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Léoville Barton 2001

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Léoville Barton

Label

Tasting Notes

The 2001 Léoville Barton is still a few years from full maturity. Unwinding in the decanter and glass with aromas of blackcurrant, licorice, loamy soil, cigar wrapper and vanilla pod, it's medium to full-bodied, rich and muscular, with a deep, concentrated core of fruit, lively acids and ripe but firm tannins that still assert themselves on the finish. If Léoville Poyferré is in its prime today, this Léoville Barton still ideally deserves a few more years' patience. 2021 - 2041

93
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (259), February 2022

Consistent from bottle (I tasted it three times), this is an outstanding offering, although not quite at the prodigious level of the 2000. Civilized and approachable for a young Leoville-Barton, it exhibits a saturated plum/purple color along with classic Bordelais aromas of damp earth, creme de cassis, smoke, vanillin, and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied and rich, with high but well-integrated tannin, and a long, 40+ second finish, it should turn out to be a brilliant effort, and one of the stars of the Medoc. However, patience is essential. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020.

92
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (153), June 2004

The 2001 Léoville-Barton is drinking extremely well at 17 years of age. Mellow on the nose with blackberry, sage, tobacco and light graphite notes, there is an uncommon extravagant edge to this wine. That comes through on the palate that feels as if it has slightly lower acidity than other vintages, rounded in texture with a toasty, cedar-infused finish. It does not quite have the breeding that I discerned a decade ago but it still has plenty to offer, not least a sense of approachability. 2018 - 2030

92
Neal Martin, vinous.com, August 2018

Very reticent nose, great texture and bone dry. This is very confident but still pretty austere. Delicacy on the finish and real density. Long but no bruiser. Wait. The most youthful wine here. Drink 2012-2025.Date tasted 13th Feb 08.

18
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2008
Read more tasting notes...

A very ripe blackberry and blueberry nose that is lacking some definition. Just a little muffled. The palate is full-bodied, sinewy, good grip with toasty tannins. Blackberry, cedar, mint, tobacco with a very fine tannic off-dry finish. Very correct, good breeding, surfeit finesse on the finish. Tasted October 2007.

94
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, May 2008

I had variable tastings on the 2001 Leoville Barton, something I noticed in 2002 as well as 2003. This big, full-bodied, backward, concentrated offering displays a certain angularity and austerity. Although full-bodied, deep, chewy, tannic, and concentrated, it is also somewhat astringent and firm. If it all comes together, this will be a long-lived classic not too far off the pace of the majestic 2000. That looks like something of a gamble at this point, but this is an uncompromising, traditionally made wine that needs time. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025.

89/91
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (146), April 2003
87/89+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (140), April 2002

Looks quite evolved. Simple sweetish red wine nose. Light to medium weight. Quite green tannins – not a charmer. Another wine for masochists.

15.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, October 2007
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.