| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Plenty of juicy blackcurrant fruit and background oak are present in this plump, medium to full-bodied, ripe, well-made wine. Not nearly as tannic as I feared, this wine shows a forward plumpness, excellent purity, texture and length. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.
Drink: 2015 - 2035
The Langoa Barton is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc picked between 3 and 15 October at 32hl/ha. It has a surprisingly high-toned, quite glossy, exotic bouquet at first, although it appears to "calm down" in the glass to leave plenty of ripe red cherry and strawberry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe, supple tannins. This is a generous, confident Langoa Barton, quite feminine (living up to its name) with a lovely ripe, quite sensual finish that exhibits deftly integrated oak. Tasted twice with consistent notes, there is great potential here. Tasted April 2013.
Classic, signature Langoa, evident sandalwood and cedar smoke on the nose, coupled with violet, peony and rose petals flowers, fresh acidities from juicy blackberry and raspberry fruits, still has plenty of grip that suggests you can begin to drink today, but it should improve further over the next 2 to 3 years, and then go for a good few decades. Enjoyable. Tasted also at the chateau in a vertical recently. 60% new oak.
Dark crimson. Edgy, leafy nose with thick appeal though it lacks a bit of really spontaneous freshness. Solid.
Léoville Barton's 15 hectare sister Chateau is normally very fairly priced for the consistent quality. Grape varieties, viticulture and vinification are similar to those of Léoville. Quality is often very similar too. This year the yield was only 32 hl/ha, made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc in 60% new oak. This wine has a very attractive nose of roasted barbecue meat with tobacco, cigar box and vanilla pod notes. The palate has good depth of cherry and cassis fruit, a nice touch of spice and considerable depth for the vintage. A very good effort.
The fruit feels ripe giving richness on the nose and the start of the palate. Black fruits cassis and blackberry are very much to the fore but underpinning is the freshness of bilberry and bramble. The sweetness on the back palate gives way to freshness giving a slightly lighter feel to the finish. 2018-28
Fruity, short and narrowly constructed, the 2012 Langoa Barton displays a deep ruby/plum/purple color, fresh acids, sweet tannins and less weight, muscle and power than usual. It is a good but uninspiring effort to drink over the next 10-12 years.
Classic, signature Langoa, evident sandalwood and cedar smoke on the nose, coupled with violet, peony and rose petals flowers, fresh acidites from juicy blackberry and raspberry fruits, still has plenty of grip that suggests you can begin to drink today, but it should improve further over the next 2 to 3 years, and then go for a good few decades. Enjoyable. Technical director François Brehant, consultant Eric Boissenot.
