The 1964 Bordeaux harvest was hit by incessant September rains at the start of the harvest. For Chateau Leoville Las Cases, this meant a difficult decision. Wait for better conditions or harvest the grapes immediately to avoid further dilution. The Dolons chose patience and selected only the healthiest grapes from the Grand Clos vineyard. The result is a wine that is complex in its youth, yet shows the estate's commitment to quality even under difficult conditions. This vintage expresses the essence of a difficult year spent by the experienced hands of Saint-Julien.
Winespectator (88)
Soft and supple, not as generous as one might expect from a highly regarded vintage for Las Cases, but showing nice cigar-box, cedar and truffle overtones to the modest currant and berry flavors
Jancis Robinson (19)
2021: Sehr dunkles Granat in der Mitte, passende Reifetöne am Rand. Geniales, würzig-kräutriges Bouquet, Erd-Eisenton, Steinmehl, Korinthen, Tabak, Hirschleder, getrocknete Pflaumenhaut. Sehr elegant im nasalen Ansatz und vielschichtig. Saftiger, balancierter Gaumen, weiche Tannine, rotbeerige Fruchtresten, wieder so in Richtung rote Pflaumen abdriftend, Zedernholz, wunderschön mit feinen Stielwürznoten ausklingend. Obwohl fragil immer noch sehr gut erhalten. Dass ein solcher Wein aus einem nicht ganz einfachen Jahr nach so vielen Jahren noch so viel Trinkfreude bereitet, ist genau das Wunder von Bordeaux. Im Markt noch um 250 Franken erhältlich. Der 2020 kostet in der Subskription genau gleich viel. Man rechne!
Rene Gabriel (19)
Tasted 2021: Very dark garnet in the centre, matching ripe tones on the rim. Ingenious, spicy-herbal bouquet, earthy-iron tones, stone flour, currants, tobacco, deerskin, dried plum skin. Very elegant in the nasal approach and multi-layered. Juicy, balanced palate, soft tannins, red berry fruit residue, drifting back towards red plums, cedar wood, finishing beautifully with fine stem spice notes. Although fragile, still very well preserved. The fact that such a wine from a not-so-easy year is still such a pleasure to drink after so many years is precisely the miracle of Bordeaux. Still available on the market for around 250 francs. The 2020 costs exactly the same in the subscription. You do the maths!
BOW (8.75)
Beautiful wine during blind tasting, impressed. Took it for a 80's wine.
