| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Léoville Barton's smaller sister château has been producing increasingly excellent wines in recent vintages. Grape varieties, viticulture and vinification are similar to those of Léoville. Quality is often very similar too. Classic St Julien is produced here with real Cabernet Sauvignon "grip" and class. There are currently 20 hectares in production, with an average vine age of 37 years. Langoa is a fantastic source of "proper claret" at sensible en primeur prices. a new gravity fed winery was completed in 2022.
The 2023 is the 2nd vintage to be made in the new cellars and is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc. 13% alcohol.
The 2023 Langoa Barton is a very accomplished wine, the family's new winery having permitted more precise, parcel-by-parcel winemaking as well as gentler handling of the fruit to deliver a wine with all this estate's customary intensity of flavor but more polish and refinement. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis and plums mingled with hints of pencil shavings and dried rose petals, it's medium to full-bodied, with an inky core of fruit, vibrant acids and plenty of suave structuring tannin. This classic blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc is sure to number among the intelligent purchases of the en primeur campaign.
The 2023 Langoa Barton was picked from September 12 until October 2 at around 50hL/ha, with some "late" saignée for half the vat–when it has some “serious color,” according to Damien Barton. Two vats were chaptalized out of a total of 42, the highest at 15%, yielding an average alcohol of 13%. Matured in 60% new oak, it has a very perfumed bouquet with black plum, boysenberry and a touch of mint. This is notably forward and unabashed. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, a sorbet-fresh Langoa with a bright, almost pastille-like finish that lingers in the mouth. Very seductive and vivacious, I appreciate the nascent energy here. Drink 2028-2045.
Deep ruby in the glass, the nose has great purity this year at Langoa, with fine blackcurrant and cherry fruit and seamless, well-integrated wood spice. The palate is direct, too. Built around a focused core of black fruit, the tannins build gently at first but are mouthcoating and persistent, though ripe. A wine with a real sense of place, structured with enough meat on its bones, this is another success for Langoa.
There’s depth of fruit here with blackberries, blackcurrants and hints of cedar and tobacco. The tannins are very solid and polished with juiciness and depth. Pristine. Bright acidity. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 37% merlot and 3% cabernet franc.
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Langoa Barton charges out of the glass with ready-to-go notes of crushed blackberries, raspberry leaves, and blackcurrant pastilles leading to nuances of pencil shavings and clove oil. The medium-bodied palate delivers compelling energy and freshness, with soft, approachable tannins and a zippy finish. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc.
Solid tannins, gorgeous iris and violet reflections, blueberry and cassis fruits, shot through with cigar box, this is a fairly old school Langoa in the best possibly way, juicy, sapppy, nuanced, with chalky tannins that lift through the palate.
The 2023 Langoa Barton is packed with dark red cherry, plum, spice, cedar and tobacco. Over the last few years, an updated style of vinification in a new cellar has yielded a bit more mid-palate sweetness, pliancy and resonance than in the past. It will be interesting to see where this goes, but clearly, we have entered into an era of Langoa. Tasted two times. 2027-2043
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample.
Fresh and zesty with precise fruit and fine, integrated tannins. Some persistence on the finish. Balanced if understated. (JL) 13%
Drink 2028 – 2040
