critic reviews
The 2014 Léoville Barton has a seductive and beautifully composed bouquet with ample brambly red fruit, sous-bois and light pencil shavings scents. This has real finesse. The palate is well balanced with fine tannins, a keen line of acidity and more salinity than its peers. What feels like top-quality new oak smooths the finish but does not impose itself. This is a classy Saint-Julien from the Barton family. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.
Inky plum in colour, firm tannins, Cabernet dominant at 10 years old, savoury and balanced and one to look out for, a totally brilliant, delicious Léoville Barton that I cannot recommend highly enough for lovers of classical, finessed, savoury St Julien. One of my wines of the lineup. Black chocolate, cassis, pomegranate, tobacco, cigar box, gliding through the palate, concentrated and intense but delicate and finessed. It's good, so drinkable, with ageing potential. 60% new oak.
The 2014 Leoville Barton has a medium to deep garnet-brick color. It is a tad broody to start, with notions of tar, damp soil, and smoked meats giving way to a core of blackcurrant cordial and fruitcake, plus a hint of unsmoked cigars. The medium-bodied palate has a firm structure of grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing long with a spicy kick.