Pencil lead and slate give the character of the soils, while liquorice, black cherry, blueberry and bitter dark chocolate add gourmet notes. Head and shoulders above most 2003s.
Château Léoville Las Cases 2003
Château Léoville Las Cases 2003
Ask serious Bordeaux collectors which estate most deserves promotion to First Growth, and Léoville Las Cases comes up more than any other name. The largest and grandest of the three Léoville estates, its "Grand Vin de Léoville" is famously built to the standard of its neighbour, Château Latour — dense, aristocratic, and made to outlive its buyers.
The 2003, from the year of the great European heatwave, is a fascinating chapter: a vintage that gave the Médoc's finest terroirs wines of unusual richness and opulence. Two decades on, this has evolved into a deeply complex, fully mature Saint-Julien — dark fruit compote, cedar, leather and warm earth in a plush, enveloping frame. A rare bottle for a serious occasion.
At the table: Prime rib, venison, slow-braised short ribs. A wine that deserves the best cut in the house.
- Saint-Julien, Bordeaux · 2ème Grand Cru Classé, 1855 — the "super second"
- Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon-led with Cabernet Franc and Merlot
- The 2003 heatwave vintage — rich, opulent, fully mature
- Only two bottles in stock
Unavailable
Sommelier's Note
The 2003 Château Léoville Las Cases carries the opulence of the great heatwave vintage — rich, enveloping, and now fully mature. Jeb Dunnuck's 96 points praised its almost Pauillac-like bouquet of blackcurrants, pencil shavings and violets. Pour it beside prime rib, venison, or slow-braised short ribs; a wine of this depth deserves the best cut in the house.
Tasting Notes & Specs
From the 2003 heatwave vintage: unusually rich and opulent. Dark fruit compote, cedar, leather and warm earth in a plush, enveloping frame. Fully mature.
Vintage2003
Classification2ème Grand Cru Classé, 1855
BodyFull-bodied
TanninsRipe, Plush, Fully Resolved
Key AromasBlackcurrant, Pencil Shavings, Chocolate, Violets, and Chalky Minerality
Blend & Terroir
Varietal BlendCabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot
Alcohol13.5% ABV
TerroirThe famed walled Clos adjoining Château Latour — deep gravel over clay, Saint-Julien.
Serving & Care
Serving TemperatureBest served slightly cool at 16°C–18°C (60°F–65°F)
DecantingDecant 60 minutes, pouring carefully off the sediment.
Drinking WindowAt peak maturity now through 2033. Store horizontally in a dark, temperature-controlled environment.
Ideal Pairings
Prime rib, Venison, Slow-braised short ribs, Aged cheeses.
View food pairings →
About the Brand
The Estate: Château Léoville Las Cases, the 'Grand Vin de Léoville', is the estate most often named as deserving First Growth promotion. Its walled Clos borders Latour, and its wines are built to that standard.
Expert opinions
A terrific, almost Pauillac-like bouquet of ripe blackcurrants, freshly sharpened pencils, chocolate, violets, and a touch of chalky minerality. Hats off to the team at Las Cases for such a gorgeous wine from a challenging vintage.
