Appellations

Leoville Barton 2014

St Julien, Second Growth

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Tasting Notes

The 2014 Leoville Barton is one of the must-buys of the vintage. Now in bottle, it has a very pure bouquet that gains intensity in the glass, laden with blackberry and raspberry coulis scents, cold wet stone, a wonderful mineralité that becomes more conspicuous with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannin, a fine line of acidity that lends this precision and nervosité. There is class and sophistication in situ, not a powerful Léoville Barton, but beautifully poised. This is just a brilliant forerunner to the 2015 and it should represent great value.

Score: 94 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2050 Date: 31 March 2017

The Château Léoville-Barton 2014 is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc picked between 25 September and 8 October and matured in 60% new oak. This is clearly richer and more opulent than the Langoa Barton with small dark cherries, a touch of boysenberry and cedar, more immediate than its 'little sister'. The palate is sweet and sappy in the mouth with concentrated black fruit, hints of liquorice coming through on the finish that fans out with a bit of brio. It does not quite possess the clinical precision of Léoville Las-Cases, but there is certainly a lot of substance and length here. Lilian Barton can rightly be proud of this. Tasted on three occasions.

Score: 92 - 94 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2019-2040 Date: 01 April 2015

Very aromatic with cherries and blackberries. Hints of flowers. Full body, lightly chewy yet ultra-fine tannins and a fresh finish. Tangy and delicious. Racy. Better in 2021.

Score: 94 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 13 February 2017

A very fine and linear Barton with bright raspberries and cherries. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a long, beautiful finish. Sleek and racy.

Score: 92 - 93 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 20 March 2015

This has a solid core of cassis, blueberry confiture and plum sauce flavors, wrapped with warm ganache and licorice snap notes, kept honest by graphite rivets along the finish. This has lots of muscle, but stays lean and long. Best from 2020 through 2035.

Score: 94 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2020-2035 Date: 05 January 2017

Mouthfilling from the start, with lovely plum sauce, steeped fig and blackberry coulis flavors, lined with warm ganache notes and carried by ample but polished tannins. Features a tarry edge at the end, but maintains a rather polished feel overall. A lovely wine, once again.

Score: 92 - 95 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 01 April 2015

Elegant aromas of berries and smokiness then meaty and serious in the midpalate. Intense with grainy tannins and an angular dry finish.

Score: 91 - 93 Albany Vintners, - Date: 24 April 2015

A fabulous wine from this venerable estate, the 2014 Léoville-Barton is super-impressive today. Dark red stone fruits, wild flowers, mint, spices and raspberry all show the inflections of invigorating freshness that are such a signature of the vintage. Hints of crème de cassis, blackberry jam, graphite, brioche, grilled herbs and spice add nuance on an inky finish that gains weight over time. Today, the 2014 is embryonic, but I won't be surprised if it grows considerably over the coming years. The blend is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc. Tasted two times.

Score: 91 - 94 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 April 2015

Dark vibrant crimson. Much sweeter and more opulent on the nose than most St-Juliens. Very firm and rich with real savour and glamour. Smooth texture but no shortage of tannins underneath. A long-term wine.

Score: 17 - 18 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2024-2040 Date: 01 April 2015