Community Tasting Note

JamesTye Likes this wine:

Friday, July 19, 2013 - From 750ml. Level HF. Served at the St Geran in Mauritius. No decant required. Colour was dark red, faint brown at edge, bright. Nose was dominated by cassis, with some secondary Bordeaux notes including cedar, animal notes, raspberry. A whiff of iodine was an unusual addition.
The palate is very fruit driven, again mostly cassis but there is some red fruit, and aged bordeaux sandalwood and leather. There is good of acidity to keep the wine fresh and the tannins are powdery and finely integrated now. The wine is balanced but not exceptionally so and the finish is a good length.

This is a lovely Leoville-Barton, and a good example of the sumptuous 1990 vintage. There is plenty of structure and power, wrapped up in black fruit and some of that hallmark St Julien freshness. This is perfectly ready now and drinking well. I predict this wine will comfortably live for another 10-15 years for sure, but the fruit will recede and would not show this wine at its best in my opinion. This is very different from the more classic 1988 Barton, which is still gently improving. For this reason, enjoy the 1990 now.

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