Saint-Julien 2005

Provenance

Single-Owner Private Collection

Critics Ratings

"The 2005 Léoville Las-Cases retains a deep colour at 20 years of age, with little aging on the rim. The bouquet leaves you instantly besotted with blackberry, wild hedgerow, black truffle, incense and light lavender scents in the background. The nose is very complex and one of the most vivacious that I encountered revisiting this vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins that frame mineral-rich black fruit, as well as touches of smoke and meat juices in the background. This is very harmonious but has genuine weight and depth on the finish, elevating this to one of the best Left Bank 2005s. Superb. Tasted at the château." - Neal Martin, Vinous, 97/100 (Jun 2025)

"The 2005 Léoville Las Cases is a classic that numbers among the wines of the vintage in the Médoc. Wafting from the glass with notes of dark berries, cassis, incense, burning embers, sweet soil tones, dark chocolate and cigar wrapper, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a vibrant core of fruit, lively acids and sweet, powdery tannins. More elegant and refined than the hulking, uncompromising 2006, the 2005 is nevertheless a powerful, tightly wound wine that will reward further bottle age, even if it's actually quite expressive today." - William Kelley, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98/100 (Aug 2022)

"Mid-depth blackish garnet. Sweet, buttery nose. Then marked acidity and tannin on the palate. STILL unknit!" - Jancis Robinson, JancisRobinson.com, 17++/20 (Oct 2025)