So subtle and complex, with aromas of violets, lavender, dark roses and fresh currants. Very open. A wonderful hint of herbs. Full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that give a multilayered texture to his and a savory, succulent finish that emphasizes brightness and length. Tangy and vivid at the end. Primary and pure. 86% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc and 4% merlot. Best after 2028, but exciting to taste now. James Suckling Senior Editor

Bright, gorgeous, expressive aromatics of dark purple and black fruit. A sense of opulence and clear Cabernet effects on the nose. Supple and agile, juicy and succulent, a rich almost thick cherry juiciness, fleshy, ripe and cool. Lovely minty, liquorice and graphite undertone that keep the freshness going to a long finish. It’s a bit bolder than I expected for LLC and also a bit bigger for the vintage. A characterful style, certainly not missing any body but retains pure charm - this is out to please, certainly not tough or too serious, this is more easy to approach. Lots of herbal elements, pencil lead, graphite and wet stone with cloves and cinnamon. It’s still compact no doubt, but despite the power there’s finesse and it ends clean and lifted. Up there with the best of the vintage. With 4% Merlot, it’s the lowest percentage ever in the blend - 2022 was 5%. 43hl/ha yield. Harvest September 9 to October 2. 6.6% press. 3.79pH. Ageing 18 months, 50% new.

Structured and powerful, this is not as forbidding as En Primeur in many vintages of Las Cases, showing both flesh and florality, but the tannic walls of this great estate remain fully in place, coupled with layers of cassis and bilberry fruits, subtle hints of bitter aniseed, fennel, cola, espresso, squid ink, textured slate tannins. Expect inky depths and unashamed austerity, a wine that will take its time to open, making no excuses for demanding patience. So so good, with a balance and classicism that delivers on the best of the vintage. 80% new oak, 6.6% press wine, 3.79h, harvest September 9 to October 2, 43hl/h yield. First year in the new cellars, with 43.5ha going into the main wine from the historic walled vineyard site.

(JL 96-98 points) Cigar wrapper, creme de cassis, flowers, cherries, mint, and blackberries produce the bouquet. The palate is intense, full-bodied, concentrated, racy, and vibrant. The fruit has lift, length, purity, and a creamy edge to the racy-mouth-feel. The finish lingers, with layers of perfectly, ripe, berries that build, and expand in the mid-palate, through to the juicy, sapid finish. As always, Leoville Las Cases requires bottle aging. But for Las Cases, it is going to be a pleasure to taste relatively early, with just a decade of age. Produced from a blend 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Merlot. 13.10% ABV. 3.79 pH. Harvesting took place September 9 – October 2. This is not only the third time in the history of the estate with more Cabernet Franc than Merlot in the blend. It is also the smallest amount of Merlot ever placed into the Grand Vin. It is also interesting to note that LLC was the first major wine to be released in the 2023 campaign, setting the stage for what could take place this year. Drink from 2030-2065.

(JD 94-97 points) The 2023 Château Leoville Las Cases is another absolute classic 2023 from the Médoc. Pure crème de cassis, leather, graphite, violets, and a Latour-like sense of minerality define the aromatics, and it's incredibly concentrated, has medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, focused, structured mouthfeel, and plenty of both tannins and acidity. While the tannins are incredibly ripe and polished, this beauty is nevertheless one for the cellar and will demand bottle age.

(TWI 95-97+ points) The 2023 Leoville Las Cases is deep garnet-purple in color. After a little shaking, notes of ripe blackcurrants, black cherries, and mulberries slowly emerge from the glass, giving way to a fragrant undercurrent of iris, crushed rocks, fertile loam, and dark chocolate. The medium-bodied palate is very tightly wound with taut black berry layers and loads of mineral accents, framed by firm fine-grained tannins and wonderful tension, finishing on a lingering ferrous note. This should be a very long-lived Las Cases! The blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Merlot, with pH 3.79, alcohol of 13.1%, and TPI 72. It is aging for around 18 months in French oak barriques, 80% new. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

(WA 94-96 points) A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and only 4% Merlot, the 2023 Léoville Las Cases is one of the more serious, structured wines of the vintage, reminiscent of a modern-day version of the estate's excellent 2001. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cherries, cassis and plums mingled with hints of licorice, mint and creamy new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a taut core of fruit, lively acids and plenty of fine, youthfully firm tannins. It will require and reward patience. - William Kelley

Stolid at first, this is inky, dark and tightly wound, but violet and iris notes steadily emerge as a core of cold cassis, plum paste and blackberry puree slowly awakens. The finish is dusted with cold charcoal, and a rigid cast iron spine brings a regal austerity into play, yet there’s enough fruit to burn as this waits for its structural side to loosen. A serious wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Best from 2030 through 2050.

The 2023 Léoville Las Cases is matured in 80% new oak and bottled at the end of June 2025. Initially, the bouquet is very tight and requires considerable aeration to unlock the aromas of blackberry, cassis, cedar and light briny notes. Very well-defined, though it is cut from a different cloth than the dazzling ’22. This seems more introspective. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, very harmonious with seamlessly integrated oak. There is a gentle build in the mouth, caressing, finely tuned with a touch of black pepper toward the finish that lingers on the aftertaste. Excellent. - By Neal Martin on February 2026