External search
Google (images)
Wine Advocate
Wine Spectator
Burghound
Wine-Searcher
Vintages
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
Show more
From this producer
Show all wines
All tasting notes
|
| | Vintage | 2008 |  Label 1 of 610 
 | | Type | Red | | Producer | Château Léoville Barton (web) | | Variety | Red Bordeaux Blend | | Designation | n/a | | Vineyard | n/a | | Country | France | | Region | Bordeaux | | SubRegion | Médoc | | Appellation | St. Julien | | UPC Code(s) | 031259027562, 031259031262, 031259040103, 031259043272, 0400005918421, 2448874002597, 3258691171746, 3277034831857, 3609050236635, 3660327010815, 3660327011515, 616773430229, 639737585568, 649944100751, 7070292003136, 7070292950423 |
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.8 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 269 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by SonnyChiba on 3/27/2024 & rated 94 points: The nose on this was incredible. Palate was great too, with classic Bordeaux characteristics, some early maturity showing through, some ripe fruit and smokiness. Drinking better than expected. (2317 views) | | | Tasted by WojteG on 2/14/2024 & rated 94 points: Saint Valentine day today and me and my wife should drink something special ( I hope so, you know - wine is risky business)
My first wine from 2nd Growth Cru Classé. Let's see what it can do for us.
3 hours in the decanter
🕐⏰🕙
No doubt about it. The wine is high class. Everything is in the right place. Flavors, acidity, tannins. Balance and harmony - top notch. But this wine did not enchant me, it did not surprise me, it did not delight me to the fullest. Am I spoiled brat or what? More money = more joy?
Not exactly.
I had less expensive wines and I enjoyed them more.
2008 vintage?
Probably
But something for something.
My main complaint - muted aromas. Shy and simple.
Black fruits, forest, cedar,red cherry, tobacco.
Taste is much, much better.
Black fruits and milk chocolate, vanilla and coffee (!), red cherry, a lot of spice and minerals.
Medium finish.
But balance and harmony, harmony and balance... 👍
2008 vintage in Medoc got 91 points according to the WA Vintage Guide.
Outstanding. Early maturing and accessible.
Wine?
WE - 96
JS - 94
ST - 93
Vinous - 93
Decanter - 92
JD - 92
RP - 92
Jeff Leve - 92
WS - 91 (2656 views) | | | Tasted by ctwomey on 2/14/2024: 2008 Château Leoville Barton (13% alc)
Clear medium garnet with medium intensity of blackberry, black cherry, black plum, bramble, white pepper, black olive, toast, marizpan (almonds), dark chocolate, lead pencil, charred wood, smoke, earth and savoury.
The wine is dry with medium acidity, medium- fully integrated tannins, medium alcohol, medium+ body, with a medium flavour intensity of same. Wine is full developed and the finish is long. (2655 views) | | | Tasted by azogas on 2/12/2024 & rated 92 points: Still a bit backward and closed following an hour decant but continued to open up over the course of a few hours. Wish I had more time. Textbook leather, dark cherry, pencil shavings, cedar, and black pepper. Lots of tension on the palate but very juicy and complex. The acidity and fruit are well balanced. Finish is nice but nothing crazy. Drinking well at the moment but I don't think it has reached peak. (2773 views) | | | Tasted by Motz on 1/31/2024 & rated 94 points: Opened the bottle previously accessed by Coravin.
Strapping and bold while classy and restrained. Excellent tension, precision, and range. Cabernet Sauvignon in the lead, accentuated by Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Seamless alcohol. Well integrated oak. Satisfying. (3230 views) | | | Tasted by maxima on 1/31/2024 & rated 91 points: Bu au resto AVV La Suite avec les FOUDUVIN chapitre de l'Estrie!
Textbook Bordeaux, un beau claret.
Bien souple et à point, sur la terre et le cuir avec un
peu d'herbes et des épices. Finale de belle longueur.
Très beau mais a complètement été soufflé
par le Pontet-Canet 2010 bu en parallele! (2961 views) | | | Tasted by Margaux Bro on 12/26/2023 & rated 94 points: Exactly what you'd expect out of 15 year old LB. In a good spot now and just entering primary drinking window in my opinion. (2543 views) | | | Tasted by Breedlove on 12/25/2023 & rated 89 points: Austere est le mot qui definit le mieux ce vin de 15 ans ouvert a loccasion du reveillon de Noel.
A louverture, le verre deguste avant de laisser le vin souvrir montre beaucoup de matiere et des tanins encore bien presents. Servi 3 heures plus tard et bu sans prise de notes ce vin reste severe avec une pointe de verdeur et une legere amertume en fin de bouche. Les aromes restent sur le fruit et le vin exprime encore une certaine jeunesse. Pour ma part je laisse mes 2 dernieres bouteilles tranquilles pour les 5 prochaines annees. Revoir en 2028-2030. (2545 views) | | | Tasted by Pcrage on 11/29/2023 & rated 85 points: Inviting nose followed by a thin unimpressive expression of Bordeaux. Finish astringent and flat unfortunately. Not a Barton problem but more the reality of the vintage and its development or lack thereof
2008 - bad spring, bad summer, bad wine regrettably (3413 views) | | | Tasted by Ianjaig on 11/23/2023 & rated 91 points: Too young at the moment and never really opened up despite a 5 hour decant. Maybe it is in bit of a "dumb phase" but there is plenty of potential here and it could evolve and open up to be quite special in time. I have one more bottle and will give that 10 years + (2906 views) | | | Tasted by swade on 11/20/2023 & rated 92 points: Solid steak night wine. Aromas of chocolate and cigar box - pretty classical. Round entry marked by flavors of cassis, graphite, bramble and spice. Even at 15 years I expected more bristle from this Barton, but the tannins were fairly well absorbed and it was showing it's stuff. Chewy enough. Moderate finish and this is where I think the lesser vintages show a bit. Really a treat. 91 (3059 views) | | | Tasted by trumpet60201 on 11/20/2023 & rated 93 points: The nose shows lovely cigar box, chocolate, fresh black fruits and violets. On the palate, the fruit is delicious and fresh, it is balanced (13% abv) with a long finish that is somewhat tannin dominated and a hair drying at this point. Give it some more time or enjoy it now with hearty food. (2873 views) | | | Tasted by Motz on 11/10/2023 & rated 94 points: Coravin access, tasted alongside the same vintage Gombaude-Guillot.
Very interesting to sample the red-fruit and clay driven Pomerol next to this blackcurrant and gravel that this offers. Also showing cut tobacco, worn leather, and delicate touches of brett. Long, inflection-changing finish. No less than five years from its optimal drinking window. Satisfying. (3572 views) | | | Tasted by MWiking on 10/21/2023 & rated 92 points: Snyggt moget men fortfarande bra kraft i taninerna.
Tobaksfruktigt och väldigt gott (3365 views) | | | Tasted by N.Bonaparte on 9/15/2023 & rated 91 points: I just assumed that a 90 min decant would be necessary. In realty, this wine doesn’t need a formal decant. 15 min in the glass is enough. This was a perfectly stored bottle so I figured this would be too young compared to the Bordeaux I typically drink but I was wrong. Nothing wrong with this wine other than it’s shockingly advanced and on its gradual descent already. I admit I don’t have much experience with this producer.
This is a thin and decently balanced wine that is mostly boring with a decent finish. These are best consumed now without a decant. (3669 views) | | | Tasted by Kriz on 9/1/2023 & rated 92 points: 6 years after my previous bottle. Not that enthousiatic then... now I am! I love the more classic vintages in Bordeaux. Great nose and a very good palate. Good balance and just the righ acidity for my palate. mmmm (3530 views) | | | Tasted by Mario17 on 7/29/2023 & rated 91 points: Très belle bouteille cette fois-ci, je l’avais bu il y a quelques semaines et je n‘avais pas aimé, celle-ci est plus ouverte, plus de fraîcheur, pas le plus puissant mais très bien. 91-92 (4310 views) | | | Tasted by Tavastgatan on 7/22/2023 & rated 92 points: Very good. Light, refreshing and stylish. (4048 views) | | | Tasted by Raizes on 7/9/2023 & rated 89 points: 开瓶香气较淡，偏向脂粉类的表达，一点豆蔻和尘土的气息。醒酒后，黑醋栗、李子、甘草、皮革和泥土，典型性的波尔多香气次第出现，入口柔顺而不算浓郁。总体来说，拥有较高的酸度和清晰平衡的结构，但欠缺足够的深度和陈年变化。 (3994 views) | | | Tasted by SMHalps on 6/16/2023 & rated 90 points: Part of a Bordeaux and Bordeaux-style wines with my wine group at a NYC restaurant. All the reds were opened, but not decanted, for over 45 minutes before pouring. While a perfectly good wine, it was underwhelming compared to the other wines we had. Out of the 4 reds, it came in 4th, with 7 (out of 8) of us voting it the least favorite of the night. Compared to the other wines, it was lighter, with the shortest finish, and the lightest body and most subdued nose. The wines we had in order, 2008 Leoville-Barton, 2009 Talbot, 2007 Anderson's Conn Valley Right Bank and 2011 Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval Vineyard. (4215 views) | | | Tasted by houstonjeff@hotmail.com on 5/20/2023 & rated 91 points: Plenty of life left in this wine. (4534 views) | | | Tasted by gtilley on 4/16/2023: A fine and sturdy claret. Ready to drink but only at the beginning of its drinking window. Nicely structured, full, plenty of fruit given the vintage but certainly not overripe. (4894 views) | | | Tasted by Jason Wu on 3/29/2023 & rated 93 points: App: Med ruby
Nose: med+ intensity, oak, violet, black cherry, dried orange peel, nutmeg, dark plum, black olive, tree bark, sandle wood, developing.
Palate: Dry, high acidity, med+ tannins, med alcohol, med body, med+intensity, dark plum,
Overall, this is a very good wine. Still very closed after 1 hour bottle decant. Will try again later. Throughout the day, the wine shows more aromas and flavors, such as coffee, inky, blueberry, pencil shave. Still quite young and needs more time to develop. (5131 views) | | | Tasted by vino_per_tutti on 1/28/2023 & rated 92 points: Dark crimson color. Decanted for 3 hours, but tasted best 6 hours into the evening. Pours clean, unadulterated from decanter to glass. Black and red fruits on the nose - blackberry, plum - along with dusty leather, camphor or eucalyptus on the backend. Muted initially, but much more precise with oxidation. Blackberry, red plum, cedar on the palate. Medium bodied. Short and drying on the finish. This was very good, but needs more time(?) to integrate. Hold. (6306 views) | | | Tasted by Oechsle on 1/2/2023 & rated 91 points: Least interesting of 08’s tried (estournel, haut bailly, calon segur) Decanted 3 hours, nose is muted, neutral wood, red fruits, green summer berry brambles and Lift. Medium weight, Tart, strong underlying beam of acidity, Salivating, Red fruits, Morello cherry, hints of raspberry. Tannins there for support, Served with prime rib it paired well but, acidity is quite Brisk. Not sure what this will gain by further aging and for today’s price point $125-150 you’d expect there to be more in the bottle. Vacuumed and chilled reopen day 2, little improvement, More Grip. Purchased as futures and stored accordingly… Na zdrowie (5893 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, 2008 Bordeaux - Now at age 10 (2/28/2019)
(Chateau Leoville-Barton Red) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (3/2/2018)
(Ch Léoville Barton St-Julien Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Neal Martin
Vinous, 2008 Bordeaux: A Day In A Life (Feb 2018) (2/18/2018)
(Léoville Barton Léoville Barton Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Hemming, MW
JancisRobinson.com (2/1/2018)
(Ch Léoville Barton St-Julien Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, February 2018 (2/1/2018)
(Château Léoville-Barton St Julien Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jane Anson
Decanter, 2008 Bordeaux 10 Years on (1/1/2018)
(Château Léoville Barton, St-Julien, Bordeaux, France, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (6/16/2016)
(Château Léoville Barton St.-Julien, France) Subscribe to see review text. | The World of Fine Wine, December 2012, Issue #38
(Château Léoville-barton 2ème Cru) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (7/4/2012)
(Ch Léoville Barton St-Julien Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Gary Walsh
The WINEFRONT (4/15/2012)
(Chateau Leoville-Barton) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (1/19/2012)
(Ch Léoville Barton St-Julien Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Jul/Aug 2011, Issue #34, Re-Visiting the 2008 Bordeaux Vintage: Is It Superior to Both 2009 and 2010?
(Château Leoville Barton) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, July/August 2011, IWC Issue #157
(Chateau Leoville Barton Saint Julien (Pre-Arrival)) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Jan/Feb 2011, Issue #31, Snapshot of the 2008 Bordeaux Vintage- Really a Lovely and Classically Proportioned Year
(Château Leoville Barton) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Julia Harding, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/19/2010)
(Ch Léoville Barton St-Julien Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, October 2010
(Chateau Léoville-Barton (St Julien)) Subscribe to see review text. | The World of Fine Wine, June 2009, Issue #24
(Château Léoville Barton 2ème Cru) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (5/4/2009)
(Ch Léoville Barton St-Julien Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Ian D'Agata
Vinous, May/June 2009, IWC Issue #144
(Chateau Leoville Barton Saint Julien) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, April 2009
(Chateau Léoville-Barton St Julien) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, November 2012
(Château Léoville-Barton (St Julien)) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (1/21/2011)
(Château Léoville Barton) Dark purple red violet color; very appealing, berry, ripe plum, blackberry nose; tasty, poised, blackberry, berry, graphite, relatively rich but balanced palate; medium-plus finish 92+ pts. 92 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JebDunnuck.com and JancisRobinson.com and Vinous and Winedoctor and Decanter and JamesSuckling.com and The World of Fine Wine and The WINEFRONT and View From the Cellar and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Château Léoville Barton Producer website - Read more about Chateau Leoville BartonRed Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanMédoc Vins du Médoc (Conseil des Vins du Médoc) - Read More about the Medoc
VdB
The eight precisely defined appellations of the whole of the Médoc (from Blanquefort Brook to the north of the Bordeaux built-up area, almost to the Pointe de Grave) may claim the Médoc appellation. But there is also a specific territory in the north of the peninsula which produces exclusively wines with this appellation. In the great majority, the Médocs come from the north of the peninsula. The great individuality of this region is that the number of vines has increased more recently here than elsewhere, apart from a few isolated spots where vines have grown for many years. Today, the size of the small estate has brought about the development of a powerful co-operative movement. Four co-operatives out of five belong to the group called Unimédoc which ensures aging, bottling and marketing a large proportion of their wines.St. Julien VdB
Read more detailed information on St. Julien and its wines The seventeenth century pioneers Traces are to be found of a Saint-Julien de Rintrac, perhaps Saint-Julien's earliest name, as from the thirteenth century. But we have to wait until the seventeenth century pioneers, urban and rural aristocrats, discover the exceptional merits of these terroirs.
Traces of this system still exist today in the structure of estates within the appellation: by the side of the two villages of Beychevelle and Saint-Julien, the large estates are heavily preponderant, representing more than four fifths of the total surface of vineyards.
The terrain is practically identical over all the commune. Only the proximity of the estuary, sometimes close, sometimes further away, can cause slight variations in climate. In fact, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle's layer of gravel takes the form of a huge rectangle over 3 miles long and 2 miles wide. And the alluvial deposits are particularly well fragmented into ridges of Garonne gravel of the early Quaternary. Accordingly, the vines are safeguarded from stagnant water.
The wines from the Saint-Julien appellation may be recognized by their unparalleled bouquet, particularly harmonious and mild. They have a fine deep colour and combine the finesse of their aromas and a solid constitution. They have body, are very rich in flavour and have a delicious and delicate bouquet.
Production conditions (Decree dated November 14, 1936)
In order to have the right to the Saint-Julien appellation of controlled origin, red wines must:
- come from the commune of Saint-Julien and from precisely defined parcels in the communes of Cussac, and Saint-Laurent, "excluding the parcels situated on recent alluvium and sand on impermeable subsoils",
- satisfy precise production conditions: grape-varieties (Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet-Franc, Carmenère, Merlot Noir, Petit Verdot, Cot or Malbec), minimum of sugar (178 grammes - 6.27 oz. - per litre of must) degree (an acquired 10°5) base yield (45 hectolitres per hectare). |
|
