Full, bright ruby. Superripe aromas of roasted currant, violet and black licorice. Powerful and highly aromatic in the mouth, with brooding black fruit, violet and chocolate flavors. A step up in acidity from the Clos du Marquis, giving the wine great vinosity and cut. Extremely long and aromatic on the finish, with big, chewy, thoroughly ripe tannins.

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Dark black cherry colour. Oaky and spicy up front. Peppery spice. A little bit of leafy freshness but bags of generous fruit. Slight dustiness. Rich, smooth and dry minerality over rich deep, sweet fruit. Firm chocolate-textured tannins. Bold but not brash. Still quite a bit of oak spice. Not giving itself yet. Powerful. Maybe could drink it sooner with food. Very dense and Cabernet-dominated (77%). (JH)

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Along with the Medoc first growths, Leoville Barton, Chateau Montrose, Sociando Mallet, and a handful of other producers, Leoville Las Cases continues to make a wine meant for very long-term cellaring. When I did my earlier tastings of the 2000, my projected maturity dates were 2012-2040, but it is looking more like 2020-2050. This full-bodied blend of nearly 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.4% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc still has a youthful ruby/purple color, notes of graphite, kirsch liqueur, black currants, and lead pencil shavings, with good acidity, the tell-tale purity, layered ripeness and intensity, and a profound finish. However, with its high level of tannin and brooding backwardness, this superb effort needs to be forgotten for up to a decade.

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Absolutely fantastic. This is one of the most exciting young reds I have tasted in a long, long time. It shows intense aromas of berries, currants and minerals, with hints of mint. Full-bodied and packed with fruit and tannins, its long finish is refined and silky. A benchmark for the vintage. Las Cases has always wanted to make first-growth quality in a top notch vintage, and it certainly did in 2000. 15,000 cases made.

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Dark, opaque red core with very little variation towards the rim, for 12 years old the color shows like a wine that is 3 years old, very primary with no signs of browning. This might be the most intense black currant nose I have ever experienced in a wine, black cherry and blackberry a hint of blood sausage, oak, Lavender, crushed rocks, powerful and complex. The palate is an example of super balance, High acid, medium persistent tannin that lingers on the palate, massive fruit character. Very new world like yet balanced and complex. Plum, raspberry and sour cherry jump out of the glass, the wine lingers for at least 45 seconds on the finish. Still just a baby and needs 2-5 years to mellow down a little. Drink 2015- 202