May 24, 2021 - Still holding up, I am surprised at the longevity of the vintage as a whole. How much longer is a matter of speculation. This is drinking straight from the bottle.
February 28, 2020 - For a bad vintage great wine, as indeed always.
March 2, 2019 - What a nice surprise. We enjoyed it with my birthday dinner of polenta and wild mushrooms, caesar salad, and a surprise dessert. It’s spicy, fruity, and herbal, all in a very pleasant low alcohol package (12.5%). I’m glad we have another three bottles.
September 2, 2017 - Decent bdx
July 29, 2017 - I'd already planned to open this to accompany lamb with friends for dinner, when by coincidence the Barton family and their wineries are featured in this month's Decanter magazine. Opened and decanted for 2 hours, this is now fully mature. Colour is deep crimson, with a hint of browning as it was decanted. Earthy nose, but still good blackcurrant fruits, leather, licquorice. To me, this is exactly as I would want a decent 20 year old St Julien wine to be. Slipped down rather too easily, could have drunk more, but don't have any more of this vintage. Beautiful.
October 2, 2015 - Still very young looking. Deep ruby. Chilled to bring it down to 16C and the fruit tastes better and fresher. Delicious with cheese after an outstanding Pichon Lalande 81. The more robust structure and fresher acidity being a good match to strong hard cheeses. On the nose, classic St. Julian- lots of leather, forest floor, earth, touch of orange peel/ zest. Very refreshing and balanced without being too complicated. Who could complain considering it is under US$50/bt at auction. A good experience for the price.
May 2, 2015 - Dark fruit, cedar, graphite, fading tannin. Amazingly fresh for such a mediocre year. This is just perfect sunday lunch claret.
December 10, 2014 - I've enjoyed this in the past but this bottle seemed a little tired. It wasn't that the fruit was gone, but this didn't have the structure or cedary character of the 1999 which is worth the extra money.
November 9, 2014 - double decant, fine sediment. Min bricking. Reticent Bord nose, some red fruits, pencil lead, cedar. Palate nice soft bordeaux. Soft mouthfeel, held up well with bone in ribeye. Better with food. Drank along side Longville Poyferie, while not as while not as muscular, still had nice finesse..
October 26, 2014 - Classic Bordeaux. A real treat!!