The 2022 Léoville Las Cases is just as remarkable in bottle as it was from barrel. Wafting from the glass with aromas of beautifully pure cassis fruit mingled with notions of violets, burning embers and subtle cigar box, it has already almost entirely integrated its new oak. Full-bodied, dense and layered, it's deep and resonant, with striking concentration, precision and harmony, concluding with a long, palate-staining finish. This striking Saint-Julien really is one of the wines of the vintage, and the best young Léoville Las Cases I've ever tasted. (WK)

The assemblage of the Delon grand vin is 83.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10.5% Cabernet Franc and 6% Merlot, and the press wine accounts for 8% of the blend. The élevage was in 85% new oak barrels for 18 months. The aromatics here are striking, with an almost confit intensity to the fruits, sweet currant and cranberry, with a touch of white pepper and pressed iris. The palate starts out with an immediately complete style, a fresh and polished substance which shimmers with dark fruits, liquorice, olive, tar and salted black cherries, all of which lies draped over a rich and ripe tannic structure, which provides a beautifully harmonious presence through the end of the palate and into the finish. Such delicious and divine harmony here, with great tannic structure, which builds to a strong crescendo in the midpalate on a second taste, the interplay between the dark tannins and the salted black fruits just glorious, and yet it all feels so fresh and bright. The finish is long and gripped by powdery, polished tannins which linger forever at the end of the palate.

Beautifully lifted floral, blue fruit and cola aromas on the nose. Expressive and open. Effortlessly finessed but tightly packed and knitted down still. This impresses from the first sip with a burst of cool, fresh acidity against ripe, almost fleshy summer berry fruit - strawberries, cherries and juicy blueberries. Tannins are silky and well integrated and this has such forward motion from start to finish. Undeniable power meets grip and intensity in the wet stone, liquorice, graphite and slate minerality markers. A crisp and confident grand vin with plenty of structure and ageing potential. (GH)