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Léoville Barton 2011

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

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Tasting Notes

Leoville Barton-s 2011 is head and shoulders above its sister offering, Langoa Barton. Although not as backward as I expected given the general style that emerges from Anthony Barton-s beloved St.-Julien estate, this wine will need time in the bottle once it is released in several years. An opaque purple color is followed by aromas of damp earth, underbrush, black currants, cedar and hints of vanillin and incense. Medium to full-bodied and moderately tannic with good acidity as well as excellent delineation and purity, it should be forgotten for 4-5 years, and drunk over the following two decades.

90/92+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (200), April 2012

The 2011 Léoville-Barton has an endearing nose with well-defined red berry fruit, cedar, pencil box and light sous-bois aromas that unfold with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine depth and precision, well-integrated oak and a tensile, quite saline finish that is elegant and persistent. This is a beautiful 2017 that should age with style. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting. 2022 - 2040

93
Neal Martin, vinous.com, April 2022

A sleek, refined wine with blueberry, mineral and dried-flower character. Medium to full body with firm tannins. Bright and racy. Better in 2018.

92
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2014

Consistently brilliant quality in recent years and a reasonable pricing policy makes this one of our best selling wines. There is little need for us to recommend Léoville Barton as it has a dedicated following of loyal, regular customers who buy it faithfully every year en primeur. Our only problem is being able to source enough of it to satisfy demand. 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. 60% new oak. Always classically styled with good "grip" - this is what great Bordeaux is all about. Good depth of black fruit here. Firm, structured, serious and classic. This is real claret for those who like their wine dry, focussed and precise. Lots of cassis and plenty of depth.

92+
Farr Vintners, March 2012

The nose is deep brooding black fruited with black cherry and sloe backed by slightly sweeter cassis. Liquorice and coffee back the fruit on the palate the layers of flavour giving complexity and right at the back the bilberry freshness brings out the mint.

91/94
Derek Smedley MW, April 2012

A classic Léoville-Barton that deserves to sell well, this is aromatic and bright, with Asian spices, dark plums and some sweet bramble and cassis flavours framed by fresh acidity and grainy, subtly extracted tannins. Fans of "off vintages" from this reliable château would do well to buy a case or two and cellar it. 10+ years.

95
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2012

Finely expressed intensity of fruit and a firmness of structure over natural aromatic ripeness to give it an assured future. Drink 2017-2035.

17.5
Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2012
Read more tasting notes...

The Leoville Barton has a very elegant bouquet that takes time to unfurl. There are lovely notes of blackberry, dark plum and a touch of graphite. It unfurls beautifully if you lend it five minutes. The palate is very well balanced with fine tannins, good substance, very elegant and refined with a natural, slightly earthy finish that is long in the mouth. Superb persistency - this is one of the top Saint Julien wines. Tasted April 2012.

93/95
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2012

Very floral with blueberry and blackberry on the nose. Mineral undertones. Full body, with chewy tannins and long intense finish. Serious structure and balance for the vintage.

92/93
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2012
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.