Château Léoville Las Cases 2003

There's a lovely backdrop of charcoal and paving stone notes here, offset by juicy black currant, fig, melted licorice and ganache flavors. Sweet tobacco hints course through the finish, where the cold charcoal steadily turns to lit embers. Impressively maintains some austerity in this vintage. -- Blind '01/'03/'05 Bordeaux retrospective (December 2017). Best from 2020 through 2040. 10,833 cases made.

A record temperature of 48 degrees was registered at the estate’s weather station during the baking summer of 2003. There were more than 50 days of record heat, not even dropping below 30 degrees at night. The pH climbed to 3.62, compared to its usual 3.5, but as you might expect, even this hasn’t entirely tamed Léoville’s bite. But it works—there isn’t a trace of the heat you feel in many 2003 Bordeaux wines. It’s still full of life and tastes absolutely delicious right now. If you have reservations about Léoville’s ability to welcome you in, this is the vintage to try. Pencil lead and slate convey the character of the soils, while liquorice, black cherry, blueberry and bitter dark chocolate add gourmet notes that you rarely see in a 15-year-old Léoville. An excellent wine, not with the staying power of some years but still head and shoulders above most 2003s.

This is more exotic and monstrous than the 2000. It is like a bodybuilder, with lots of round and rich tannins and a core of dark fruits like black cherries and blueberries. Still very young, but structured and in need of five more years. Don’t touch this until 2015.

Mid crimson. Some refreshment but a bit jagged. Not much charm. Determinedly dry. From the Barton stable? Or something less exalted? Slightly green note on the end. (Average group score: 15.6) (JR)

The 2003 Léoville Las-Cases, a year when they green harvested, has an enticing bouquet with red fruit, orange rind, tobacco and loamy scents, gaining confidence with aeration (decanting really benefits this wine). The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, quite strict for a 2003, but with adequate freshness and a grippy, cigar box–infused and persistent finish. This is an impressive showing, and at 20 years, it will give another 20 years of drinking pleasure, unlike many of its peers. Tasted at the château.

One of the fresher, more vibrant wines from a vintage notorious for so many jammy wines. Medium-bodied, ready to drink, a plummy, earthy, tobacco- and blackberry-filled wine with a soft finish and no signs of jam or fig notes. Drink from 2023 to 2037.

Dark ruby garnet colour with purple reflections, broad watery rim. Ripe sour cherry confit, a hint of sloes, fine wood savouriness. Juicy, pronounced in fruit and elegant, beautiful complexity, very round and harmonious, ripe heart cherries on the finish, lingers for a long time, a delicate aftertaste, already accessible.

The 2003 Château Léoville Las Cases comes from what is still the hottest vintage on record for Bordeaux. (Others that are close are 2006, 2011, 2018, and 2019.) A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 13% Cabernet Franc that hit 13.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.62 (IPT was 75), its deep ruby/plum color is followed by a terrific, almost Pauillac-like bouquet of ripe blackcurrants, freshly sharpened pencils, chocolate, violets, and a touch of chalky minerality. It builds beautifully with time in the glass and is full-bodied on the palate, offering ripe tannins, a round, expansive mouthfeel, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish. Hats off to the team at Las Cases for such a gorgeous wine from a challenging vintage!

I am loving classified Pauillac and St Julien from this vintage right now, and Las Cases doesn't disappoint. Its texture is all satin and velvet, with waves of spiced turmeric and cloves, brambled blackcurrant, blueberry, pomegranate, passion fruit, liquorice and crushed rock, with orange rind freshness that gives a kick and a shiver of electricity. Grip and freshness, still full of life. A record temperature of 48°C was clocked at the estate's weather station during the baking summer of 2003, with over 50 days when it never dropped below 30°C even during the night. 50% new oak, pH 3.62, harvest September 11 to 26, Jean-Hubert Delon owner.

Extremely powerful, taut, almost wild, with tannins less polished than usual, almost Rhône-like in style, more marked by the heatwave than some of its neighbors.