“an outstanding, classic, drop-dead gorgeous Léoville Barton… Bravo Anthony, Lilian et al.” 94-96 points Neal Martin
The Barton family’s famous second growth château is normally one of the most popular clarets during the En Primeur season and we expect plenty of interest in their fabulous 2015. With Anthony’s grandchildren Damien and Melanie both now involved it is something of a 3 generation affair.
2015 Leoville Barton is, as always, classically structured with 86% Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend. But there is plenty of ripe fruit here. Damien Barton described it as a wine of volume, generosity and tension with a modest alcohol content of 13%. This will give real pleasure when it is ready, and won’t need as long as the more structured 2005, 2009 and 2010 (comparatively). Leoville Barton got fine scores from all the critics including 94/96 from Neil Martin and is highly recommended this year.
Ch Léoville Barton 2ème Grand Cru Classé St Julien 2015
£580 per 12 bottles IB
£590 per 6 magnums (150cl) IB
£224 per single double magnum (300cl) IB
A blackcurrant leaf Cabernet character intensely perfumes the nose. On the palate there are finely formed, abundant tannins. This is an extremely well-built wine with handsome structure, a long, fine finish and a flourish of freshness at the end. Drink 2022-2036. Goedhuis, Score: 94-96
The 2015 Leoville Barton is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot picked between 19-22 September and 28 September until 5 October for the Merlot and Cabernet respectively. Matured in 60% new oak, it has a more compelling and intense bouquet than the 2015 Langoa Barton at this early stage, whereas in other years I have found the siblings closer together. It delivers some lovely blackberry, sage and cigar box scents. The palate is very refined with edgy tannin, beautifully balanced with seamlessly integrated oak. It is the classic Léoville-Barton style, full of energy and showing more breeding than the Langoa on the finish. This is just an outstanding, classic, drop-dead gorgeous Léoville Barton that is destined to give immense pleasure over the coming years. Bravo Anthony, Lilian et al. Neal Martin, Score: 94-96
This is a firmly structured Léoville Barton with feisty tannins and cerebral acidity, making you consider this wine’s trajectory in order to guess at when it will approach its purple period. I venture that we are a decade away because the epic Cabernet here is cool, introverted and contemplative and this means that it is more backward and less initially flattering than many other wines. I expect tasters will underestimate this wine and its potential, but it is the very essence of the estate and it reflects the huge potential of the vintage, too. Matthew Jukes, Score: 18+
The 2015 Léoville-Barton is superb. Vivid and wonderfully nuanced in the glass, the 2015 offers exceptional purity in its aromas and flavors. As always, the house style favors finesse over pure power, but in 2015 there is a good bit of both. Graphite, pencil shavings and crème de cassis, herbs and mocha meld into a rich, textured, beautifully persistent finish. The tannins are there, but they are nearly buried. Léoville-Barton is not the most powerful or showy Saint-Julien in 2015, but it is class personified. Don’t miss it. Antonio Galloni, score: 93-96