98/100
5 Stars
Huon Hooke
A perfect bottle of this legendary wine. Lovely deep, bright colour; superbly detailed bouquet of cassis, crushed leaf, tobacco and cedar, a gorgeous array of aromas and flavours on a beautifully modulated, supple and medium-bodied palate. It's in its sweet spot for drinking now and this bottle at least could have lived on much longer. Tannins are silken; balance impeccable. No alcohol on the label but would not be above 13% at my guess. Very much a pre-Parker, old-school Medoc and a wonderful drink.
Tasted: 05/02/2025
Drink: 2025 to 2032
97 Points Robert Parker
As I wrote earlier this year, the 1982 Léoville Las Cases is one of the least evolved wines of the vintage, and this impeccably conserved ex-château bottle was, if anything, even more youthful still. Retaining a saturated ruby-black hue at age 40, it unwinds in the glass with aromas of cassis and other dark fruits mingled with notions of pencil shavings and loamy soil. On the palate, it's full-bodied, broad-shouldered and muscular, with an ample core of fruit framed by voluminous, powdery tannins. Rich and concentrated, with an expansive, comparatively low-acid profile, it comes into its own with extended aeration—and with food.
Published: Dec 31, 2022 Drink 2012 - 2042.
Source: Robert Parker. Reviewed by: William Kelley.