Wines Saint-Julien Château Léoville Las Cases - Grand Vin de Léoville du Marquis de Las Cases - 2006

Château Léoville Las Cases 2006, Grand Cru Classé from Saint-Julien, stands as one of the most revered wines of the Médoc. While precise grape composition in any vintage can vary, the blend is generally dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon with support from Merlot and a smaller proportion of Cabernet Franc, which together give structure, depth, and complexity to the wine. The 2006 vintage is characterised by a cooler, more classic Bordeaux season, producing wines of notable freshness, firm structure, and excellent ageing potential. Traditional vinification methods at Léoville Las Cases, with careful selection and extended oak ageing, enhance both the terroir's expression and the wine’s ability to mature gracefully over decades.

The Saint-Julien appellation, located in the heart of the Haut-Médoc on Bordeaux’s Left Bank, benefits from gravelly soils over limestone and clay, ideal for cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon and its blending partners. The region’s proximity to the Gironde estuary helps to moderate the climate, offering protection from severe weather and allowing for balanced ripening of the grapes. Saint-Julien’s history is rich, with properties like Léoville Las Cases often considered among Bordeaux’s most consistent in quality and longevity, producing wines prized for their elegance, precision and depth.

With its layered bouquet of dark fruits, cedar, graphite, and underpinned by earthy, mineral notes, this wine is an excellent companion to classic cuisine. Ideally, it will shine alongside roast lamb with rosemary, a well-marbled rib of beef, or venison with root vegetables. Regionally inspired dishes such as bordelaise entrecôte or confit duck leg with cèpes will also complement the wine’s savoury complexity and robust tannic structure.

For optimal enjoyment, serve this wine at 17-18°C after at least an hour of decanting to allow the aromas to unfurl. If cellared well, Léoville Las Cases 2006 promises further evolution in complexity, rewarding patience for years to come.