Château Leoville Las-Cases 2emé Cru Classé, Saint-Julien, 2005, 75cl

The 2005 Léoville Las Cases is a classic that ranks 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, Wine Advocate