Château Langoa Barton, 3ème Cru Classé, St Julien,

Another successful vintage for Langoa, with dense cherry pit, graphite, smoked earth and bilberry fruits. Glass-staining ruby colour, a little atypical for the estate with its gourmet edge that gives supple tannins and a rich mid-palate, with concentrated fruit and spices all balanced by great tannic architecture. This is an impressive St Julien from the Barton family, with a ton of ageing potential. 60% new oak.

A blend of 56.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, and 2.5% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Langoa Barton is ageing in 60% new oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it prances out with exuberant notes of warm cassis, blueberry pie, and Morello cherries, leading to hints of chocolate mint, clove oil, and tilled soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock full of juicy black fruits, framed by plush tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with a spicy kick.

The 2022 Langoa-Barton was cropped at 30hL/ha from September 8-23 then matured in 60% new oak. The nose needs a few minutes to cohere, raspberry and dark cherry fruit, bunches of violet, almost Margaux-like in personality. The palate is where the action is at the moment with finely-chiseled tannins, a saline undertow, almost briny with a fresh and quite compelling, classically-styled finish. Fine length, this is a Langoa that just like the ABBA song, will go on and on and on.