The bar being set this evening by Owen's earlier note, there seems to be no time to waste. Claret weekend will be over soon.
A good level on this bottle, very top shoulder. Very dark, lovely deep ruby with bricking in the core, somewhat cloudy. Cork fell apart; should have applied steam before pulling.
Blackcurrants dominate, amongst very juicy, taut acids. A little floral character, I'm thinking violets, right up front. Silky; gorgeously, luxuriantly soft, but granular with working and having a very biscuity dryness in the mid palate. Tannins are very soft indeed, merely brushing the gums. Then smokiness, no heat, even a little bacon. No farmyard here though. Tart, bitter currant finish, of very good length - a couple of minutes at least, though I didn't want to keep the glass away long enough to find out.
This didn't die during the evening, rather it held itself together really admirably.
Noble and inviting, like one's first view of the Duchesse de Guermantes. My glass is being refilled - and the decanter is empty!
1970 Léoville Las Cases
Forum rules
Anything but Port, this includes all non-Port fortified wines even if they call themselves Port. There is a search facility for this part of the forum.
Anything but Port, this includes all non-Port fortified wines even if they call themselves Port. There is a search facility for this part of the forum.
- djewesbury
- Graham’s 1970
- Posts: 8166
- Joined: 19:01 Mon 31 Dec 2012
- Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
- Contact:
1970 Léoville Las Cases
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
-
- Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
- Posts: 3707
- Joined: 16:45 Fri 19 Oct 2012
- Location: Somerset, UK
Re: 1970 Léoville Las Cases
Lovely note.
I can't quite resist asking if you mean that it took itself too seriously and went on a bit too long.djewesbury wrote: like one's first view of the Duchesse de Guermantes.
- djewesbury
- Graham’s 1970
- Posts: 8166
- Joined: 19:01 Mon 31 Dec 2012
- Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
- Contact:
Re: 1970 Léoville Las Cases
It was haughty and well-bred, but underneath all that silk and brocade beat the heart of (etc)LGTrotter wrote:Lovely note.I can't quite resist asking if you mean that it took itself too seriously and went on a bit too long.djewesbury wrote: like one's first view of the Duchesse de Guermantes.
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
- djewesbury
- Graham’s 1970
- Posts: 8166
- Joined: 19:01 Mon 31 Dec 2012
- Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
- Contact:
Re: 1970 Léoville Las Cases
Rubber bands! I've just realised, that smoky acrid acidity in the nose is hot rubber bands! Derek, you're a genius. It just came to me as I lay here reading about the excellent Las-Cases wines of the 1920s, a sudden sense memory. All I had to do was close my eyes and I knew what it was.
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
Re: 1970 Léoville Las Cases
djewesbury wrote:Derek, you're a genius.

"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
Re: 1970 Léoville Las Cases
Maybe I need to rethink this? Either my taste buds are seriously out of kilter or you are exaggerating just to rub it in!
- djewesbury
- Graham’s 1970
- Posts: 8166
- Joined: 19:01 Mon 31 Dec 2012
- Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
- Contact:
Re: 1970 Léoville Las Cases
I am curious as to what it is you found so unappealing about old claret. You said your taste had changed; that's quite normal. But I think you should open one or two of whatever you have left and see what you think!Justin K wrote:Maybe I need to rethink this? Either my taste buds are seriously out of kilter or you are exaggerating just to rub it in!
And that delivery is coming very soon...
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...