Paired against the 1993 by Jean-Hubert Delon at the chateau, this remains the Las-Cases that I completely mis-read when first encountered. There is a little more ripeness on the nose with black cherries, a touch of dates and a slight scents of brine/seaweed that I find most attractive. The palate is very smooth and velvety, a Las-Cases flirting with opulence rather than actually attaining it. Very pure, slightly more alcoholic that I recall and on the finish, I prefer the tension on the 1993. Yet overall, I think this is a slightly better wine than that: more cohesive and greater length. Drink 2010-2035+. Tasted October 2007.

Michel Delon, a great man, is the consummate proprietor, meticulously administering this vast estate spread out along the St.-Julien/Pauillac border, separated from Latour's finest vineyard by a mere ten feet. The 1993-95 vintages from Delon are brilliant wines. Leoville-Las-Cases remains one of the irrefutable reference points for high class Bordeaux. One of the more massive Medocs of the vintage, this opaque purple-colored wine exhibits fabulous richness and volume in the mouth. Layers of pure black-cherry and cassis fruit are intermixed with stony, mineral-like scents, as well as high quality toasty oak. Medium to full-bodied, with a sweet, rich entry, this wine possesses plenty of tannin, yet fabulous extract and length. Leoville-Las-Cases is one of the half-dozen great wines of the Medoc in 1994. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2025. This lion never falls asleep on the job!

Excellent deep, saturated color. Sexy aromas of black cherry, cassis, and toasty, smoky oak. Wonderful sweetness and texture, with terrific perfume. More pliable than the '95 Las Cases. Tannins are extremely well integrated for a cabernet-based '94. I don't find the austerity that Delon cites.