1988 Las Cases

1988 Ch. Leoville Las Cases - I last tried this awhile ago, and it was tasted blind against the 88 Mouton and Lafite (tough company) It showed a simpler than it's flight mates, and more forward (although that isn't saying much as they are tannin monsters, and closed), although still fairly tannic. This time around, it showed a nose that was sort of mid-Atlantic at first - not obviously Bordeaux yet not really American. It settled down after about 15 minutes and became much more Bordeaux-correct and more interesting to boot, with some spice and good fruit, and some cassis happening. It isn't as tannic as it was a couple of years ago, but it is still quite tight and isn't yet showing what it has to offer. It has always been a bit high in acidity, and it has some good fruit lurking in there. I'd leave it a few more years before revisiting, but it was certainly pleasurable now, especially when a client brought it for lunch!