The 1988 Château Léoville Las Cases is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. It offers complex aromas of cassis, cigar box, and sweet soil, with a full-bodied, velvety palate that has evolved to reveal a charming, seamless texture. The wine's youthful austerity has softened, leaving behind a lively and penetrating finish. It continues to age beautifully, with its rich terroir adding depth and unique character. Best enjoyed now through 2040.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 96
Published: Jan 12, 2021

What a complex nose here with forest floor, bark, sliced wild mushrooms and tobacco. Full-bodied and round with very juicy, savory character. It long and flavorful with leather, forest flowers and mushrooms at the end. Drinking wonderfully now.

Decanter | D 96
Published: Comparing St-Julien 1986 and 1988
Drink: 2019-2030

This 1988 is still youthful with chewy tannins and a menthol send off. It's full of rich, concentrated spice, cloves and cinnamon touches and is holding up extremely well. It's a little more evolved than the 1986 but still shows just how regularly Las Cases rewards the faith that people have in it. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend.
Closure: Natural Cork
Alcohol: 12.75%
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon 21% Merlot

The Wine Advocate | RP 94
Published: Aug 11, 2022
Drink: 2020-2040

I have drunk two bottles of the 1988 Leoville Las Cases this year, and both showed brilliantly, offering up deep aromas of cassis, cigar wrapper and sweet soil tones, followed by a medium to full-bodied, seamless and velvety palate that has shed its youthful austerity to offer real charm and plenitude. Lively and penetrating, it surpasses the 1989 in quality. 

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 17.5
Published: Apr 20, 2011
Drink: 2000-2016

Just mellowing ruby. Served immediately after a Pichon Lalande 1996 and seemed slightly lighter bodied and definitely had more acidity. But for a Las Cases from a slow-maturing vintage, this is surprisingly ready to drink. Lots of minerals and a dry St-Julien finish with fully dissipated tannins.

Domaines-delon.com

The Grand Vin is the product of exceptional terroirs from the former Léoville estate.
These terroirs are located mainly in the Clos Léoville Las Cases, which you pass as you leave Saint- Julien village for Pauillac. They extend over nearly 60ha producing Cabernet Sauvignons and Cabernet Francs with a complex, polished expression and characteristics which are totally unique to the Grand Vin of Léoville du Marquis de Las Cases and have been widely recognized for years.

VINTAGE 1988
Flowering took place during the first half of June, followed by a slow veraison due to cool and rainy conditions in July and early August. Fine weather then set in and lasted until mid-October, and the sanitary condition of the grapes remained perfect through to the end of the harvest.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Blend: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
Harvest dates: October 3–16, 1988
Alcohol: 12.75% vol. / Total acidity: 3.53 g H₂SO₄/l

TERROIR
Le Grand Enclos de Las Cases encompasses a terroir of remarkable complexity. Predominantly composed of Quaternary gravel over gravel-sandy and gravel-clay subsoils, it also includes clays of varying depth and compactness, sometimes even surfacing.

The proximity of the Gironde River is responsible for this rich diversity of soils, shaped over time by successive geological layers. The river also creates a unique microclimate that enables very early grape ripening and protects the vineyard from frost. This mosaic of geological combinations influences vine development and grape composition. This exceptional terroir is what gives the grand vin its unique personality.