The 1998 Château Léoville Las Cases is a remarkable wine, blending 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 9% Cabernet Franc. It has a deep garnet color with a touch of brick, offering an expressive nose of crème de cassis, blackberry preserves, and prunes, complemented by notes of cigar box, licorice, pencil lead, and a hint of espresso. The palate is medium to full-bodied, rich with velvety tannins and enough freshness to keep it vibrant. It finishes long and spicy, showcasing a youthful character despite its age. With its excellent balance of fruit and evolution, this wine is in a sweet spot for drinking now but will continue to develop for another 20 years or more. The terroir, located in the renowned Clos Léoville Las Cases, contributes to its complexity and polished expression, making it a standout wine from this exceptional vintage.

The Wine Advocate | RP 94
Published: Mar 4, 2021
Drink: 2021-2041

The 1998 Léoville Las Cases is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet colored with a touch of brick, it delivers pronounced, beautifully pure crème de cassis, blackberry preserves and prunes scents with an undercurrent of cigar box, licorice, pencil lead and hoisin, plus a touch of espresso. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has impressive richness and depth, coating the mouth with velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and spicy. Still very youthful, this wine is in that sweet spot where it has considerable evolution and yet bags of fruit. Drink it now and for the next 20 years+. 

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 1998
The 1998 vintage was marked by an early budburst and flowering. August was particularly hot and dry, which encouraged excellent grape ripening. This was not significantly affected by the brief rainfall during the September harvest.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Blend: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc
Harvest dates: September 23 – October 12, 1998
Alcohol: 12.91% vol. / Total acidity: 3.45 g H₂SO₄/l

TERROIR

Le Grand Enclos de Las Cases boasts a terroir of remarkable complexity. Mainly composed of Quaternary gravel resting on gravelly-sandy and gravelly-clay subsoils, it also features clays of varying depth and density, sometimes even surfacing.

The nearby Gironde River is the source of this rich soil diversity, shaped over time by successive geological layers. The river also creates a highly specific microclimate that allows grapes to ripen very early and protects the vineyard from frost.

This patchwork of geological formations directly influences vine development and grape quality. It is this incomparable terroir that gives the grand vin its distinctive character.