Château Léoville Las Cases Saint-Julien 1978 AOC 0,75l

The stone gateway with the lion on top marks the northern edge of Saint-Julien, and everything behind it belongs to the Grand Enclos of Léoville Las Cases — a walled vineyard that runs right up against Château Latour. Michel Delon had taken control by the 1970s and ran the estate with a severity that became legendary, declassifying anything that fell short and turning out a wine closer in weight to a First Growth than to its Second Growth ranking.

1978 was one of the vintages that built that reputation. A poor summer was rescued by sunshine from mid-August through to a late harvest, and Cabernet Sauvignon on this stretch of gravel ripened properly.

Las Cases makes wines that outlive the people who buy them. Of everything from this vintage, it is among the more likely to still be standing.

• Producer: Château Léoville Las Cases
• Vintage: 1978
• Appellation: Saint-Julien AOC
• Format: 75cl
• Region: Bordeaux, France
• Style: Red

Where it is likely to be now. One of the sturdier 1978s and a well-stored bottle should still be firm and complete at forty-eight, though as a pre-1990 wine it is sold as a collectible rather than a certainty.

Who it suits. A forty-eighth birthday present for 1978 that will hold its own if the recipient decides to keep it another decade rather than open it.

Condition. Graded good by the merchant, meaning label, capsule and fill all read correctly for a wine bottled in 1980 or thereabouts.

Provenance. Bought to order from a professional European merchant. We check fill, label and capsule when the bottle reaches us and photograph it before it ships.

Delivered in 7 to 10 working days, tracked. Transit cover can be added at checkout.

Sold as a collectible item, as seen. No guarantee is given on drinkability.