Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2012 Leoville Las Cases drifts out with fragrant notions of warm cassis, dark chocolate, roses, and dried mint with hints of iron ore and forest floor. Fragrant black fruit absolutely dances on the medium-bodied palate, with super-ripe, fine-grained tannins and vivacious freshness, finishing long and perfumed. This beautiful wine still has a good 20-30 years left.

This combines considerable power and concentration with rich, impressive fruits. It has both style and elegance, with density to give it great aging potential. The tannins are firm while also having a velvet texture. The wine, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, is for serious aging. Drink from 2025.

Standing out for its sheer purity and class, the 2012 Leoville-Las Cases is about as seamless as they come, with medium to full-bodied richness, fabulous notes of crème de cassis, cedary spice, plums, spice and wood smoke, with its oak component pushed well into the background. While not a blockbuster, it is impeccably balanced, with a full, layered mid-palate, building tannin and a rock-solid finish. Give this straight up classy 2012 4-5 years in the cellar and enjoy bottles over the following two decades or more.

Wafting from the glass with aromas of rich berries, plums, loamy soil, baking spices and pencil shavings, the 2012 Léoville Las Cases is medium to full-bodied, lively and layered, with impressive concentration for the vintage, supple tannins and a charming, enveloping profile. Seamless and beautifully integrated, at age 10, this quintessential classic is already surprisingly approachable, though of course it still has several decades of graceful evolution ahead of it. - William Kelley

The tannins are noticeably bigger than the other St Juliens in the lineup, with more grip through the palate and you feel the structure exerting a gentle pressure at the close of play. There are fruits here also, in the cassis and bilberry frame as with Léoville Barton, with touches of mint leaf and eucalyptus. Not generous, but plenty of impact, and a gentle mouthwatering salinity. Lighter framed within the Las Cases world, but one of the more impactful 2012s overall.

This is very tight at this early stage, with a wall of smoldering charcoal holding the core of dark plum, blackberry paste and cassis in reserve. The sleek finish shows admirable length and a mouthwatering echo of iron. This harnesses the austerity of the vintage to its advantage, and should unwind slowly in the cellar. Best from 2018 through 2030. - JM

So pure on the nose with aromas of blackcurrants, raspberries and licorice. Hints of stones. Full body, polished yet chewy tannins and a long and racy finish. Layered tannins. Citrusy undertones. Bright acidity. Better in 2019.

Tobacco, cedar wood, blackberries and fresh herbs create the nose. On the palate, the wine delivers a classic blast of fresh, concentrated, cassis, salty, mineral driven tannins and a chewy, long, cassis filled finish. This will be better with a decade of age. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=2012&wine=Chateau%20Leoville%20Las%20Cases

The 2012 Léoville Las-Cases is much more closed on the nose, quite strict with blackberry, cedar and gravelly aromas, later hints of cassis and a splash of soy. The palate is medium-bodied with a fairly oaky entry, though there is fruit concentration to soak that up with bottle age. Maybe it just lacks a bit of personality at the moment and a second bottle at Bordeaux Index's horizontal confirms a bit of roughness, a bit hard-edged at this stage. Give this time. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. -- Neal Martin