Overall critical consensus (2023 vintage)
The 2023 Léoville Las Cases is widely described as a classically structured, very serious Saint-Julien with outstanding aging potential. Across tastings, critics consistently emphasize:
- Very high Cabernet Sauvignon–driven structure (≈86%)
- Dense, tightly coiled tannins and strong acidity
- A restrained, “closed” early personality
- Exceptional longevity rather than immediate approachability
Most reviewers place it among the top wines of Saint-Julien in 2023, but clearly built for long cellar aging rather than early drinking.
Professional ratings (2023)
High-scoring aggregated range
- 95–97+ points (Wine Advocate / Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW)
Very tightly wound, mineral-driven, firm tannins, long-lived structure
- 94–97 points (Vinous / Antonio Galloni)
Intellectual, restrained, graphite- and spice-driven, requires patience
- 94–97 points (Jeb Dunnuck)
Highly concentrated cassis and graphite profile, structured and cellar-worthy
- 94–96 points (Wine Advocate / William Kelley)
Serious, structured, reminiscent of classic austere Las Cases vintages
- 98 points (James Suckling)
“Graphite, lead pencil, crushed stone… refined and seamless with powerful intensity”
- 97–98 points (Jane Anson / Inside Bordeaux)
Deep cassis, fennel, espresso, structured but unusually expressive for the estate
- 98 points (Wine Enthusiast, barrel sample)
Succulent black-currant fruit with impressive structure and aging capacity
- 96 points (Falstaff)
Dark fruit, tobacco, blueberry, and very high-quality tannins with strong length
- ~95–97 points (Decanter / critic panel range)
Rich, supple, and layered, combining power with finesse and freshness
Tasting profile summary (what critics agree on)
Structure and style
- Extremely tannin-driven and tightly packed
- Classic “Las Cases austerity” in 2023 form
- Requires long cellaring (often 10–20+ years) before peak
Aromatics and palate
Common descriptors across critics:
- Cassis, blackcurrant, blackberry
- Graphite, pencil lead, crushed stone
- Licorice, mint, tobacco leaf
- Subtle espresso, spice, and mineral tones
Texture
- Medium to full-bodied but very linear and vertical
- Fine-grained but firm tannins
- High acidity providing freshness and tension
Drinking window (consensus)
- Most estimates: 2033–2055+
- Some extend further depending on bottle evolution
Final critical takeaway
The 2023 Château Léoville Las Cases is viewed as a near-classic modern Saint-Julien, combining:
- Exceptional structure and precision
- Very high critical scores across major reviewers
- A deliberately austere, long-aging style
It is not a “showy” vintage; instead, it is considered a cellar wine of serious pedigree, likely to evolve for decades.
98pts Jane Anson
Structured and powerful, this is not as forbidding as En Primeur in many vintages of Las Cases, showing both flesh and florality, but the tannic walls of this great estate remain fully in place, coupled with layers of cassis and bilberry fruits, subtle hints of bitter aniseed, fennel, cola, espresso, squid ink, textured slate tannins. Expect inky depths and unashamed austerity, a wine that will take its time to open, making no excuses for demanding patience. So so good, with a balance and classicism that delivers on the best of the vintage. 80% new oak, 6.6% press wine, 3.79h, harvest September 9 to October 2, 43hl/h yield. First year in the new cellars, with 43.5ha going into the main wine from the historic walled vineyard site.
98pts Decanter
Bright, gorgeous, expressive aromatics of dark purple and black fruit. A sense of opulence and clear Cabernet effects on the nose. Supple and agile, juicy and succulent, a rich almost thick cherry juiciness, fleshy, ripe and cool. Lovely minty, liquorice and graphite undertone that keep the freshness going to a long finish. It’s a bit bolder than I expected for LLC and also a bit bigger for the vintage. A characterful style, certainly not missing any body but retains pure charm - this is out to please, certainly not tough or too serious, this is more easy to approach. Lots of herbal elements, pencil lead, graphite and wet stone with cloves and cinnamon. It’s still compact no doubt, but despite the power there’s finesse and it ends clean and lifted. Up there with the best of the vintage. With 4% Merlot, it’s the lowest percentage ever in the blend - 2022 was 5%. 43hl/ha yield. Harvest September 9 to October 2. 6.6% press. 3.79pH. Ageing 18 months, 50% new.
97-98pts James Suckling
Exceptional quality of cabernet comes through here, with a lot of graphite, lead pencil, crushed stone, walnut and currant fruit. It grows and expands on the palate, remaining in focus at the same time. Refined and seamless with beautiful tannins that show power and intensity. It rolls across the palate with verve.
95-97pts The Wine Independent
The 2023 Leoville Las Cases is deep garnet-purple in color. After a little shaking, notes of ripe blackcurrants, black cherries, and mulberries slowly emerge from the glass, giving way to a fragrant undercurrent of iris, crushed rocks, fertile loam, and dark chocolate. The medium-bodied palate is very tightly wound with taut black berry layers and loads of mineral accents, framed by firm fine-grained tannins and wonderful tension, finishing on a lingering ferrous note. This should be a very long-lived Las Cases! The blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Merlot, with pH 3.79, alcohol of 13.1%, and TPI 72. It is aging for around 18 months in French oak barriques, 80% new.
95-97pts Vinous
The 2023 Léoville Las-Cases was picked from September 9th to October 2nd at 43hL/ha and matured in 80% new oak barrels. This has a very precise bouquet, and, like the Clos du Marquis, it is imbued with an attractive estuarine element - aromatics that transport the imbiber to the banks if the Gironde. The oak is neatly integrated; 80% is much more optimal that 100% would have been. The palate is lightly spiced on the entry, moderately deep and quite lively on the mid-palate. This is a more linear Las-Cases than recent vintages, conveying a sense of "seriousness" toward the almost saturnine finish. Impressive in terms of persistence, this is a worthy follow-up to the magnificent 2022, but it will demand patience.
- Neal Martin
94-97pts Jeb Dunnuck
The 2023 Château Leoville Las Cases is another absolute classic 2023 from the Médoc. Pure crème de cassis, leather, graphite, violets, and a Latour-like sense of minerality define the aromatics, and it's incredibly concentrated, has medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, focused, structured mouthfeel, and plenty of both tannins and acidity. While the tannins are incredibly ripe and polished, this beauty is nevertheless one for the cellar and will demand bottle age.
94-96pts Wine Advocate
A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and only 4% Merlot, the 2023 Léoville Las Cases is one of the more serious, structured wines of the vintage, reminiscent of a modern-day version of the estate's excellent 2001. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cherries, cassis and plums mingled with hints of licorice, mint and creamy new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a taut core of fruit, lively acids and plenty of fine, youthfully firm tannins. It will require and reward patience.
