94/100
4.5 Stars
Huon Hooke
Typical tobacco, leafy 1978 character, still very evident in the nose of this wine at 34 years. It's always been easy to recognise. The slightly underripe cabernet character of '78 is distinctive. An elegant, medium-weight Medoc with charm and allure, but not really great Bordeaux in my book.
Tasted: 05/06/2012
Drink: 2012 to 2012
90 Points Robert Parker
The 1978 Las Cases has taken on a garnet hue with some dark ruby tints. The nose is more complex and penetrating than the flavors. The wine offers classic, mineral, lead pencil, smoky, earthy scents, with plenty of ripe fruit, and none of the vegetal herbaceousness that many 1978s have begun to exhibit. The attack offers good ripeness, medium to full body, higher acidity than many more recent vintages, and considerable tannin in the hard finish. Although this wine possesses outstanding complexity, the high tannin level may never fully melt away. While it will last another 15-20 years, the 1978 is at its apogee and will slowly dry out over the next two decades.
Published: Oct 28, 1995 Drink 1995 - 2015.
Source: Robert Parker. Reviewed by:Robert M. Parker, Jr.
note: this bottle may seep a bit during shipping, which is normal for older or ullaged bottles