| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
The 2006 Leoville Barton has a deep brick color. It skips out of the glass with cheery, carefree notes of black cherry compote, redcurrant jelly, and cassis, followed by wafts of dried roses, cinnamon toast, and crushed stones. The light to medium-bodied palate has a rock-solid structure of chewy tannins and just enough freshness to support the generous fruit, finishing long and earthy.
Not surprisingly, this wine is closed, masculine, but super-rich, with a denser, more complete and full-bodied style than its sibling, Langoa Barton. Some toasty vanillin is apparent in the black currant aromas intermixed with tobacco leaf, cedar, and spice box. The wine is full-bodied and has a boatload of tannin, not unusual for this estate, as well as an impressively pure, long finish. Everything is here, but this wine, made with uncompromising vision, is meant to be cellared for an exceptionally long period of time. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2035.
The 2006 Château Léoville-Barton has a surprisingly rich and opulent bouquet at first, although it calms down with aeration, offering crushed violet and black cherry scents, reminiscent of a fine Margaux. The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle grip in the mouth. Here the class begins to appear with fine balance and poise, but like the Langoa, it lacquers the mouth with tannins and feels very backward, surprising given the vintage. Cellar this for another decade, folks.
Very balanced and pretty, with violet and currant. Full and silky. Gorgeous. Harmonious.
Very dark crimson. Sturdy, tobacco leaf, savoury, some leather and then some ripeness and richness. Lots there, lots to draw you in and no excess of dryness even though it is pretty dry - Léoville Barton? Very energetic and even quite electric in terms of its impact on the palate. Seems to fade on the finish and then revives and completes the tasting experience.
Good bright ruby-red. Pretty aromas of black cherry, cassis, tobacco leaf, minerals, licorice and violet. Chewy, rich and deep, with good dense mid-palate fruit and excellent concentration. Fuller and sweeter than the Langoa. Finishes long and delineated, with powerful tannic clout and terrific mineral thrust. A serious 2006 for the cellar.
Accurate assessment was not helped by sample variation but at last I found one that expressed the classiscm to come. Blueberry and sloe dominate the nose, rather leaner than normal on the mid palate then fruit power explodes on the finish.
This classically made, dense purple-hued wine exhibits enormous potential, but currently it is forebodingly backward, dense, and broad. Once again, proprietor Anthony Barton delivers a wine with superb concentration, a classic style, and the possibility of three decades or more of ageability. Like most of the finest Leoville Bartons, considerable patience will be required. The 2006 will need 8-10 years of cellaring, and may even rival the 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035.
Tasted at the UGC and at a negotiant. An attractive, floral nose with sweet ripe blackberry, blueberry and cedar. Great definition and lift. The palate displays lovely balanced, a succulent core of black fruits with huge grip. Notes of black coffee, liquorish and a tang of salt, slightly bitter on the very unresolved finish. This will need time, a complex, quite intellectual Barton that will come into its own in bottle. Tasted April 2007.
Bright ruby-red. Deeply pitched aromas of blackcurrant, mocha, licorice, minerals and cedary oak, with a whiff of truffle. Smooth, sexy and sweet, with harmonious acidity giving a light touch to the dark fruit, mineral and chocolate flavors. Perhaps best today on the very long aftertaste, which features serious but ripe tannins and a chocolatey ripeness. As at a number of other top properties in the northern Medoc, I find much more minerality in the 2006 than I do in the young 2007.
