black grapes and from oak, and softens with age.
How much sugar you taste, from dry to sweet. Fruity is not the same as sweet: a dry wine can taste of ripe fruit.
How fresh and juicy the wine is: acidity makes your mouth water. High acidity tastes lively and refreshing, low acidity soft and round.
What we taste What you taste Click a taste for what it means
The bars follow how sommeliers taste (WSET): body, tannin, sweetness and acidity, each from low to high.
Body: full-bodied. Like most red wines from ; 13% alcohol.
Tannin: firm. Aged in oak.
Sweetness: dry. Red wine from is almost always dry.
Acidity: medium. The temperate climate of Médoc.
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Log inChâteau Léoville-Las Cases is a prestigious Second Growth winery in the Saint-Julien appellation, known for its carefully selected terroir and consistent style. The estate encompasses some 97 hectares, including renowned parcels such as Le Grand Clos, immediately adjacent to Latour. The estate utilizes both traditional and modern techniques, with a focus on plot-oriented vinification and long-term sustainability.
Terroir, blend and vintage 2013
The vineyards are situated on foothills with red and black clay soils, ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2013 vintage is composed of approximately 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 14% Cabernet Franc. Harvest took place between early and mid-October, under wet conditions followed by a drier late summer. Only about 40% of the harvest was selected for the Grand Vin, with an alcohol content of approximately 13.1%.
Vinification and maturation
After manual harvesting, the grapes are vinified according to the terroir in stainless steel or concrete vats. The wine matures for 18–20 months in French oak, with a high percentage of new wood. Automated techniques such as reverse osmosis are used in challenging years to maintain concentration, always respecting the house's traditions. After aging, the wine is gently clarified with eggs and bottled without filtering.
Tasting notes: colour, aroma and flavour
In the glass, the wine presents a deep ruby-purple hue. The nose is restrained yet refined: notes of cassis, blackberries, graphite, cedar, tobacco, dried herbs, and subtle smokiness. On the palate, the wine reveals a medium-bodied structure with juicy dark fruit, silky yet firm tannins, lively acidity, and a salty, mineral finish. On the palate, the wine has a mineral freshness that balances the powerful structure.
Wine journalist ratings
An international jury awarded the wine 95 points for concentration and detailed finesse.
James Suckling awarded 94 points, praising the minerality and pure fruit expression, and describing 'blue forest fruit and a nervous tannic structure'.
Neal Martin (among others) scored 92 points, highlighting the coherence and 'marine-like refinement' in this vintage.
Wine Spectator also awarded it approximately 92 points, praising the focus on cassis, plum, soft tannins and a long, precise finish.
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Wine and food pairings with Château Léoville‑Las Cases 2013
Grilled ribeye with rosemary and black pepper – powerful tannins and dark fruit match the intensity of the meat
Beef tenderloin tips with red wine sauce and fennel – the acidity and herbs enhance the structure of the wine
Wild boar stew with bay leaves and blackberries – deep flavours and fruitiness complement each other perfectly
Mushroom and Parmesan Ravioli – umami and earthy notes resonate with the wine texture
Mature blue cheese with fig compote – bitter, salty and sweet in balance with tannins and fruit
Polenta with truffle cream sauce and lamb stock – luxurious umami and intensity for a refined pairing with the wine
Character
The wine
Origin
Bottle
Wine features
James Suckling
Score
94
Avg Price (ex-tax)
$ 161
Château Léoville Las Cases St.-Julien 2013
Wednesday, Feb 10, 2016
Color
Red
Country
France
Region
Bordeaux
Vintage
2013
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Extremely fine and complex for the vintage with blueberry, black currant and mineral aromas and flavors. Racy and refined backbone of tannins. Long and subtle. Drink in 2019.
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Vinous
91
Drinking Window
2023 - 2035
From: A Century of Bordeaux: The Threes (Aug 2023)
The 2013 Léoville Las-Cases has the finest nose of the three Léoville: the best delineation and focus with more complexity and slightly more fruit, though it is still very "classic" in style. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, decent weight, not complex yet harmonious with just a touch of herbaceous that one can easily abide on the finish. Solid. Tasted at Bordeaux Index's 10-Year On tasting.
- By Neal Martin on February 2023
90+
From: Bordeaux 2013: Definitely Not the Vintage of the Century (May 2014)
(74% cabernet sauvignon, 14% cabernet franc and 12% merlot; 3.69 pH; 13% alcohol; 31 h/h; 85% new oak): Bright ruby-red. Very floral, minty red fruits and minerals on the captivating nose. Then tougher on the palate, with the spicy red fruit flavors kept under wraps by serious tannins and lively acidity. The bright, long finish features very pure floral and red berry nuances. Not the most charming LLC in memory, but a major success for the vintage. I especially like its lovely aromatic nose, which owes a lot to the strong cabernet franc presence, one of the largest percentages ever in this wine (at 50+ years, LLC has some especially old cabernet franc vines, and that makes a big difference on the Left Bank). Keep in mind that the 2008 also had a similarly high percentage of cabernet franc (12%), and I believe that this wine is also one of the stars of its vintage.
- By Ian D'Agata on May 2014
(91-94)
From: 2013 Bordeaux: Walking the Tightrope (Apr 2014)
The 2013 Léoville-las-Cases is wonderfully deep and layered in the glass. Violets, cloves, menthol and licorice add dimensions of complexity to the dark fruit. Hints of cassis, white flowers and sweet herbs develop later as the wine continues to flesh out. So many 2013s offer up their charms quite easily. Léoville-las-Cases is a rare wine endowed with a sense of mystery and intrigue. The power and breadth of this site come through, but tempered by the medium-bodied structure of the year. This is a terrific showing. The 2013 is 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc and 12% Merlot. Tasted twice.
- By Antonio Galloni on April 2014
- By Antonio Galloni on March 2021
96
Drinking Window
2024 - 2050
From: The Future’s Definitely Not What It Was: Bordeaux 2018 (Mar 2021)
The 2018 Léoville–Las Cases, which was picked at 35.5hl/ha and matured in 90% new oak, still shows the exuberant floral bouquet that I remarked upon from barrel, featuring violets and (less so) lavender scents that complement the multilayered black fruit. On initial pouring, after a 60 minute decant, it blossoms and evolves greater delineation and poise. The palate is beautifully balanced with silky-smooth tannins that frame the plush, quite heady mixture of red and black fruit. Initially robust, over the ensuing hours it mellows nicely, though it retains the backbone and symmetry you expect from this redoubtable Saint-Julien. An exquisite wine that will age effortlessly over 25–40 years.
- By Neal Martin on January 2021
(95-97)
Drinking Window
2024 - 2050
From: The Future’s Not What It Was: Bordeaux 2018 (Nov 2019)
The 2018 Léoville Las-Cases was picked from 15 September and 4 October at 35.5hl/ha and then matured in 90% new oak. This has the lowest pressed wine in history at only two or three percent. This has one of the most floral bouquets that I can recall on a Léoville Las-Cases at this stage with lavender and violet scents combining with the pretty black fruit, gaining intensity all the time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a more rounded Las-Cases with plenty of plush red and black fruit and a silky finish that caresses the mouth. It is a lovely and comparatively more approachable Las-Cases that is charming from start to finish. It is not quite up there with the ethereal 2016, though it is not too far off.
- By Neal Martin on September 2019
(95-98)
From: Bordeaux 2018: Back in Black (Apr 2019)
The 2018 Léoville Las Cases is a rich, sumptuous, exotic wine in 2018. Plush fruit and suave, silky tannins give the 2018 a level of textural richness that is unusual for a young Léoville Las Cases. Crème de cassis, lavender, mint and sweet spice all build in this extraordinarily beautiful wine. I can't recall tasting a young Las Cases with this much immediacy and sheer allure. The 2018 Las Cases has a very bright future. It is also one of the unquestioned stars of the vintage. In 2018, the blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and 9% Merlot.
- By Antonio Galloni on April 2019
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- Deuxième Grand Cru Classé en 1855
Château Léoville Las Cases is a wine producer from Bordeaux, located in the Saint-Julien appellation, which is part of Bordeaux, France.
History of Château Léoville Las Cases
One of the oldest estates in the Medoc, Domaine de Léoville belonged to some of the richest and most influential noble French families before it was taken over by the Las Cases family. As a result of the French Revolution, the estate was divided between 1826 and 1840. Château Léoville Las Cases was created, thanks to a kind of birthright, from 3/5 of the original estate and the heart of the domain. The current terroir of the Grand Vin has therefore been the historic heart of the original terroir since the 17th century. Pierre Jean, Adolphe and Gabriel de Las Cases were heirs to the estate until 1900, when Théophile Skawinski bought a share in the estate and became its administrator. Now managed by the same family since the end of the 19th century, Léoville Las Cases is today represented by Jean-Hubert Delon, sole owner of the castle and owner of Château Potensac in the Medoc and Château Nénin in Pomerol.
Production of Château Léoville Las Cases
The vineyards of Château Léoville Las Cases are located in the northern part of Saint-Julien, adjacent to Château Latour. The proximity to the Gironde River and the well-drained gravel soils contribute to the estate's excellent terroir. The vineyard is planted with classic Bordeaux grape varieties, with a significant emphasis on Cabernet Sauvignon, which thrives in the gravelly soils and provides structure and aging potential to the wines. Château Léoville Las Cases is known for producing powerful, age-worthy red wines that are considered among the best in Bordeaux. The winemaking approach involves traditional methods, with an emphasis on expressing the unique characteristics of the estate's terroir. The grapes are carefully harvested and sorted before fermentation, and the wines are typically aged in oak barrels. The estate produces two wines namely the Grand Vin, Château Léoville Las Cases, and a second wine called Clos du Marquis. The Grand Vin, Château Léoville Las Cases, is highly regarded for its complexity, concentration and ability to age wonderfully. It often receives high scores from wine critics and enthusiasts. Clos du Marquis, the second wine, is also well received and offers a more approachable option for those who want to taste the estate's style at a younger age.
De 2013 Château Léoville Las Cases toont een elegant profiel van cassis en donker bosfruit, violette bloemtonen, subtiele cederhout- en grafietnoten, met zijdezachte maar aanwezige tannines en frisse, minerale zuren. Daardoor vormt hij een perfecte begeleider bij rundvlees, lam, wild en gerijpte kazen omdat de geconcentreerde fruitigheid en de stevige structuur de rijke vleessmaken en umami van gestoofde gerechten of krachtige kazen dragen zonder te overheersen. Gerechten met geroosterd of langzaam gegaard vlees, zoals gegrilde ribeye met rozemarijn, langzaam gestoofde wildstoof of lam uit de oven met een kruidige jus, en bereidingen met paddenstoelen of truffel brengen extra diepte en harmonie naar voren.
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