South African & International Fine Wine
Live Auction, 14 September 2019
Session One
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
About this Item
This leading Bordeaux Chateau dates back to the 14th century. The estate is located at the southern edge of Pauillac, bordering the St. Julien vineyards of Ch. Léoville Las Cases. It was purchased in 1993 by the French industrialist François Pinault, whose empire was to grow to include Yves St. Laurent, Gucci and Christie’s Auction House. Président, Frédéric Engerer, under whose stewardship a major programme of investment has taken place, has seen Latour rise to an undisputed pre-eminent position in the Bordeaux wine hierarchy.
One of the oldest Medoc estates, Domaine de Léoville belonged to some of the wealthiest and most influential noble French families before it was acquired by the Las Cases family. The estate was split up between 1826 and 1840 as a result of the French Revolution. 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.
Provenance
Private Client
Critics Ratings
The 1996 Leoville-Las Cases is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc picked between 25 September and 10 October. Now at 20 years, it has evolved into an absolutely stunning Saint Julien, clearly one of the best wines from the estate this decade. The bouquet is beautifully defined with intense black cherries, cedar, mint and a touch of oyster shell that seems to gain intensity in the glass. The palate is seamless from start to finish, extraordinarily pure, the 70% new oak totally assimilated of course, impressive weight and power allied with genuine finesse and tension towards the silky smooth finish. It stands as one of the best wines of the vintage without one iota of doubt and it will last 30-40 years without problem. You might call it "proper Claret." You might call it "delicious." - Neal Martin eRobertParker.com 98/100 (2016)
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