Bordeaux 2024: The Bartons

Leoville and Langoa Barton are bywords for classic, good value clarets. This practice has been passed down the generations and Anthony’s grandson, Damien, continues this great tradition with a beautiful brace of fairly priced 2024s. There’s a gracefulness and athleticism here that is most charming – both are aromatic, detailed wines with impressive precision and balance. They will be a joy to drink relatively early in their lives and will no doubt surprise us with their longevity.

"A serious wine that will delight patient purists, but which also showcases the new levels of purity and precision that this estate has been attaining since completion of the new winery, the 2024 Léoville Barton is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Unwinding in the glass with notes of cassis, plums, pencil shavings and violets, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and impressively concentrated, with a taut but nicely integrated profile, concluding with a pure, penetrating finish." 92-94/100 – William Kelley, Wine Advocate

"The 2024 Léoville Barton is a very beautiful wine. Black cherry, plum, lavender, new leather, graphite, crushed rocks, mocha and spice all meld together. A wine of classical build, Léoville Barton is also wonderfully deep and expressive. Today, all of its energy is directed inwards, but there is a lot of wine here. I can't wait to taste this from bottle. Tasted two times. Drink 2034-2049." 93-95/100 – Antonio Galloni, vinous.com

"The 2024 Langoa Barton is showing beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet blackberries and plums mingled with notions of licorice, pencil shavings and lilac. Medium to full-bodied, with lively acids and good depth and density, it's pure and refined. This is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, picked between 24 September and 5 October." 92-94/100 – William Kelley, Wine Advocate