Amazing bottle. Part of a 3 bottle vertical of Leoville Barton.
Rough on the nose upon opening, cork was not in the best condition but not completely ruined. After decanting for a while, the wine opened up and became much more enjoyable. Some sediment, but that is to be expected due to age.
Bold and acidic, with notes of leather, oak, and dark fruits. Nice, lighter color to it. After letting it breath, this was an amazing drink, and excellent to compare with the other two vintages. The weakest of the 3, but if you only gave me this bottle I would have given it nothing but praise. Hopefully I can get another in better condition.
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Still fresh after 30 years! Medium to dark color, fruity nose. No decant. When the cork was out, a smell of ripe fruits, cherry, blackberry and leather, tobacco filled the environment. Very balanced and silky finish. Will definitely hold a couple of more years.
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A classy fully mature St. Julien from a regular bottle in a tasting with the 1994 and 1995, side-by-side. Very enticing nose of gravel, graphite, cherries and just a bit of flowers and italian leather. With that I mean very elegant leather, restrained not tending to horse or manure. Elegance is the trademark of this wine. It has very balanced acidity on the palate supporting its structure. Smooth tannins I think reveal that this wine is ready to go. I think it is at its peak. Both the 1994 and 1995 showed considerably younger. Both of them appeared not to be as elegant as the 89. The 1994 had more forward fruit, a nose of more intense leather and gravel, less cedar elegance. A very drinkable wine that can nonetheless be in the bottle for a bit longer. the 1995 appeared the less compelling of the 3, with some imbalance between its somewhat alcoholic fruit and its acidity living on two separate layers and not enough body to support either. It is a pleasant wine but somewhat (at this point) inferior to the other two. I look forward to compare again some of this wines.
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Deep garnet. Aromas of tobacco, leather ceder, cassis, blackberry jam, cloves, balsamico and forest floor. Finely grained grippy tannins. Blackcurrant acids and dark chocolate bitterness. Medium/full body Palate of plum jam, cassis, wood fire, cedar, cinnamon, cardamom and bay leaf. A vital, rather big and complex Medoc with typical dark fruit, wonderful minerality and mouth-watering acidity and a beautiful spicy finish. Drink within 10-12 years. Tasted alongside Jaboulet, Chapelle, 1989 and the matched wine is more evolved, generous and jammier. The present wine is perfectly balanced and serious.
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Pristine bottle, tenth from a full case purchased at auction in 2010. At 30 years of age, this is now fully mature. Classical nose, cedar and gravel, floral, tobacco and red berries; crisp Cabernet on the palate, light bodied, gently leafy, clear and transparent style, sandy tannins; very good resonance and length.
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WWC - NJH1122 (Fort Worth Club): Tasted blind - My top wine of the tasting. Amazing nose of medicinal cherry - stronger on the cherry than the menthol. Complex on the palate, with red fruit, olive, slight pepper, mushroom, earth. Just delicious. Called a 20 year old left bank.
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Challenging at the start, with bland notes and hints of burnt wood on both the nose and palate. After two hours, the wine finally began to shine, revealing soft cherries, leather, and rather robust tannins. It demands patience and care to fully unfold its potential. The nose transformed pleasantly after a couple of hours, though it seemed slightly past its prime.
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Wine Group Left Bank ( '08 & back) diner. Kevin's btl and quite enjoyable if not quite as interesting and balanced as Jason's '90. None the less, happy to drink any & all aged Leoville Bartons. Perhaps my all-round favorite BDX producer factoring in the huge value it always present. Sure, if money is no object my top BDX producer is La Miss but I chock on the cost :).
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Gently decanted and served with rack of lamb. This was pretty much as per my tasting in June. The oxidised note more predominant on the palate but still slightly sour, juicy, fleshy, with time and air brambly fruit joins the red hued fruits, tannins are less obvious with food. Nice
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Bought this in a mixed case of of red wines at a general auction for a great price. Ruby with pronounced bricking. The nose is sooooo inviting with aromas blackberry and little blackcurrant and a bouquet of flowers. The palate has lots of flavour, medium bodied with black fruits, cedar, pencil lead and with warmth too, despite its modest 12.5%. Still showing well after nearly 30 years.
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Coravin fun - Bordeaux (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. A little caramel, earth, umami, beef extract, leather, brambles, a little yeast extract - sliding to fully tertiary on the nose. It's a little sour on the palate, with a little red hued fruit before the more savoury notes rush in, tannins are grainy, slightly coarse and persistent, probably another drink up on this tasting.
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Jammy red fruit on the nose Tight tannins to begin with Opened up throughout our meal, with the tannins becoming more balanced and was a good accompaniment to a nice sirloin steak Oaky black fruit came through I'm sure that this one still has some more mileage in the tank!
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Very good, especially considering the vintage. Black cherry, black currants, tobacco. Tannins in good balance. Drank it over 3 days and it almost did not decline. The wine will easily last another 5-10 years.
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Very good for the vintage. Probably slighly past its peak, but still very enjoyable. Tannins were mostly resolved but the fruit was still going strong.
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Some mild fruit on the nose, a touch of tar and some earth. The tannins are still very present and grippy. Bright front end acidity accompanied by some tartness. We liked this wine but it seemed tight and unwilling to completely reveal itself. Drinking young imho but not sure what another decade will offer.
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Famous for being tough, but this one has softened a bit over the years. A classic Bordeaux with added dimensions. Had it over a Chinese dinner with many strong flavoured dishes. Will try the other vintages in a few years time as I'd expect they are even tougher.
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2022 New Years Eve: Double decanted, drank a small glass about 5 hours later. Expressive, funky bordeaux nose. The palate is slightly less interesting, perhaps a bit vegetal. But all-around a great aged bordeaux that drank very well and is consistent with this producer. 93-94.
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New Years Eve Celebration (Rocknroller's (Kevin & Vicki's Place)): Very dark red color. Double decanted and poured 5 hours later. Drank a glass over 90 minutes. This was showing well, big tobacco notes with more tobacco leaf, saddle leather abounds, more subtle dark fruits, as it opens there is a nice perfumed quality with violets and crushed blackberries. Very good, no danger here. 93+pts.
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Im direkten Vergleich mit einem 2005er Barton: etwas stumpf, das Alter überdeckt bereits viele Primäraromen. Mir hat der 2005er besser gefallen, der durchaus auch noch gute Jahre vor sich hat. Das sehe ich beim 1994er nicht, im Gegenteil. Ich denke er hat seine beste Zeit bereits hinter sich. Drink up.
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This time, very different. Nicely round after 1 hour decant. Violets in the nose. Austere on the pallet with some floral notes. Complex. Not gone yet. Also very nice at 12.5 ABV.
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Perhaps it was my mouth, but this wine seemed tart. I was disappointed, as it didn't change (without food) for at least two hours. Improved with cheese.
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Coravin fun - Leoville Barton; 3/8/2022-3/15/2022 (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Brambly fruit, very slightly oxidative notes, sweet spice but with a little peppery prickle, meaty/umami underpin and a touch of pyrazine. With agitation it shows dusty blackcurrant and slight metallic notes. Very slight sourly juicy…the fruit and tertiary characteristics go hand in hand here, a little grainy tannic grip, long. Begs beef or, better still, lamb stew (shanks?). Lovely
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70 CS/ 20 Mer/ 10 CF Initially firm and austere but then opens up to reveal notes of cedar and black fruits seasoned with spice and pepper. It’s savoury with great structure and balance, and yet the fruit still lingers. A very fine wine indeed. CHP 94 pts
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Exceeded my expectations. No need to really decant, can evolve in glass. Nice tobacco taste at the start that quickly fades away and your left with a fantastic Bordeaux nose and evolved tannins.
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Classic St. Julien - quite attractive upon opening, excellent with steak after 30 minutes. I suppose this would be better with a longer decant, but we wanted a classic Bordeaux and did not have time (or patience) to wait. Seems fully ready now.
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Beautiful mature Medoc nose here with forest floor, dark fruit, some leather and farmyard. The palate remains masculine, despite the fact that the tannins are now mostly dissolved. The 1994 vintage was really harsh when young, but now, nearly 30 years later, you have an ideal companion for a steak.
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vivid red; nose of berries and citrus; initially quite green on the palate, after one hour decant quite smooth, well integrated with good fruit; medium finish, drinks well now
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Coravin fun - Leoville Barton and new arrivals (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas are dusty, chalky with liquorice and a little rotten meat quality supported by brambles, Ribena and sweet spice, with time wet stone, leather, wet hay, farmyard and slight blood. In the mouth the wine has medium plus intensity acidity, wetly fruit black and red currant fruit, leather, earth, plentiful chalky tannins dry out the palate a little. Long. Nice.
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Brooding and stately, earthy nose of dark fruit, potting soil, ash, cigar box, silhouetted vanilla extract and chocolate, perfectly balanced palate of stewed plum and black currant sauce with secondary notes of suede leather, cinnamon, white pepper, tarragon and a whisper of nutmeg, quite firm, powdery tannins, very lengthy, lingering finish. Perfect with seared duck breast, port and grape au jus, roasted fall vegetables and whipped sweet potatoes.
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Almost identical to a bottle consumed about two years ago. Opened for an hour and then decanted for one and a half hours. In a great drink window. This wine should last for a good while, but I do not see it improving. No reason to let it sit there......have a bottle.
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Dark red. No bricking. Savory black fruits, olives, mint, tobacco and chalk. There is some still fresh fleshy fruit in the mouth with resolving tannins and good acidity give it a polished rounded mouth feel. Opened at cellar temp and enjoyed over 3 days. Not what I was expecting from 1994!
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Last bottle from a brilliant auction purchase of mixed case 94 Bordeaux; all have been stunning! Popped and poured, fill was into neck and cork pristine. Medium garnet, with notes of plums, earth, sautéed mushrooms, roasted herbs. Medium bodied, with a silky texture, great depth and balance, good delineation and a long savory finish.
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Nose of black berry, black cherry, currants, cigar box, forest floor, and roasted meat, on the palate, medium/big body, very tasty, mouth filling fruit, usually Barton is big and brash fo me but this is unusually elegant and refined, the 26 years of cellar time helped here, long, lovely finish and Bordeaux aftertaste. Photo uploaded.
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Pristine bottle, ninth from a case purchased at auction in 2010. Mature but lively appearance; characteristic and aromatic nose of leather and tobacco, cedar and spices, gravel and red berries, leafy Cabernet, hint of coffee; relatively slender palate but vibrant and beautifully balanced, the crisp and juicy Cabernet fruit is beautifully pure and precise, perfect weight (12.5% ABV) and the minerally energy is exemplary; tea-like finish, leaves the palate dry but perfumed. A fine 1994, very digestible, what classic Claret is all about.
Had this before Angélus and Lafite Rothschild from the same vintage, all wines were double decanted 12 hours before dinner. Very classical Médoc. Intense tertiary nose (cigar box and forest floor) with a hint of black currant and liquorice, on the palate fresh full and smooth with a long and very savoury finish. Great and at its peak now but there is no hurry for drinking the last bottles, there is enough structure for another 10 years.
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Maynbe an off bottle, very barnyard that Blew off After some time, but it never got going and stayed muted over a couple of hours; no cedar, no graphite notes, no fruits; boring on the palate; short finish; disappointing even given the vintage;
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Here’s a vintage that gets no respect. 1994! This is still drinking great 26 years on. Lots of cooked dark fruit, mostly blackberries. Leather, tobacco, licorice, forest floor. I went between thinking it was at peak and thinking it could go longer.
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The fill was into the neck and the cork was pristine; opened an hour before dinner, no decant. Another fantastic showing for the '94 Leoville Barton, with notes of dried plums, cigar box, and grilled meats. Good structure, very savory and flavorful, with good depth and a long finish.
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Opened, but no decant, an hour before service; the fill was into the neck and the cork was pristine. Deep garnet with a hint of bricking. Notes of cedar black fruits, roasted fennel, black truffle, and Forrest floor. Medium bodied, with a surprisingly velvety texture, great depth, and a long and savory finish. Exceptional, particularly for the vintage!
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From Coravin. leather, backed blackcurrant with a little raisin, earth, cedar, cigar box, a little sweet spice, autumn leaves, aniseed. Ooh, savoury, tomato leaf, quite bitter, meaty medium plus intensity tannins, fruit quite dried out. Meh.
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After a 40 minute decant the nose shows cedar, sweet spice, pyrazine and blackcurrant with leather. In the mouth it is slightly sour wild blackcurrant fruit, leather and a wonderfully grippy mid palate that proves just a touch unripe but not problematically so. medium plus length finish. Nice.
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Lots of wood on the nose, both oak and cedar, accented by loamy notes. With time in the decanter, cassis comes to the fore - but no doubt the fruit has mellowed over the decade I've been drinking this. Austere, elegant, and intense pencil-focused palate.
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Nose: Beautiful Cherry, Blackberry and Thyme with leather and cedar notes. Palate: Well resolved with excellent dark red fruit, but the palate does show the vintage getting a bit lean at times. Good herb, licorice, spice, and cedar notes. Finish: Quite strong and hangs in with a good dose of black fruit and biting acidity.
91+ Having had the 94 LLC recently this was nearly as good. Well made wine that is great for the dinner table as others have noted. At current prices chase the 1995 and 1996 for just a bit more money.
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The fruit has disappeared in this tannic monster. Mushrooms, underbrush, tomato vines and green peppers dominate at this point. Although it will hold for another 10 years, there is no benefit in doing so. Drink up, the 94’s are drying out.
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From a pristine bottle; the fill was into the neck and the cork was sound. Slow ox for an hour, then consumed over the course of the evening. A dark ruby core with some garnet at the rim. A classic bouquet, offering up notes of ripe red fruits, sois bous, earth, and roasted game bird, with hints of black truffle. Medium bodied, with great focus, depth, and grip; an alluring savory element on the mid palate, and a long a classic finish. A wonderful wine that nicely complemented the duck breast; this is not a “tasting” wine, but a classic Bordeaux that needs to be enjoyed over a meal. I thought this performed slightly better than the 94 Pontet Canet that we had earlier in the week.
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Coravin fun with Mats & Fredrik part two (Kennards, Waterloo): From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas of leather, a little black cherry, crushed chalk with a smidge of damp cellar and pyrazine. The palate is a little tartly juicy with muted slightly unripe black fruits with, oddly , a little sweet peach.
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Sat next to Lilian Barton Sartorius at the Chicago Wine Company's 2016 Bordeaux tasting and asked her if my 1994 magnums would be drinking well now. She said of course. Tried a glass using my Coravin and was happy to agree with her. Still dark in color with dried fruit nose and taste and some tannins that mellowed after about 15 minutes.
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Quite nice, especially considering the vintage, the fruit is fresh with a bright leaning. The nose with its tobacco, forest leaf and cigar box character is even better than what you find on the palate. With an hour in the decanter, this is fully ready to go.
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A fantastic Leoville Barton from what is considered an overall terrible vintage year. 1994 was tough because the of the late rains. Perhaps the St. Julian gravel saved this wine but it is a sleeper! 91, 92, 93 where such horrible vintages that the market was "thirsty" for a great vintage and overbought the 94s. So it is hard to justify the costs at times. The fact that this was served next to the 1989 didn't do it any favors- but this wine speaks to brilliance of great terroir!!
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Excellent. Classic St. Julien Still young, but perfect with lamb after a 2 hour decant (it needs it). It will last, but in a good place now (with proper breathing).
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This wine is in a great drink window right now......and deserves a higher rating that the Pro reviewers have given it. Tasting notes I have from about 2012 say the wine was still stiff and hard then. That is no longer the case. We compared this one to the 2010 at a dinner party. It was very easy to taste that they came from the same Chateau. Also, the 2010 was very approachable for its age. The 1994 was decanted for only 1+ hours, and that seemed adequate. The 2010 was decanted for about 4 hours.
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Medium body, more red than black berries, plums, smoke, tobacco, cedar, beef broth and spices. Well balanced and with good length. Still in perfect condition but would drink it up through 2022.
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Slight disappointment for me although half expected it to be like this. All the fruit is gone but what I found lacking was the nose it didn't smell enticing enough. Very balanced wine with good acidity. Still looks very young with just a little sign of bricking at the edges. Probably should drink up now.
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Surprisingly youthful. Has game and tar and finishes with present tannins. It could well age a while. Decanted for three hours and poured to a Bordeaux-meister who loved it.
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I gave this a two-hour decant after reading previous notes, but it was best in the first hour after that, then went through a confused phase and emerged balanced but faded. An enjoyable drink.
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This 1994 Léoville Barton has been nothing short of amazing! A smoky nose with anise and blackcurrant, on the palate even more red fruit with loads of leather, tobacco, and cigar box with a long and tasty finish.
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Surprisingly tasty. Improved over the course of 2-3 hours significantly. Basic elements included earth, farmyard, mild flower petal. Well-developed and nicely balanced. Unobtrusive tannins. Totally solid mature Bordeaux.
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Drinking way younger than it's age -- color still dark red with no bricking. Very sweet, smooth tannins, medium body and medium finish. Lacks middle weight and therefore wouldn't stand up to hearty food dishes but drinks very well on its own. A hint of greenness in the nose and mouth but not in an unpleasant way. Impressed...will hold last bottle for another 5 years or so.
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From memory. We tasted 85/94/95/01 and this one was definitely far more open for business than the 95. More evolvement on the nose and sweet and plusher tannins. Dark berries, some tobacco and leather. 91-92p.
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Bordeaux Wimps, Benoît Chamoux table (La Trompette, London): Classical nose. Blackcurrant and a little lactic on the nose. A touch of redcurrant too. The leanness of the vintage, but a lovely example. Cool and lithe and refreshing. Lacking slightly alongside the rich food, this needs simpler fayre, and to be enjoyed on its own. Holding well, though it's not going to improve. ***
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Nicely in balance, resolved tannins, red berries, cedar, smoke, tobacco, beef and spices, very good especially given the vintage, in the drinking window.
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92 - this wine is still young, well balanced and an elegant bordeaux. It's full bodied with dark color and many years of life. Enjoyed by all at the dinner and while the oldest of the 4 bordeaux from the 90's we tasted, by far the youngest in flavor profile.
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17:00 Uhr geöffnet und dekantiert. Anfangs völlig verschlossen, rau und abweisend.
Um 19:00 Uhr hat er sich geöffnet und zeigt alle Qualitäten eines klassischen Bordeaux: vollmundig, schwarze Frucht, unterschwellig etwas Tabak, Veilchenpastillen, eine Nuance von Rote-Beete-Saft, Kiesel, Tannin gut eingebunden, moderate, aber schmeckbare Säure für einen 1994er erstaunlich geschmeidig und rund, vollmundig bei moderatem Alkohol (12,5 %). Anhaltender Nachgeschmack nach Dörrzwetschgen. Sehr gut.
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Medium body but very good structure and depth for the vintage. Blackberry, plums, smoke, tobacco, cedar, some leather and spices. A classic Saint Julien, well balanced and with good length. Definitely ready to drink but no need to rush.
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Deep red/garnet in color, this 22-year-old wine still has massive tannins. Fortunately, it also retains plenty of black fruit and a degree of elegance that is lacking from its 1994 Bordeaux brethren. Earthy black fruit is accented with violets and lavender on both the nose and palate. Freshly acidic and seamlessly alcoholic (12.5%), it stays solid in the middle and closes medium-to-long. This vintage of Leoville Barton will always represent a "horse race" between the fruit and the tannins. As before, I suspect that the latter will ultimately win out, but this wine is very drinkable now and should remain drinkable for several more years. Drink now-2025.
Coravin fun - Leoville Barton trial run (Kennards, Waterloo): From Coravin. Little cherry fruit, wet earth, leather and very slight vanilla...Charlie says a touch of green apple on the palate and I agree, still tannic as - plenty of structure here - and slight cherry fruits. tannins to out last fruit I suspect, alas.
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Clear, deep ruby. Watery rim. Nose: Blackberry, dark cherry, bell pepper, licorice, cedar oak. Palate: Medium(+) acidity, medium(+) body, high velvety tannins. A bit tighter than the nose, with red and dark fruit, cedar, tobacco, and hints of sweet spice and licorice. Medium(+) finish. I'd say best before 2020.
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Clarence's Birthday 2016 (Extra Space): Tasted blind. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of dark red cherries, blackberries, perfumed spice. Developing. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium alcohol (12.5%), high tannins, full body. Medium flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet spice, dark red cherries, blackberries, blackcurrant, mild licorice. Medium+ finish. Very good quality. Elegance and balance here. Still has room to develop tertiary notes over the next 4-5 years. A bit uninteresting in the company of the other distinguished Bordeaux wines of the night.
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Not unpleasantly tight on opening, but steadily improved over two hours in the decanter. Big, powerful mix of red and black fruit -- surprisingly so for a 1994, but not so much for a Barton. Pleasantly round but also deep. A pleasure. No hurry.
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Last one of the case. It was never the best vintage but I have enjoyed these nonetheless, this last one has started to decline, however, clear bricking and a little thinner and more acidic than previous bottles.
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Decanted 1hr. Excellent nose with medium intense leather, black berries, violets & slight aniseed. Secondary forest floor notes. Palate has depth & balance with excellent black berry fruit flavours coming through with fine tannins and light acid. A little eucalyptus with some aniseed as well. Stays long in the mouth with a tiny feel of some dry tannins. I've drunk this wine over many years and this is now absolutely right - drink now-2020 to enjoy at its best.
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Doppelt dekantiert, am besten nach ca. 3 Stunden. Klassischer, eher rustikaler Typ. Rote und schwarze Johannisbeere, Zeder, Leder, Tabak, Sous-Bois. Am Gaumen sehr ausgewogen, gute Struktur, leicht, rote Frucht, ausreichend Extrakt, jahrgangstypisch im Abgang ganz leicht unsauberes Tannin Hält sicher noch ein paar Jahre, besser wird er aber nicht mehr. Austrinken.
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Pristine bottle, opened at 4.30pm, decanted at 5pm and enjoyed between 6pm and 9pm. A very classically styled Saint-Julien, spices and blackcurrants, dusty and mineral, good fruit but a bit workman-like, tough rather than charmed, drying on the finish, good length.
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94 wasn't one of Bordeaux's better years so I wasn't expecting a blockbuster! Purple hue with brick coloured rim. Light, almost Burgundian with plenty of blackberry fruit and a hint of cigar box - silky smooth. An element of green peppercorn. This has still got legs!
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Strong line of acidity initially dominates but it all comes together pretty well after a couple of hours with cooked fruit, cigarettes, leather and a touch of balsamico. Not very ripe but not underripe either and with some pleasant green pepper notes. Not outstanding by the standards of an estate now making some of the best wines in Bordeaux and hence the world, but good for a difficult vintage in which, in many cases, the fruit has faded away before the tannins. There is just enough fruit here and the tannins have receded sufficiently to make this a medium-bodied, classically resolved, claret. One that diehard claret aficionados will appreciate.
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Some leather in nose; structured nicely; well knit; rugged with earth, raisen, cherry and blackberry; good balance and integration; tannins still there for further integration; smooth long sweet but lightly tannic finish.
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Schöne gereifter klassicher St. Julien. Im perfekten Alter um den Korken zu ziehen. Die leicht unreifen Tannine zeigen gut den Jahrgang (Minzetöne). Wunderbare typische Barton-Aromatik.....Herrlich 92/100.
Beautiful mature classic safe St. Julien. In the perfect age to drink. The slightly unripe tannins show well the vintage (mint tones). Wonderful typical Barton aromas ..... wonderful... 92/100.
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Raspberry liqueur, a little mulling spices, a pinch of mint, not super concentrated, but not at all thin. A little lean on the palate, but still solid.
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Decanted for two hours, consumed over two days. The bottle was in perfect condition; the filling-level was ideal, the cork was only half soaked. The wine was medium to dark garnet in colour, gained more colour with air, and threw some sediment. It offered dark flowers, cooked dark fruit, cooked black currant, cooked cherry, cooked plum, coffee, leather, tobacco, autumn leaves and mild balsamic notes on the nose. On the palate the wine showed cooked dark fruit, leather, tobacco, mushroom, leafy and some vegetal notes as well as mild balsamic notes, complemented by hints of chocolate, coffee and liquorice, with medium to medium-plus acidity and tannin and good to very good length. The tannin seemed slightly coarse and underripe and were astringent, even though the impression improved a little over night and the wine seemed less astringent and rounder on day two, yet fruit profile became more cooked in return. Not a good vintage for LB; rustic, medium-complex, a little thin and pretty disappointing after the very good LB 2000 I had the other week. Score for impression on day two only.
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The nose had green peppers, black fruits and some earthy notes on the nose. The weight was there but I was a bit worried that the greenness would intensify with more cellaring. My opinion is to drink now.
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Garnet. Nose took some coaxing but it was a Bordeaux nose, mildly enticing with seasoned salt and herbs. Taste was 'ponderous'-even bordering on rustic. Good but not stellar.
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Decanted for around 2 hours and served blind. Dark garnet with vivid vibrant hue, youth dark crimson rims. Elegant and perfumed nose, showing tobacco, cigar box, earth, forest floor, mineral, blackcurrant and dried herbs. Structured and robust entry, still young and vibrant on the palate with plenty of blackcurrant, dark cherry and cigar box, truffle and earth. Solid mid-palate extend to a long persistent finish, ample tannins, ripe and chewy. My best guess was a '95 Bordeaux left bank although I had tasted the same vintage twice. That said this bottle was holding very well after 20 years. Drinking on the peak now.
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Although this deep red/garnet wine still possesses sturdy tannins after 20 years, it likewise retains plenty of black fruit and a certain degree of elegance which is lacking from the 1994 offerings of most of its Bordeaux brethren. Cassis, graphite, violets, earth and coriander are delivered on the nose and palate, supported by fresh acidity and the aforementioned tannins. The alcohol (listed as 12.5%) is unnoticeable and the flavors build in the middle. Closing medium-to-long and with some tannic grip, it appears that this wine will always represent a "horse race" between the fruit and the tannins. I suspect that the latter will ultimately win out, but it is very drinkable now and likely has plenty of fruit to last another decade. Drink now-2025.
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Nose of raisin and black fruits, a robust Bordeaux that's not immensely complex but smooth tasting and mature. Still a bit tannic but everything else has come together.
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burnt red, orange, in color. blackberry, sour fruit, trail, earth, dried out dirt, oxidized, oak, on the nose. medium-high acid, medium-high tannins, on the finish.
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Light earthy herbaceous nose; some texture with some blackberry; sweet with decent integration; moderate finish; have to say paring was an issue - had chicken francaise.
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A nice, mature wine. Compared to the 96 Barton, the nose had less barnyard funk and fruit was more evident. Required little decanting but opened up a bit after an hour. Nose dominated by earthiness, pencil, and dark fruits. On the palate, there was blackberry, blackcurrant, tobacco. Nice acidity on the finish. Tannins well integrated. Not as complex as the 96, but overall, an enjoyable wine. I'm guessing there are a number of years left in this one.
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From a half. Only slight bricking, which stood out given its age. Opened at 10:00, poured off a couple of ounces and decanted the remainder for 4+ hours. The wine was great from the outset and improved with air. The charming bouquet featured, menthol, eucalyptus, the finest quality pipe tobacco, black farm soil, charred earth, blackcurrant, juniper, and graphite. Sleek palate, with still vibrant acid and good grip. The wine strengthened from front to back, showing a precise mid palate and a rock solid finish. Among the more charming, even seductive, Bordeaux I have tasted. This should hold well for several years, possibly 8 to 10, but I cannot see it improving. There is no reason not to enjoy this now. Special!
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Eucalyptus, rose petal, and strawberry on the nose; on the palate, black cherry, currant, earth, and hints of strawberry and cocoa, with no detectable tannins, good acidity, and a bit of greenness on the finish. A good Bordeaux with secondary notes starting to overtake the primary fruit.
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Quite the contrast to the Lagrange poured beside it. Pours far darker in colour. The fruit is much darker and alcohol is elevated on the nose. Nose shows: blackberry, vanilla, cedar, confectioners sugar, brown spice and the slightest hint of farmy notes. Essentially quite clean. The palate is densely structured with some tannin remaining and dark fruit and vanilla repeating on the medium minus finish. This may have some upside potential if aged out a few more years but it's not exactly my preferred style.
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Nose is more impressive than the palate with funk, gravel, coffee and cherry notes. The palate was a little green and I don't see this wine developing beyond this. Drink now.
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Light nose; mature, earthy, integrated and austere; light blackberry; well composed; soft and lean; easy and elegant; moments of sweetness in the finish.
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Beautiful wine at its peak. Garnet in color with no evidence of bricking. Modest nose but full bodied and complex on the palate with layers of fruit, chocolate, minerals and cigar box. Elegant, long lasting finish with well integrated tannins.
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30 minute decant, followed 2 pours at a tasting for a couple hours. Overall a well-made aged traditional Bordeaux that is drinking well right now. Lots of barnyard funk initially on the nose that faded into the background after about 15 minutes. The fruit took it's time in coming out, finally showing up after about an hour. At that time, it becomes very complex with earth, flowers, just so much going on.
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Bordeaux Offline (Rincon 38, Mpls, MN): Dark red color with 1-2 mm bricked meniscus. Decanted for 30 minutes, drank 2 2.5 oz pours over 2.5 hours. This was delightful, great nose with an ethereal perfume that literally blows up over an hour in glass, lavender, funk, damp earth, leather, pencil lead, cassis, raspberry, cinnamon, a touch savory. The fruit on both the nose and palate really emerges after the first hour in glass. The palate is feminine and medium bodied, smooth integrated tannins that have a ways to go, leather, mushroom, earth, spice, dried currant, dried berry, a touch of anise, mineral, and a medium plus to long finish. Very elegant, very impressive. This is in a perfect place right now. A 60-90 minute decant will nail it. This is good for 10 years plus easily. Tied for my WOTN.
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Incredibly fresh nose dominated by berries - raspberries, blue and black berries, black currants, supplanted by notes of cedar and pencil - I could smell it all evening. In the mouth it is smooth and fairly concentrated, The tannins are mostly resolved and what is left will keep the wine at this level for a few more years, but they complement the experience rather than detract. An excellent wine, especially for the vintage. Had the finish been longer this would have been a 94 score, but it is a 93 in any case.
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Matured Bordeaux nose of preserved plum, leather, soy sauce, and slight spice. Medium bodied, yet filling and juicy. Slightly spicy. Good balance, but still considerably tannic which seemed to have softened somewhat after hours of air. Still youthful but the tannins may be tough to crack.
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Classic austere tar on the nose; balanced and integrated; nicely matured; blackberry with a soft smooth rather opulent character; elegant and soft with still lively tannins; beautiful finish.
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I love Barton, but this really is an Englishman's Claret - cassis, a pinch of cedar, liquorice, and wood spice. With a couple hours worth of air, this picks up a lot of density on the nose but always stays austere on the palate. I love it, but I love lean, lithe wines (otherwise how could my handle be "englishman's claret"). Food wine. Start drinking it after it's been in the decanter for an hour. At peak.
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Deep red with hint of brick orange. A little spicy, with strawberry jam on the nose. Hibiscus, a little honey wax, black currant, mild earthiness. Some tannins.
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What a typical and terrific Leoville Barton. Deep nose of pencil lead and cassis, distinct black currants. Despite its age the tannins are still present, as this Chateaux seemingly never really wants you to consume their wine until it is 25-30 years at least, so here at 20 it still seems pretty young, just entering its drinking window. But the balance is great, fruit and acidity to match the tannins, barely any bricking at the rim. The finish is very long and very smooth. The actual wine will last for many, many years to come, although it's unlikely to get much better. The problem I always have with this style is that frequently the hardware (cork etc.) runs out way before the wine does, sometimes even when it has been kept in perfect conditions. Still, when it's on - like this bottle, where the cork was in perfect shape - it is really great value! Needless to say, the 94 vintage was far from stellar in general on the left bank; more kudos to LB for produce such a solid blend in those circumstances. I am very pleased to have bought a case just now (rather than 20 years ago).
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An elegant, classy and classic Bordeaux with earthy, leathery horse and stables combined with pure red berries. LB outperformed in this vintage.
Mature dark red color. Nose was more appealing (included licorice and toasted barrels) upon opening, but more nuanced and restrained at the restaurnt after its 3 hrs decant. The pure red berries that create the foundation of this wine's nose create drama. On the palate, this wine is fabulously balanced and soon reaching maturity. Acids are M++ and tannins M+. All components are well integrated with the red fruit shining, just like spot lights put light on a stage. This is an elegant, maturing LB with still plenty of life left. It sings with a rather small, yet precise, voice. If we had a case, we'd break it open next year and drink one btl a year. Wife: 91p At absolutely magical French restaurant L'Effervescence in Nishi-Azabu (Tokyo).
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Superb effort in a tough year; classic leather, rubber and cedar nose; austere earthy herbaceous blackberry; complex and structured with great texture; sweet and sour tannins; long, long finish with some light lingering sweet blackberry and slight licorice element.
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In a lineup that included a '45 Haut Brion and a '79 Cheval Blanc it was hard for this baby to stand out. It was a very nice wine though that is drinking well right now.
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High fill level and the cork was in very good condition. Perfumed but not explosively so. The wine is very harmonious, but a little bit on its way out, it seems. Slightly lacking intensity by now. There's still a good freshness to it that really came alive with food.
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Monday night Dinner (Bedrock Bar & Grill): Dark ruby red. Warm and beautiful bouquet of tobacco, cigar box interwoven with cassis, black cherry and capsicum. Medium bodied and elegant, classic left bank stuff with tobacco, cigar box, blackcurrant and black fruits. Richly mouthfeel with tart and lively acidity, balance and harmony and posses good finesse. Soft and fine tannins with long aftertaste. This is the standout wine for the night, even better than the bottle I brought to Jade Palace in August. Lovely.
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Drink it now if you have some. Classic left banker with dark blackberries and toasty oak. It has a woody alcohol finish but is drinking very well. I'm sure it has a few years left, but I can't see it improving beyond what it shows today.
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Nicely aged wine with most of the primary fruit gone but lovely secondary notes. Leather, earth, tobacco. Silky smooth and very popular tonight at dinner.
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Dark ruby red with bold brown rim, nice elegant and seducing nose, cigar box, earth, hints of spice an sweet gum. Classic aged bordeaux with cigar box, tobacco, cherry and blackcurrant on palate. Nice balance acidity with a long persistent finish and still intense tannins. Nice!
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Wednesday wine dinner with fellow HWZ and visitors from US (Jade Palace Restaurant): Opened for bottle breath since noon time but it wan't enough and further decanted for another hour before serving at the dinner. Dark ruby red with slight brick red rims, nice subtle elegant and complex nose, cigar box, tobacco, earth, mocha with hints of spice at the end. A very classic claret that is typical of the vintage and shed its weight along the aging process. Elegant, subtle and full of finesse, compliment by cigar box, tobacco, cherry and blackcurrant on palate. Nice balance acidity with a long persistent finish and smooth tannins. Surprising this is drinking very well now but it should continue to hold.
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The last bottle was quite a surprise, so carrying a certain degree of expectation on this one. Slight disappointment that this one exhibited characters more associated with the 1994 vintage - lean, under ripeness and loads of greens. Brick red in color, bouquet was predominately barnyard, rustic and soy, with only a hint of red fruit and smoke. Texture on the palate is still very LB like, nicely structured, with decent amount of soft, dry tannins. Though there's that austerity sense on the palate, muted cherry and tobacco notes, air time didn't add much.
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Took this to Ruth's Chris. The Chateau Leoville Barton is always great. This old vintage paired well with my filet. Dark fruits, strong tannins and a smooth long finish make this earthy wine exquisite.
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Again this was teamed up with a 1988 beside for comparison and to give us some perspective when going through a flight of 2003 Bdx to access aging potential relative to how the wines were showing at 10 years of age. This wine was much more deep red as opposed to the more purple 1988. The nose on this was much more awake and filled with plenty of red fruits like dark bing cherry, some red currants and logan berry. It also had the cedar tobacco notes and muddled earth. on the palate the fruit showed very well considering its age, typical of LB wines. earth was also present and what stuck out nicely was the bright acids that married well with soft mouth coating tannins. This really had a nice long finish that kept me adding a touch more to my glass. excellent.
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Drank the last of my 8 bottles last night and have just tasted it again this morning. It was fairly closed when I first opened it and although the colour was quite brick-red and I thought it might be past its best, on tasting it was superb and today even better. Just a classic, balanced, rich and round mature Bordeaux. Good length and a wine that needs decanting 24 hrs at least before drinking. Not a huge wine and I would have liked more nose, but very good old-style Bordeaux.
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Wine Regions of the World (Private Residence): Color was an intensely saturated full body red with a bouquet balanced ripe fresh fruit, sweet currant, blackberries. Entry was lively and refreshing with acid, tannins, and alcohol all in great harmony. Body was medium with plum, soft tannins, and a healthy dose of glycerin with a medium to long finish. My first experience with a Barton and I must say that I'm impressed with quality and finesse of what's in the bottle (especially a 19 year old bottle). These wines are in the classic style with perfect balance and the vintage quality just seems to dial up/down its intensity.
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Ruby red with just a touch of browning near the rim. This claret has still kept some youthful character in herself, with aromatics of soft red fruits, violet, forest floor and tobacco leaf. Silky on the palate, with the tannins just about noticeable, very finely integrated already. The wine added some weight with more air time, and revearled soothing bouquet of dried leather, cocoa powder, pencil shaving and hint of mushroom. Tannins gotten more tasty, and the wine has a nice acidity to keep it well balanced and fresh. Such a nice tasing experience.
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Earthy blackberry nose; complex with blackberry, cherry, raisen, licorice and sweet earthy notes and well integrated tannins throughout; elegant with beautiful balance although a bit reticent and semi-sour at times; finishes long with silky tannins.
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Rather youthful, showing dark cassis on the palate and softer chocolate notes. However, I think some very low TCA obscured the full potential here. Not entirely ruined by TCA, but compromised. With Randy.
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Initial rubber nose, later lighter; smooth and earthy; sweet soft light tannins; some licorice; balanced with good complexity; smooth semi-tart and long finish.
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Mid red in colour; just a touch of brick on the rim. Dark red cabernet fruit with touch of wood but not cedar yet. Very elegant on the palate with great structure. Decent finish.
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We have opened this wine 5 times since 2009- very consistent impression- a well made wine, but no wow - just a reasonably well made wine that falls a bit short even if left to breathe for a couple of hours
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Rich garnet color, just a bit brownish. Very nice Bordeaux nose of earth, plums, iron filings, allspice notes. Austere on the palate, not at all flabby or superannuated. Very firm acid backbone supports cedar and cooked black cherry notes. Finishes long, with excellent grip and low tannins. This is an oldish bottle but still lively. A bit austere perhaps, but completely worth drinking and even holding for awhile longer.
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Promising start, with aromas of spice and dirt after a few hours of decanting. Unfortunately, it never really went anywhere, despite being allowed to breathe for several hours. Maintained an astringent tannic backbone throughout, but the hoped for fruit flavors didn't materialize. As a result, this reminded trapped in the low end of the flavor register, with only muted sous bois notes. A disappointment after a strong showing from the overachieving 1994 Pichon Lalande (see my 8/27/12 note).
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Impressions from memory; no formal notes. A lovely showing, drinking wonderfully now with the fruit still fresh and bright, but augmented by layers of mature sous bois and cedary flavours. There's good depth and presence, but at the same time a lightness that makes it very refreshing after a few heavier young Bordeaux.
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- Garnet color. It's in total harmony with a full body. Smooth texture with a long finish - Wonderful, dark, full bodied, ready to drink. We had with tuna (pepper and soy). It went so well. Nice finish. Balanced.
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Opened up with a nose of game and violet rounded off with a bit of a leathery tint. Colour was dark crimson red/purple with flavours of tobacco, oak, limestone and a bit of a powdery finish. Not as interesting as i had hoped but drinking reasonably well right now.
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Ur-BDX. Surprisingly ripe and complete red fruit on top of fully mature tannins. Just a touch of green, with a persistent gamey/unami note. Very enjoyable - will age from here but unlikely to improve.
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33rd Austin Wine Salon - Bordeaux (Max's Underground): Tasted blind. Cassis, cured ham, violets and savory, almost iodine note. Quite nice, but somewhat unexciting. I guessed the bank correctly, but the appellation incorrectly.
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Dark in color. Black current, cedar, tobacco, spice and leather aromas. Full bodied with nice mid palate fullness. Great balance with integrated tannins on the finish. Drinking well.
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This is my second bottle. The last one was opened a year ago and I gave it 90 points. This time, it was a even better one. Just pulled and poured in a Portuguese restaurant. It was in dark garnet with a slight brick color rim. The initial nose was rather closed but opened up quite nicely in 30 mins, full of cherries. The palate matched nicely with lots of cherries, violet, chalk and a hint of licorice with smooth tannin. We finished it in about two hours, and it just got better and better. I really enjoyed it. I will definitely buy a few more bottles if I could find some.
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First bottle from a case in seemingly very good condition: fill high neck, cork looks good too with only a quarter or so soaked. 45 min decant. Dark garnet. Muted nose, lack of fruit makes this wine austere and astringent, and some dry tannins come to the surface. Also some cedar. Disappointing - sold the remaining 5 bottles.
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Beautiful, classic Saint-Julien, intensity and depth, perfect weight (12.5%), a very successful 1994 (a great bottle anyway), cedar, beautifully rounded, velvety tannins and minerals provide grip, excellent length. Great now - 2020.
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This is in a great place right now, with the fruit still fresh and youthful but framed by maturing cedar, graphite, herbal and floral elements. This isn't about ripeness or density, but rather conveys flavours with a finesse and lightness of touch I rarely find in modern Bordeaux. Fantastic, elegant claret that still has the fruit and structure to continue aging for some time.
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Garnet. Nose was a muted Bordeaux with some age-seasoned salt, some dried herbs, not much fruit present. Taste was also tertiary, no fruit in presence, just dried herbs, seasoned salt (with the actual salt). Acid mid-palate with no obvious tannins on the aftertaste/tongue. OK, not great.
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The nose is quite strong, with violets, tobacco, and some cough syrups?? the wine doesn't look any bit like a 17 yr old, deep violet in colour, but tannins are fading and wine is quite smooth on the palate. Medium length finish. Quite a pleasant treat.
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750, good fill, good cork. Mature disc, robe. Not a particularly distinctive nose; rather unassuming and anonymous. A disappointing Barton, but a bottle from the same source two years ago was notably better. Bottle variation at work, I think.
2.5-3/5
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Langoa v Leoville (Les Deux Salons, London): Dumb nose, more giving on the palate, fine and leafy, it hints at so much but ends up giving little - I think this may be the first 94 claret I've had
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Les Deux Bartons (Les Deux Salons): A flub of blackcurrant leaf but fairly tight on the nose. Similar on palate initially, still quite blackcurranty bit wig a nicely mineral quality through the mid-palate. Positive finish though no great length. Elegant and smooth. ***
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Dinner at home with my friend George and my wife Marilena. Popped and consumed after about 30 minutes. Muddy garnet with a brick hues. Attractive nose full of black cherries, cedar, charcoal, grandma room and rosemary. Layers of gentle oaky vanilla. On the palate is medium bodied, with high level of acidity, vibrant tannins and fruity character. Flavors of cherries, forest fruits, wood, truffles, cinnamon and oak. Long aftertaste. Ready to consume now or to keep for a decade. Just acceptable pair with a venison ragu.
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I managed to buy some Leoville Bartons of the mid 90s only this week so was quite curious how they were. Was very positively impressed by the 94; I decanted it for an hour or so, and it opened up beautifully; vanille, a hint of cinemon and lots of cassis. Think its a good time to drink this one - luckily I have more:-)
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Popped and poured into 2 375s. Medium brick red, transparent. Subdued nose of loam. Tastes of cassis with firm tannins. Medium finish. Not that complex. Solid, if not exciting. Better than the '94 Palmer we had last night.
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Couldn't decide whether to decant. Tasted right upon opening, and smelled mint & eucalyptus, as well as dark chocolate. Drank a glass w/o decanting, and decided to decant the rest to see if the "funk" smell might wear off. After decanting, a bit of the edge came off the smell & taste. It still had the eucalyptus aroma, and the taste is light red fruit. After an hour and a half or so in the decanter, the flavor kind of faded away. I think this might be best off without too much air, but still an enjoyable experience.
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Directly after opening smoky and cedary, depth and good fruit, classical, slightly dusty tannins; slightly austere on the palate, a touch of 1994-dryness but sufficient flesh, cedary length. After two hours more fruit, bay leaf, is clearly charging, a touch bloody; an hour after decanting showing very well, compleet and harmonious. Drink now - 2020.
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Great clarity to the eye and freshness to the fruit. Rippling of fruit and tannins on the tongue that provide a very sensual feel. Light at mid tongue, but length overall is excellent.
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Pre-Falltacular dinner at Fratello's. Plenty of fruit to balance the tannin. Clearly older flavors at work, but this is not on the downside yet. Bright and clean.
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Some 2008 and Other Bordeaux (Including 1994 Leovilles) (K&L Wines, San Francisco): Light center, orange rim. Appealing, subtle aromatics. Gentle feel with average acidity and some retained fruit. Finish is cut off by greener notes. While this is far better and has much more to it than its stable mate, still not a wine that excites the senses.
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had higher expectations from the winedoctor's tasting note. ruby red. faint/medium intensity nose: very herbal, tea, cedar, Lisa says carnations. some blackcurrant/raspberry. medium body, quite acid and tannins stil there. very long, pomegranate, cedar and liquorice sticks. would it get better?
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Wirkt direkt nach dem öffnen rustikal mit staubigem Holz und Stallnoten, hat sich aber nach 6 Stunden Belüftung prächtig entwickelt. Johannisbeere, Zedernholz, Tabak, leichte florale Noten und Pfeffer. Am Gaumen mit viel Kraft und gut strukturiertem, recht fleischigem Körper, immer noch jede Menge Säure und gut integriertes Tannin. Hat noch genug Leben für einige Jahre in sich.
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Wonderful nose of black fruits, spices, and leather which continue onto the palate, especially black raspberries, with nice acidity and tannins. This was at its best early in the evening, later it seemed to get thin and tart. A very enjoyable wine!
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Deeply colored, moderate + extraciton at rim which is reddish. On the nose lovely with a good core of crunchy cassis, raspberry... nice barrique spice and pencil shavings, cigar box, hint of earthy, funk aromas. On the palate the wine has high acidity, a firm midpalate, a very nice transition into a finish with moderate tannins that are of average ripeness and are very well integrated... low to moderate ETOH. Wine has nice balance, great length, intensity, and complexity. Certainly finesse in there, the texture is crisp and crunchy, classic expression of place. Drinking at or near its peak with no signs of fading... wonderful bottle of wine really.
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Pretty opaque black purple with the beginnings of bricking around the edges. Dense black currant, plum, pencil lead and tar on the nose. Flavors mirror the nose with dense tannin still hanging around, but it resolves with with some air. Bright acid as well. I like it, but I wonder if it will improve anymore with more time in the bottle. I say drink up woth a couple hour decant.
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Decanted an hour. Dark in color with a hint of bricking. Black current, cedar, tobacco, spice and leather aromas. Full bodied with nice mid palate fullness. Great balance with integrated tannins on the finish. Drinking well.
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Best soon after opening with traditional Bordeaux palate and nose. One hour later the tannins became more aggressive. This wine was better three years ago.
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Still quite dark in color with just a hint of bricking. Nose shows some earth, pencil shavings, and very pronounced black currant scents. Takes about an hour or two of decanting to really start coming together with a nice balance of acidity, medium weight and a lengthy finish. Fruit is still pretty vibrant and there is a light touch of the tannins on the finish. Matched very well with prime rib.
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Mature but not tired appearance; cedar, slightly dusty tannins supported by ripe fruit; dry and firm, rich tannins and ripe fruit, perfect weight and balance; good length. Understated, classic.
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deep ruby, nose is not as pronounced as I expected, bouquet comprises black fruits, leather, dark choco, wet leaves and touch of floral, full bodied, well-balanced palate with earthy, leather, coffee, dark choco, black currants and berries, nice tannin and fine acidity and spiciness, fairly long but not very complex finish, drink now
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Elegant, beautiful nose -- and then the wine was thin and forgettable; this was a gift, so not sure of the provenance, but based on this bottle I'd say drink up ASAP
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At this time tannins winning over fruit. My guess this wine is on the way down - not up. I've had too many off vintage bordeaux to have much optimism that this wine will get better. I will be drinking the rest sooner rather than later.
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Fill into the neck. Trichromatic appearance, but still very deep. On opening, a nose of tart cherries, cedar, tobacco and new oak. Drying tannin. Plummy, oaky in the mouth. One hour in, gave a bit more - earthier nose. Two hours in - Horsey! Barnyard notes. Very rustic. Three hours on - Less barnyard, iron, blood. Previous notes still apply, but thankfully that new oak blew off. At this stage, a very balanced and complete wine to me. Four hours on - Less powerful, very claretty iron kind of thing. Returned to the bottle and sucked the air out of the bit that was left. 24 hours later, a more complete wine - somewhat reminiscent of a more sedate version of a mix between how it showed hrs 3-4 last night. My inclination would be to hold any bottles for a few more years - the tannins did soften with air but it took a couple of hours and the fruit will certainly hold for another decade at the least. A wine built for aging. One of the really remarkable things about this wine was how fast it evolved in the (closed) decanter. A very different wine at 30 minute intervals. Took a while to hit its stride and would have been in the 3-3.5 range if assessed before 3 hours. I'd put my money on this becoming more interesting with more bottle age. In the end, a medium bodied wine lacking the panache of a great bottle - but certainly a very good one. Classic Bordeaux, if perhaps a bit angular at times. If you are going to drink this now, let it decant (closed) for 2.5/3 hours.
3.5-4/5
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last bottle was the best. surprised how long it took to open up. very classic nose of graphite and dark fruits with saddle and tons of cigar. with air, the palate opens up and becomes more youthful. take away for me is that you go with great producers in even 2nd-tier vintages and you wait long enough and they become what they should. really impressive.
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Superb layered nose opening fully after one hour in decanter. Dark hue rim. Good cedar fresh, not delicate. Silky tannins. Broad acidity. Length excellent but lost with time in decanter over 3 hours.
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Decanted 30 minutes. Nose is a bit off, possibly signifying the beginning of its descent. There are cherries on the nose, but also a bit of plastic, somewhere between new car smell and cough syrup. The palate is still strong, with cherry, raspberry, tobacco, leather and mint. Long finish. Time to drink up.
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double decanted, then drunk alongside the 96. Shows classic left bank characteristics, in a slightly more austere frame: cedar, pencil lead, dried black currant. very good, if slightly less generous and deep than the 96, but I enjoyed its elegant classicism very much.
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Drank with other distinguished Bordeaux (L'Eglise, Grand Mayne, Calon Segur, Mouton, Pontet Canet). Very smooth and fruity, though a little unidimensional.
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Decanted about an hour. Strong nose of raspberry permeated the glass. Plenty of leather, cherry and black fruit with some sour element. Nice finish. Not even remotely similar to the explosive spice nose that we encountered with our other wine, the Calon Segur 96.
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Dark colour.. Nose of pyrazene, blackberry, mint, bell pepper, euycalyptus Palate shows leather, pyrazene, ink, cherry, blackberry and tea Finish is medium with tobacco, leather I find this a touch simplistic and a bit green for me.....this is a 30 year wine........still not a lot of secondary characteristics.
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pre christmas dinner at k&b @ bainbridge good bordeaux. very enjoyable. decanted for 3 hours. tasted young and great cherry and cherry taste. needs LONG decanting! needs several more years of cellaring... :(
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Decanted two hours. Bright shine and fresh open cassis and cedar on the nose. The breadth of dark fruit is good, with sensual softish tannins. There is still enough acidity to keep this developing for some time yet. Very enjoyable.
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Much more classical. Reasonably ripe fruit, some greenness, completely resolved but not quite mature. More complete than the last bottle but no great shakes.
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Dinner at Cal Poly, all pre-1995 wines. Fruit still bright, no visible signs of aging. Wonderful secondary flavors that one associates with bdx. A joy to try over 3 hours.
Dark bright colour and dark fruit nose. This evolved over 2 hours. The palate was well spread but dark fruit dominated. Tannins were fine and the length was good. Overall the balance was llimited by the darkness of the fruit and the tanins though fine had bluntness.
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Unlike previous bottles, this was not an elegant yet concentrated classic claret. In fact it was remarkably lacking in character both shortly after opening and decanting, and after several hours to open up. Not tight or closed, just flat and flavourless. Possibly too old - not a great year after all. But much more likely subtly corked, almost all aromas and flavours leeched out.
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With dinner at Marche Moderne. First sip, very tannic and tight. But over about 3 hours showed better and better. Still lots of dried/ripe fruit and good tannic structure. Classic bdx nose. There is a line of acidity running through this that I really liked, though some who might not like tart cherry could be put off. 4.0++ Excellent fill on this. Have two more.
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Tasted from the last third of JD's bottle. Mature notes of cigar tobacco, ash, and cassis. Smooth on the palate, and certainly ready to drink, but finishes with a bit of tart cherry fruit. The finish is moderate but does not leave an impression. As some here on CT indicate, it tends to taper off sooner than one would like. 88-89 points.
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Absolutely terrific nose. Lots of fruit, but mostly resolved. Solid structure. Good now and over the next 5 years easy. Just a tad short on the finish, but otherwise very classic and delicious. Nose is worth it alone.
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Wonderful aroma on this wine; i could just smell it for an entire meal. Solid cedar box and cassis with some added dark fruit, mint and licorice in the background. Well integrated; decanted for an hour and half and then let sit over night. Because a bit dull on the finish on the second day otherwise would have scored 93.
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Popped and poured. Prior bottle was corked, this one is fine. Classic ruby color with just a little bricking. Nose shows leather, cedar and some eucaplytus, with a little red fruit sneaking through. On the palate, sour cherries and currents, tobacco, with a spicy kick on the midpalate into the finish. Tannins are soft, but hang in there on the barely medium finish. This is a nice wine drinking well - no reason to wait, shows a nice attack and solid midpalate, with the finish just a bit weak. 5+12+16+7.
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As suspected the first bottle I had of this must not have been a good example. This time round it is showing much nicer. Decanted for 1 hr. The color is ruby with a little slight bricking around the edge. Nice clean nose of red fruit, leather, mineral and cedar. The palate shows nice cassis, cherry, cedar and some nice spice. The tannins are just about fully integrated at this point. The long finish shows nice mineral notes but is a slight bit drying. I get no bitter notes like I found in the last bottle. This is an lighter style easy drinking LB.
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Decided based on recent disappointing Pichon Baron experience that the '94 Bordeaux need to be consumed! This had far more life in it than the Baron, with a good leather and red fruit nose, less faded colour (although still notable brick colour around the rim) and half decent length, but still tannic a fairly short finish for this wine (tasted the '97 later which was a far more elegant, structured classic Leoville Barton - rated 91). Glad most of my 1994's are gone.
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Purchased from West Palm. High shoulder fill. Cork was soaked to the top....? storage condition. Decanted for 2 hrs. Color is dark Ruby with the slightest of bricking on edge. Nose of St. Julien mineral, red fruit, cedar, leather and shoe polish. Palate of cassis, cedar, tobacco and red berries, medium bodied with a bitter edge to it. There are firm bitter tannins present and the finish is medium . The wine seems flat...possibly not the best bottle to judge it by. This is an 87 but bottle may is suspect so not going to score.
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Surprisingly easy to drink with little tannin left. Some ripe fruit but a giant hole in the mid palate and quite short. I would never have guessed this to be Leoville Barton of any vintage.
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An off bottle? Tight, Austere, very tannic at first. On e hour later, tannins declined, but not very much. Spice box, leather and pepper. Dark fruit of cassis and current. Light during mid-body. Short finish and a little underwhelming.
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Pleasantly surprised. Entering a nice window, some secondaries over plummy dark fruit. Still a more severe structure, which it may never overcome completely, but not off-putting.
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Drank 18-Oct-2003 Far too fruity for my interest. B- was pleased with the assertiveness on the mid-palate. (I’m sure that I would have a different opinion of the wine with my current tastes and preferences in 2007. I believe my impressions were influenced by the 1953 Lafite I drank with B- 4 days prior to drinking this wine)
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Ruby/purple color, with some brown hues at the edges.An impressive nose of red fruits, leather and smoke. Very powerful on the palate, full-bodied with sweet tannins and layers of cherry jam, oaky vanilla and spices.Long - long finish, more than 30 sec. A great St Julien to drink absolutely. Good ageing potential for at least a decade.
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Smoothe lush fruity wine with the tannins and acids in the background letting the lovely flavours and full fruit dominate. Drinking very, very well right now.
Even better on day 2. The fruit was rounder, the perfumes more intense and complex. Day two I would rate this a point or two higher than the rating below which was what I gave it on day one.
50+5+11+16+8=90
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Still quite young, but this is starting to come together. Balanced, with none of the green, woody notes that I picked up in the last bottle. This should improve, and age quite well. I would hold off on this wine for several more years.
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Leoville Barton Vertical; 12/4/2006-12/5/2006 (Spencer's): Still seemed quite youthful...not giving much on the nose, but I got cedar, black fruits, and dark chocolate. Good depth of flavor and textural richness when compared with the '93. Tannins starting to mellow, but still there in spades.
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Our first of three bottles purchased. Deeper red colour than I would have expected from this vintage. Very nice Bordeaux nose, which proved to promise better than the wine delivered. In the mouth - a touch oaky - not as concentrated as other vintages of Leoville Barton. Very nice but not great. For those into scores - say high 80's not low 90's. We've had other wines from this vintage - Haut Brion and Cheval Blanc - the Barton is not quite as good as these. Drink up!
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Nice wine with good fruit, balance and a nice firm nose to it. Have had since release and just opened for the first time. It is still a very young wine and needs another 3-4 years before it starts to show well I believe. Lots of firm tannin which will mellow over time.
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The Leoville aromas were slightly more restrained, a little more reminiscent of cedar, and the palate was slightly better structured than the Wynns [86 John Riddoch], but perhaps more bony and angular. The two wines did a fascinating job of demonstrating two sides of the same varietal coin (although how much merlot is in the St Julien, I wonder?). 1994 in Bordeaux seems to be one of those neither-one-thing-nor-the-other vintages, and I suspect that for many of the wines there’s nowhere much left to go, so it was pleasing that this was as attractive as it was.
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Lovely garnet, just starting to mature Bordeaux color. Fabulous nose – 19+! Cassis, stones and just a hint of herbs – to me this is classic left bank Bordeaux smells. Just a hint of vanilla frames these elegant aromatics. Medium weight, with excellent richness. The palate is much more reserved than the nose – still tight though hinting at excellence – though I don’t think this will ever be outstanding. Wish I had more – this is a wine to begin drinking in 2010. (18)
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San Francisco Bay Area Leoville Barton Vertical (Moraga): Dark ruby red, this was one of the surprises of the evening. Surprisingly tannic, concentrated, and extracted on the palate, this wine showed a somewhat evolved but more subdued nose than the 1996 or 1990 on either side. Similar to the 1996 in the underlying level of extraction in the wine, still the Chateau seems to have carried it off quite well here. Most tasters thought this was an 89-90 point wine, but I would consider more in the range of a 91 pointer for the impressive combination of intense flavor, suave tannins, and St. Julien typicity it delivers. Any doubts about the quality of this wine are erased by the long finish it delivers.
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Dinner and tasting at Traci's; 12/1/2005-12/6/2005 (San Francisco): Plum dfruit the wine drank well. Some pencil lead with tannins that are well integrated into the wine. The finish is rather short though and after being with the wine for 20 minutes it began drying up and showed a touch green.
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Tasted multiple occasions. Wonderfully balanced, noble wine, great pleasure to drink. Nose classic St Julien - rich fruit, pencils, nothing out of place. Acidity good, tannins still a bit hard, but good mouthfeel and balance. Fortunately, there are no excessively fruity flavours that would be very out of place in a wine of structure such as this - a wine to think about and to understand its complexity, rather than a fruitcake. A finish that can only be described as dignified. One of the best 1994s!
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A birthday wine for me. Great purple color, clear, with ever so faint bricking on the edges of the Vinums. Nose is absolutely wonderful. Without being able to describe all of the complexity, you know how great Bordeaux smells? Well this smelled like great Bordeaux. I can't express how nice a nose this is. The surprising thing is that cherry is one of the first scents that comes to mind. I know, I know, this is Bordeaux. But that is what I get. But I pick up currant and a ton of "earthiness" too. Perhaps some cedar. The tannins are "dusty" to me, although the acid, tannin and fruit seem to be in check (balanced). The disappointement here is that the fruit appears to be a tad muted (I don't dectect any TCA). I love this wine, but wish it had just a tad more fruit. However, I give a solid 91 points because this stuff was so good.
Night two: some interesting olive notes appear. Fruit has not increased, but perhaps more complexity?? Leather, pencil lead?? Still 91.
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Dark red in the glass. Completely closed on the nose, however a faint scent of wet bricks appeared with air. Somewhat thin and lean in the mouth with a hard flavour profile. Lacking roundness and sweetness, and dominated by harsh and dry tannins with a chalky dry finsh. Not so nice.
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First Tuesday Group - My House: 1994 Cabernet/Bordeaux Horizontal. This wine was also much better the next day. My ninth place, and the group's eighth place, wine. The three Bordeaux in this tasting just didn't match up favorably with the West Coast wines. They came across as hard, astringent, and somewhat devoid of fruit. The way it improved in bottle cheered me up somewhat though, since I have 11 bottles left of this. Perhaps it will be more giving in 5 years.
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Tasted unblinded at the Vintage Wines, Ltd. wine bar. Bright disc. Deep ruby/garnet robe with red rim. Clean nose, showing moderately intense aromas of currants, cherry, meat and brier. Full-bodied on the palate and relatively high in acid, with generous, somewhat coarse tannins and similar flavors as for the nose. Medium, dry finish. The fruit is there for this wine to improve, but the coarse character of the tannins is definitely the plague of the vintage.
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Rather classic nose of currants, with very deep colour, but a bit opaque. Nice depth, with classic Bdx balance and flavours. Just a hint of bitterness/stems. Very good, especially for weak vintage. About fullyt mature, I’d say.
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Bright disc. Opaque ruby with red rim. Clean nose, showing moderately-intense currants, cherry, pencil shavings and oak. Full-bodied on the palate, with massive, fairly well-integrated tannins. High acidity. Not yet complex. Medium, somewhat hot finish. Needs time.
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Tasted at Vintage Wines, Ltd. tasting bar. Deep ruby, red rim. Intense black cherry, cherry and currants on nose and palate. Medium body, medium oak. Long, supple finish. Excellent wine, especially for this vintage. Nice now, but will definitely improve
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4/20/2024 - bpaq Likes this wine: 92 Points
Amazing bottle. Part of a 3 bottle vertical of Leoville Barton.
Rough on the nose upon opening, cork was not in the best condition but not completely ruined. After decanting for a while, the wine opened up and became much more enjoyable. Some sediment, but that is to be expected due to age.
Bold and acidic, with notes of leather, oak, and dark fruits. Nice, lighter color to it. After letting it breath, this was an amazing drink, and excellent to compare with the other two vintages. The weakest of the 3, but if you only gave me this bottle I would have given it nothing but praise. Hopefully I can get another in better condition.
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4/14/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still fresh after 30 years! Medium to dark color, fruity nose. No decant. When the cork was out, a smell of ripe fruits, cherry, blackberry and leather, tobacco filled the environment. Very balanced and silky finish. Will definitely hold a couple of more years.
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3/9/2024 - atbarbar Likes this wine: 92 Points
A classy fully mature St. Julien from a regular bottle in a tasting with the 1994 and 1995, side-by-side. Very enticing nose of gravel, graphite, cherries and just a bit of flowers and italian leather. With that I mean very elegant leather, restrained not tending to horse or manure. Elegance is the trademark of this wine. It has very balanced acidity on the palate supporting its structure. Smooth tannins I think reveal that this wine is ready to go. I think it is at its peak. Both the 1994 and 1995 showed considerably younger. Both of them appeared not to be as elegant as the 89. The 1994 had more forward fruit, a nose of more intense leather and gravel, less cedar elegance. A very drinkable wine that can nonetheless be in the bottle for a bit longer. the 1995 appeared the less compelling of the 3, with some imbalance between its somewhat alcoholic fruit and its acidity living on two separate layers and not enough body to support either. It is a pleasant wine but somewhat (at this point) inferior to the other two. I look forward to compare again some of this wines.
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3/5/2024 - Araldinho Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep garnet.
Aromas of tobacco, leather ceder, cassis, blackberry jam, cloves, balsamico and forest floor.
Finely grained grippy tannins. Blackcurrant acids and dark chocolate bitterness.
Medium/full body
Palate of plum jam, cassis, wood fire, cedar, cinnamon, cardamom and bay leaf.
A vital, rather big and complex Medoc with typical dark fruit, wonderful minerality and mouth-watering acidity and a beautiful spicy finish. Drink within 10-12 years.
Tasted alongside Jaboulet, Chapelle, 1989 and the matched wine is more evolved, generous and jammier. The present wine is perfectly balanced and serious.
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2/10/2024 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Pristine bottle, tenth from a full case purchased at auction in 2010. At 30 years of age, this is now fully mature. Classical nose, cedar and gravel, floral, tobacco and red berries; crisp Cabernet on the palate, light bodied, gently leafy, clear and transparent style, sandy tannins; very good resonance and length.
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2/7/2024 - Gregmonroe wrote:
WWC - NJH1122 (Fort Worth Club): Tasted blind - My top wine of the tasting. Amazing nose of medicinal cherry - stronger on the cherry than the menthol. Complex on the palate, with red fruit, olive, slight pepper, mushroom, earth. Just delicious. Called a 20 year old left bank.
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1/19/2024 - Carson.McEvoy wrote: 91 Points
Challenging at the start, with bland notes and hints of burnt wood on both the nose and palate. After two hours, the wine finally began to shine, revealing soft cherries, leather, and rather robust tannins. It demands patience and care to fully unfold its potential. The nose transformed pleasantly after a couple of hours, though it seemed slightly past its prime.
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10/16/2023 - galewskj wrote: 93 Points
Left bank bordeaux 2008 and older (BLVD): A fairly classic Barton profile, tobacco, cedar, forest floor, violets.
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10/15/2023 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Bordeaux 2008 and Older (BLVD Kitchen & Bar, Wayzata, MN): Dark red plus color. 30 minute double decant. Drank a glass over 90 minutes plus. Leather, funk, dark fruits, and lots of pretty pencil notes. In a nice place. 92+pts.
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10/15/2023 - chablis28 wrote: 94 Points
Wine Group Left Bank ( '08 & back) diner. Kevin's btl and quite enjoyable if not quite as interesting and balanced as Jason's '90. None the less, happy to drink any & all aged Leoville Bartons. Perhaps my all-round favorite BDX producer factoring in the huge value it always present. Sure, if money is no object my top BDX producer is La Miss but I chock on the cost :).
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9/3/2023 - chatters wrote:
Gently decanted and served with rack of lamb. This was pretty much as per my tasting in June. The oxidised note more predominant on the palate but still slightly sour, juicy, fleshy, with time and air brambly fruit joins the red hued fruits, tannins are less obvious with food. Nice
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8/13/2023 - A L P Likes this wine:
Earthy, dark berry aroma. Soft tannins, fruit, still bright on the palate. Lovely old Bordeaux.
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8/6/2023 - bacchus of knockholt Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bought this in a mixed case of of red wines at a general auction for a great price. Ruby with pronounced bricking. The nose is sooooo inviting with aromas blackberry and little blackcurrant and a bouquet of flowers. The palate has lots of flavour, medium bodied with black fruits, cedar, pencil lead and with warmth too, despite its modest 12.5%. Still showing well after nearly 30 years.
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7/24/2023 - Tao wrote: 89 Points
Beautiful colour in translucent ruby rouge, strong nose of leathery, autumny fruits, quite loose and flabby on the palate.
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6/30/2023 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - Bordeaux (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. A little caramel, earth, umami, beef extract, leather, brambles, a little yeast extract - sliding to fully tertiary on the nose. It's a little sour on the palate, with a little red hued fruit before the more savoury notes rush in, tannins are grainy, slightly coarse and persistent, probably another drink up on this tasting.
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6/18/2023 - Dave64 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Jammy red fruit on the nose
Tight tannins to begin with
Opened up throughout our meal, with the tannins becoming more balanced and was a good accompaniment to a nice sirloin steak
Oaky black fruit came through
I'm sure that this one still has some more mileage in the tank!
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5/23/2023 - Guido L. wrote: 92 Points
Very good, especially considering the vintage. Black cherry, black currants, tobacco. Tannins in good balance. Drank it over 3 days and it almost did not decline. The wine will easily last another 5-10 years.
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5/12/2023 - asparagus Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good for the vintage. Probably slighly past its peak, but still very enjoyable. Tannins were mostly resolved but the fruit was still going strong.
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2/5/2023 - The Wine Monkeys wrote: 89 Points
Some mild fruit on the nose, a touch of tar and some earth. The tannins are still very present and grippy. Bright front end acidity accompanied by some tartness. We liked this wine but it seemed tight and unwilling to completely reveal itself. Drinking young imho but not sure what another decade will offer.
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1/23/2023 - JamF Likes this wine: 90 Points
Famous for being tough, but this one has softened a bit over the years. A classic Bordeaux with added dimensions. Had it over a Chinese dinner with many strong flavoured dishes. Will try the other vintages in a few years time as I'd expect they are even tougher.
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1/1/2023 - galewskj wrote: 93 Points
2022 New Years Eve: Double decanted, drank a small glass about 5 hours later. Expressive, funky bordeaux nose. The palate is slightly less interesting, perhaps a bit vegetal. But all-around a great aged bordeaux that drank very well and is consistent with this producer. 93-94.
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12/31/2022 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
New Years Eve Celebration (Rocknroller's (Kevin & Vicki's Place)): Very dark red color. Double decanted and poured 5 hours later. Drank a glass over 90 minutes. This was showing well, big tobacco notes with more tobacco leaf, saddle leather abounds, more subtle dark fruits, as it opens there is a nice perfumed quality with violets and crushed blackberries. Very good, no danger here. 93+pts.
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12/25/2022 - Realityrichard Likes this wine: 91 Points
Im direkten Vergleich mit einem 2005er Barton: etwas stumpf, das Alter überdeckt bereits viele Primäraromen. Mir hat der 2005er besser gefallen, der durchaus auch noch gute Jahre vor sich hat. Das sehe ich beim 1994er nicht, im Gegenteil. Ich denke er hat seine beste Zeit bereits hinter sich. Drink up.
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12/4/2022 - A L P Likes this wine:
This time, very different. Nicely round after 1 hour decant. Violets in the nose. Austere on the pallet with some floral notes. Complex. Not gone yet. Also very nice at 12.5 ABV.
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3/12/2022 - A L P wrote:
Perhaps it was my mouth, but this wine seemed tart. I was disappointed, as it didn't change (without food) for at least two hours. Improved with cheese.
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3/8/2022 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - Leoville Barton; 3/8/2022-3/15/2022 (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Brambly fruit, very slightly oxidative notes, sweet spice but with a little peppery prickle, meaty/umami underpin and a touch of pyrazine. With agitation it shows dusty blackcurrant and slight metallic notes. Very slight sourly juicy…the fruit and tertiary characteristics go hand in hand here, a little grainy tannic grip, long. Begs beef or, better still, lamb stew (shanks?). Lovely
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2/8/2022 - platpeeps Likes this wine: 94 Points
70 CS/ 20 Mer/ 10 CF
Initially firm and austere but then opens up to reveal notes of cedar and black fruits seasoned with spice and pepper. It’s savoury with great structure and balance, and yet the fruit still lingers. A very fine wine indeed. CHP 94 pts
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12/26/2021 - dankgummy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Exceeded my expectations. No need to really decant, can evolve in glass. Nice tobacco taste at the start that quickly fades away and your left with a fantastic Bordeaux nose and evolved tannins.
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9/5/2021 - vindictive wrote:
Classic St. Julien - quite attractive upon opening, excellent with steak after 30 minutes. I suppose this would be better with a longer decant, but we wanted a classic Bordeaux and did not have time (or patience) to wait. Seems fully ready now.
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8/24/2021 - Collector1855 wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful mature Medoc nose here with forest floor, dark fruit, some leather and farmyard. The palate remains masculine, despite the fact that the tannins are now mostly dissolved. The 1994 vintage was really harsh when young, but now, nearly 30 years later, you have an ideal companion for a steak.
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8/14/2021 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Damp basement; blackberry and blueberry; rich fruit; sweet and balanced; smooth long finish.
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8/1/2021 - houstonjeff@hotmail.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great pairing with wagyu beef.
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7/3/2021 - Hanibal Likes this wine: 94 Points
Superb bordeaux. Strong on pencil shavings and leather with still some fruit left. On plateau for a still few years but why wait anymore.
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3/20/2021 - winoma Likes this wine: 93 Points
In a perfect spot - beautifully integrated and balanced. Lovely fruit. Glad I have more bottles!
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2/13/2021 - houstonjeff@hotmail.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking very well right now. French oak, dark fruit (plums and blackberries), cedar, tobacco, musty and dark chocolate.
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1/23/2021 - mariow wrote: 91 Points
vivid red; nose of berries and citrus; initially quite green on the palate, after one hour decant quite smooth, well integrated with good fruit; medium finish, drinks well now
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12/21/2020 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - Leoville Barton and new arrivals (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas are dusty, chalky with liquorice and a little rotten meat quality supported by brambles, Ribena and sweet spice, with time wet stone, leather, wet hay, farmyard and slight blood. In the mouth the wine has medium plus intensity acidity, wetly fruit black and red currant fruit, leather, earth, plentiful chalky tannins dry out the palate a little. Long. Nice.
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12/12/2020 - heyjon Likes this wine: 94 Points
Brooding and stately, earthy nose of dark fruit, potting soil, ash, cigar box, silhouetted vanilla extract and chocolate, perfectly balanced palate of stewed plum and black currant sauce with secondary notes of suede leather, cinnamon, white pepper, tarragon and a whisper of nutmeg, quite firm, powdery tannins, very lengthy, lingering finish. Perfect with seared duck breast, port and grape au jus, roasted fall vegetables and whipped sweet potatoes.
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7/15/2020 - WineAggregate Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful balance, leather and spice and forest, still holding strong.
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5/16/2020 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 93 Points
Almost identical to a bottle consumed about two years ago. Opened for an hour and then decanted for one and a half hours. In a great drink window. This wine should last for a good while, but I do not see it improving. No reason to let it sit there......have a bottle.
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5/13/2020 - short and confused wrote: 94 Points
Dark red. No bricking. Savory black fruits, olives, mint, tobacco and chalk. There is some still fresh fleshy fruit in the mouth with resolving tannins and good acidity give it a polished rounded mouth feel. Opened at cellar temp and enjoyed over 3 days. Not what I was expecting from 1994!
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5/12/2020 - tbabes wrote: 94 Points
Last bottle from a brilliant auction purchase of mixed case 94 Bordeaux; all have been stunning! Popped and poured, fill was into neck and cork pristine. Medium garnet, with notes of plums, earth, sautéed mushrooms, roasted herbs. Medium bodied, with a silky texture, great depth and balance, good delineation and a long savory finish.
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5/12/2020 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose of black berry, black cherry, currants, cigar box, forest floor, and roasted meat, on the palate, medium/big body, very tasty, mouth filling fruit, usually Barton is big and brash fo me but this is unusually elegant and refined, the 26 years of cellar time helped here, long, lovely finish and Bordeaux aftertaste. Photo uploaded.
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4/25/2020 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Pristine bottle, ninth from a case purchased at auction in 2010. Mature but lively appearance; characteristic and aromatic nose of leather and tobacco, cedar and spices, gravel and red berries, leafy Cabernet, hint of coffee; relatively slender palate but vibrant and beautifully balanced, the crisp and juicy Cabernet fruit is beautifully pure and precise, perfect weight (12.5% ABV) and the minerally energy is exemplary; tea-like finish, leaves the palate dry but perfumed. A fine 1994, very digestible, what classic Claret is all about.
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4/5/2020 - DUNCANSWI Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still drinking very well. Muted tones of leather and tobacco wrapped in subtle black berry. Loved it
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3/13/2020 - amateur62 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Had this before Angélus and Lafite Rothschild from the same vintage, all wines were double decanted 12 hours before dinner.
Very classical Médoc. Intense tertiary nose (cigar box and forest floor) with a hint of black currant and liquorice, on the palate fresh full and smooth with a long and very savoury finish. Great and at its peak now but there is no hurry for drinking the last bottles, there is enough structure for another 10 years.
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2/15/2020 - bubucap Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Maynbe an off bottle, very barnyard that Blew off After some time, but it never got going and stayed muted over a couple of hours; no cedar, no graphite notes, no fruits; boring on the palate; short finish; disappointing even given the vintage;
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2/4/2020 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot wrote: 92 Points
Here’s a vintage that gets no respect. 1994! This is still drinking great 26 years on. Lots of cooked dark fruit, mostly blackberries. Leather, tobacco, licorice, forest floor. I went between thinking it was at peak and thinking it could go longer.
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1/15/2020 - tbabes wrote: 94 Points
The fill was into the neck and the cork was pristine; opened an hour before dinner, no decant. Another fantastic showing for the '94 Leoville Barton, with notes of dried plums, cigar box, and grilled meats. Good structure, very savory and flavorful, with good depth and a long finish.
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1/11/2020 - Seb Frefranc Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very solid Saint-Julien. Tertiary. Residual fruit rather in background. Still needs some air to open up.
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1/3/2020 - tbabes wrote: 94 Points
Opened, but no decant, an hour before service; the fill was into the neck and the cork was pristine. Deep garnet with a hint of bricking. Notes of cedar black fruits, roasted fennel, black truffle, and Forrest floor. Medium bodied, with a surprisingly velvety texture, great depth, and a long and savory finish. Exceptional, particularly for the vintage!
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12/11/2019 - chatters wrote:
From Coravin. leather, backed blackcurrant with a little raisin, earth, cedar, cigar box, a little sweet spice, autumn leaves, aniseed. Ooh, savoury, tomato leaf, quite bitter, meaty medium plus intensity tannins, fruit quite dried out. Meh.
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11/29/2019 - BHRH wrote:
sadly - corked!
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6/30/2019 - chatters wrote:
After a 40 minute decant the nose shows cedar, sweet spice, pyrazine and blackcurrant with leather. In the mouth it is slightly sour wild blackcurrant fruit, leather and a wonderfully grippy mid palate that proves just a touch unripe but not problematically so. medium plus length finish. Nice.
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5/19/2019 - englishman's claret wrote: 91 Points
Lots of wood on the nose, both oak and cedar, accented by loamy notes. With time in the decanter, cassis comes to the fore - but no doubt the fruit has mellowed over the decade I've been drinking this. Austere, elegant, and intense pencil-focused palate.
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4/28/2019 - RockinCabs wrote: 91 Points
Nose: Beautiful Cherry, Blackberry and Thyme with leather and cedar notes. Palate: Well resolved with excellent dark red fruit, but the palate does show the vintage getting a bit lean at times. Good herb, licorice, spice, and cedar notes. Finish: Quite strong and hangs in with a good dose of black fruit and biting acidity.
91+ Having had the 94 LLC recently this was nearly as good. Well made wine that is great for the dinner table as others have noted. At current prices chase the 1995 and 1996 for just a bit more money.
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4/14/2019 - Ara Kafafian wrote: 90 Points
The fruit has disappeared in this tannic monster. Mushrooms, underbrush, tomato vines and green peppers dominate at this point. Although it will hold for another 10 years, there is no benefit in doing so. Drink up, the 94’s are drying out.
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3/3/2019 - tbabes wrote: 93 Points
From a pristine bottle; the fill was into the neck and the cork was sound. Slow ox for an hour, then consumed over the course of the evening. A dark ruby core with some garnet at the rim. A classic bouquet, offering up notes of ripe red fruits, sois bous, earth, and roasted game bird, with hints of black truffle. Medium bodied, with great focus, depth, and grip; an alluring savory element on the mid palate, and a long a classic finish. A wonderful wine that nicely complemented the duck breast; this is not a “tasting” wine, but a classic Bordeaux that needs to be enjoyed over a meal. I thought this performed slightly better than the 94 Pontet Canet that we had earlier in the week.
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2/10/2019 - Kris G wrote: 90 Points
spicy, pepper, minerals, red fruits, a sweet touch, the tannins are well integrated, juicy, not bad considering the vintage
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2/9/2019 - rube237 wrote: 91 Points
Fine nose, underbrush, violets, hint of cassis. Fairly youthful, tannins have smoothed out, enjoyable.
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1/27/2019 - PB63 wrote: 99 Points
Excellent. Herbal up front. Smooth and easy.
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12/29/2018 - Zorg wrote:
Coravin. 90p.
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12/29/2018 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun with Mats & Fredrik part two (Kennards, Waterloo): From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas of leather, a little black cherry, crushed chalk with a smidge of damp cellar and pyrazine. The palate is a little tartly juicy with muted slightly unripe black fruits with, oddly , a little sweet peach.
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12/6/2018 - kwarning8@gmail.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Sat next to Lilian Barton Sartorius at the Chicago Wine Company's 2016 Bordeaux tasting and asked her if my 1994 magnums would be drinking well now. She said of course. Tried a glass using my Coravin and was happy to agree with her. Still dark in color with dried fruit nose and taste and some tannins that mellowed after about 15 minutes.
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10/10/2018 - graemeg wrote:
"2019" Sydney International Wine Show - stewarding notes; 10/7/2018-10/12/2018 (Blue Mountains, NSW): {cork, 12.5%} (Me) Plenty classical ; cedar, currants, some tobacco. Medium-bodied, all gentle grey tannins and medium acid. Soft currant fruit, fully mature. Gentle and lovely. Medium length; ready to drink. Good considering the vintage, not life-changing by any means though.
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10/5/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Quite nice, especially considering the vintage, the fruit is fresh with a bright leaning. The nose with its tobacco, forest leaf and cigar box character is even better than what you find on the palate. With an hour in the decanter, this is fully ready to go.
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9/8/2018 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Light with earth and blackberry; lean fruit and tannins; smooth and elegant and nice finish.
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5/16/2018 - paulst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Initially manura nose with nice blackberry; over time it flattened; complex with light tannins and earth.
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4/8/2018 - englishmen’s claret Likes this wine: 91 Points
April Parliament: Commanderie de Bordeaux Boston
A fantastic Leoville Barton from what is considered an overall terrible vintage year. 1994 was tough because the of the late rains. Perhaps the St. Julian gravel saved this wine but it is a sleeper! 91, 92, 93 where such horrible vintages that the market was "thirsty" for a great vintage and overbought the 94s. So it is hard to justify the costs at times. The fact that this was served next to the 1989 didn't do it any favors- but this wine speaks to brilliance of great terroir!!
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4/1/2018 - vindictive wrote:
Excellent. Classic St. Julien Still young, but perfect with lamb after a 2 hour decant (it needs it). It will last, but in a good place now (with proper breathing).
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3/18/2018 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine is in a great drink window right now......and deserves a higher rating that the Pro reviewers have given it. Tasting notes I have from about 2012 say the wine was still stiff and hard then. That is no longer the case. We compared this one to the 2010 at a dinner party. It was very easy to taste that they came from the same Chateau. Also, the 2010 was very approachable for its age. The 1994 was decanted for only 1+ hours, and that seemed adequate. The 2010 was decanted for about 4 hours.
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3/10/2018 - skurtz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasted at WINO in New Orleans. Classic mature Bdx, leather tobacco nose, ample red fruit, oak, mineral and tannins on the palate. Nice finish.
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3/3/2018 - ucbeau Likes this wine:
Drank beautifully, but surprisingly young! Big fruit and chewy tannins, some smoky campfire, nice acidity. I bet this has another 7-10 years.
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2/7/2018 - winesnout wrote: 92 Points
Medium body, more red than black berries, plums, smoke, tobacco, cedar, beef broth and spices. Well balanced and with good length. Still in perfect condition but would drink it up through 2022.
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1/21/2018 - Gunakadeit Likes this wine: 89 Points
Heavy bricking. Fruit is almost gone. Very lean with smooth tannins. Still enjoyable to drink if you like tobacco and leather.
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1/13/2018 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Graham/Barton tasting-cum-lunch (Restaurant Bak, Amsterdam, NL): Lovely aromas of beef stew and flowers, energetic and fresh and transparent, transcends its vintage, juicy tannins, complete finish, good length. A very good bottle.
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12/2/2017 - M.Y. Chong wrote: 90 Points
Slight disappointment for me although half expected it to be like this. All the fruit is gone but what I found lacking was the nose it didn't smell enticing enough. Very balanced wine with good acidity. Still looks very young with just a little sign of bricking at the edges. Probably should drink up now.
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10/27/2017 - Tsliwinski Likes this wine: 93 Points
Surprisingly youthful. Has game and tar and finishes with present tannins. It could well age a while. Decanted for three hours and poured to a Bordeaux-meister who loved it.
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8/30/2017 - Quiet Lion wrote: 91 Points
I gave this a two-hour decant after reading previous notes, but it was best in the first hour after that, then went through a confused phase and emerged balanced but faded. An enjoyable drink.
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7/2/2017 - MuckSo Likes this wine: 92 Points
This 1994 Léoville Barton has been nothing short of amazing! A smoky nose with anise and blackcurrant, on the palate even more red fruit with loads of leather, tobacco, and cigar box with a long and tasty finish.
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6/20/2017 - WineAggregate Likes this wine: 92 Points
Surprisingly tasty. Improved over the course of 2-3 hours significantly. Basic elements included earth, farmyard, mild flower petal. Well-developed and nicely balanced. Unobtrusive tannins. Totally solid mature Bordeaux.
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6/4/2017 - ccn wrote: 91 Points
Soft, pretty, light. Red fruit / berry. No fireworks but elegant
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5/8/2017 - DugyDog Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking way younger than it's age -- color still dark red with no bricking. Very sweet, smooth tannins, medium body and medium finish. Lacks middle weight and therefore wouldn't stand up to hearty food dishes but drinks very well on its own. A hint of greenness in the nose and mouth but not in an unpleasant way. Impressed...will hold last bottle for another 5 years or so.
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4/29/2017 - BSA Likes this wine: 92 Points
From memory. We tasted 85/94/95/01 and this one was definitely far more open for business than the 95. More evolvement on the nose and sweet and plusher tannins. Dark berries, some tobacco and leather. 91-92p.
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4/29/2017 - tazzy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lenght, dark fruit, chocolate. Nice to drink know. Some strenght.
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4/28/2017 - SimonG wrote: 89 Points
Bordeaux Wimps, Benoît Chamoux table (La Trompette, London): Classical nose. Blackcurrant and a little lactic on the nose. A touch of redcurrant too. The leanness of the vintage, but a lovely example. Cool and lithe and refreshing. Lacking slightly alongside the rich food, this needs simpler fayre, and to be enjoyed on its own. Holding well, though it's not going to improve. ***
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4/7/2017 - Lype Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nicely in balance, resolved tannins, red berries, cedar, smoke, tobacco, beef and spices, very good especially given the vintage, in the drinking window.
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3/26/2017 - winoma Likes this wine:
92 - this wine is still young, well balanced and an elegant bordeaux. It's full bodied with dark color and many years of life. Enjoyed by all at the dinner and while the oldest of the 4 bordeaux from the 90's we tasted, by far the youngest in flavor profile.
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1/26/2017 - aChave Likes this wine: 92 Points
30 minute decant. Lush but firm with nice blackberry and touches of graphite. Medium-long finish. Surpasses the vintage, but not the producer.
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1/9/2017 - frankophilius Likes this wine: 92 Points
17:00 Uhr geöffnet und dekantiert. Anfangs völlig verschlossen, rau und abweisend.
Um 19:00 Uhr hat er sich geöffnet und zeigt alle Qualitäten eines klassischen Bordeaux:
vollmundig, schwarze Frucht, unterschwellig etwas Tabak, Veilchenpastillen, eine Nuance von Rote-Beete-Saft, Kiesel, Tannin gut eingebunden, moderate, aber schmeckbare Säure für einen 1994er erstaunlich geschmeidig und rund, vollmundig bei moderatem Alkohol (12,5 %). Anhaltender Nachgeschmack nach Dörrzwetschgen. Sehr gut.
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1/2/2017 - winesnout Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium body but very good structure and depth for the vintage. Blackberry, plums, smoke, tobacco, cedar, some leather and spices. A classic Saint Julien, well balanced and with good length. Definitely ready to drink but no need to rush.
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11/17/2016 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep red/garnet in color, this 22-year-old wine still has massive tannins. Fortunately, it also retains plenty of black fruit and a degree of elegance that is lacking from its 1994 Bordeaux brethren. Earthy black fruit is accented with violets and lavender on both the nose and palate. Freshly acidic and seamlessly alcoholic (12.5%), it stays solid in the middle and closes medium-to-long. This vintage of Leoville Barton will always represent a "horse race" between the fruit and the tannins. As before, I suspect that the latter will ultimately win out, but this wine is very drinkable now and should remain drinkable for several more years. Drink now-2025.
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11/12/2016 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - Leoville Barton trial run (Kennards, Waterloo): From Coravin. Little cherry fruit, wet earth, leather and very slight vanilla...Charlie says a touch of green apple on the palate and I agree, still tannic as - plenty of structure here - and slight cherry fruits. tannins to out last fruit I suspect, alas.
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11/8/2016 - ozyloy wrote: 91 Points
Clear, deep ruby. Watery rim.
Nose: Blackberry, dark cherry, bell pepper, licorice, cedar oak.
Palate: Medium(+) acidity, medium(+) body, high velvety tannins. A bit tighter than the nose, with red and dark fruit, cedar, tobacco, and hints of sweet spice and licorice. Medium(+) finish.
I'd say best before 2020.
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11/8/2016 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 91 Points
Clarence's Birthday 2016 (Extra Space): Tasted blind.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of dark red cherries, blackberries, perfumed spice. Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium alcohol (12.5%), high tannins, full body. Medium flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet spice, dark red cherries, blackberries, blackcurrant, mild licorice. Medium+ finish.
Very good quality. Elegance and balance here. Still has room to develop tertiary notes over the next 4-5 years. A bit uninteresting in the company of the other distinguished Bordeaux wines of the night.
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11/5/2016 - aChave Likes this wine: 93 Points
Not unpleasantly tight on opening, but steadily improved over two hours in the decanter. Big, powerful mix of red and black fruit -- surprisingly so for a 1994, but not so much for a Barton. Pleasantly round but also deep. A pleasure. No hurry.
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10/14/2016 - WilD wrote: 90 Points
Good fill and cork. Slow oxed. Nose better than the pallate. Leather, thin fruit, nice acidity but short aftertaste. Drink it now !
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10/8/2016 - MrBrege wrote: 90 Points
Last one of the case. It was never the best vintage but I have enjoyed these nonetheless, this last one has started to decline, however, clear bricking and a little thinner and more acidic than previous bottles.
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7/29/2016 - Indybond wrote: 89 Points
PnP. Alas, this was much less charming than two years ago. I will drink my other bottles soon.
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7/22/2016 - CGWIND Likes this wine: 88 Points
Good but not great. Hint of cork / and perhaps that was the problem
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6/4/2016 - GNBB wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1hr. Excellent nose with medium intense leather, black berries, violets & slight aniseed. Secondary forest floor notes. Palate has depth & balance with excellent black berry fruit flavours coming through with fine tannins and light acid. A little eucalyptus with some aniseed as well. Stays long in the mouth with a tiny feel of some dry tannins. I've drunk this wine over many years and this is now absolutely right - drink now-2020 to enjoy at its best.
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4/17/2016 - pinotwok Likes this wine: 91 Points
Doppelt dekantiert, am besten nach ca. 3 Stunden. Klassischer, eher rustikaler Typ. Rote und schwarze Johannisbeere, Zeder, Leder, Tabak, Sous-Bois. Am Gaumen sehr ausgewogen, gute Struktur, leicht, rote Frucht, ausreichend Extrakt, jahrgangstypisch im Abgang ganz leicht unsauberes Tannin Hält sicher noch ein paar Jahre, besser wird er aber nicht mehr. Austrinken.
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4/11/2016 - Romol Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not decanted. Conumed over 2 nights. Good balance, medium length. First night a bit to much acidity 90-91 pts
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2/28/2016 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 91 Points
Pristine bottle, opened at 4.30pm, decanted at 5pm and enjoyed between 6pm and 9pm. A very classically styled Saint-Julien, spices and blackcurrants, dusty and mineral, good fruit but a bit workman-like, tough rather than charmed, drying on the finish, good length.
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2/14/2016 - Dave64 Likes this wine: 91 Points
94 wasn't one of Bordeaux's better years so I wasn't expecting a blockbuster!
Purple hue with brick coloured rim.
Light, almost Burgundian with plenty of blackberry fruit and a hint of cigar box - silky smooth.
An element of green peppercorn.
This has still got legs!
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2/6/2016 - Comte Flaneur wrote: 90 Points
Strong line of acidity initially dominates but it all comes together pretty well after a couple of hours with cooked fruit, cigarettes, leather and a touch of balsamico. Not very ripe but not underripe either and with some pleasant green pepper notes. Not outstanding by the standards of an estate now making some of the best wines in Bordeaux and hence the world, but good for a difficult vintage in which, in many cases, the fruit has faded away before the tannins. There is just enough fruit here and the tannins have receded sufficiently to make this a medium-bodied, classically resolved, claret. One that diehard claret aficionados will appreciate.
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12/5/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Some leather in nose; structured nicely; well knit; rugged with earth, raisen, cherry and blackberry; good balance and integration; tannins still there for further integration; smooth long sweet but lightly tannic finish.
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11/1/2015 - Tahan wrote: flawed
Corked
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7/30/2015 - md20 wrote: 92 Points
Schöne gereifter klassicher St. Julien. Im perfekten Alter um den Korken zu ziehen. Die leicht unreifen Tannine zeigen gut den Jahrgang (Minzetöne). Wunderbare typische Barton-Aromatik.....Herrlich 92/100.
Beautiful mature classic safe St. Julien. In the perfect age to drink. The slightly unripe tannins show well the vintage (mint tones). Wonderful typical Barton aromas ..... wonderful... 92/100.
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6/30/2015 - MikeATL Likes this wine: 92 Points
Raspberry liqueur, a little mulling spices, a pinch of mint, not super concentrated, but not at all thin. A little lean on the palate, but still solid.
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5/24/2015 - PSPatrick wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for two hours, consumed over two days. The bottle was in perfect condition; the filling-level was ideal, the cork was only half soaked. The wine was medium to dark garnet in colour, gained more colour with air, and threw some sediment. It offered dark flowers, cooked dark fruit, cooked black currant, cooked cherry, cooked plum, coffee, leather, tobacco, autumn leaves and mild balsamic notes on the nose. On the palate the wine showed cooked dark fruit, leather, tobacco, mushroom, leafy and some vegetal notes as well as mild balsamic notes, complemented by hints of chocolate, coffee and liquorice, with medium to medium-plus acidity and tannin and good to very good length. The tannin seemed slightly coarse and underripe and were astringent, even though the impression improved a little over night and the wine seemed less astringent and rounder on day two, yet fruit profile became more cooked in return. Not a good vintage for LB; rustic, medium-complex, a little thin and pretty disappointing after the very good LB 2000 I had the other week. Score for impression on day two only.
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5/8/2015 - cooberp Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Very 1994. Others say "classic leafy cab," I say "green and underripe." Gnarly, tannic, dense. Not my kind of Bdx.
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4/28/2015 - Burgnick wrote: 89 Points
The nose had green peppers, black fruits and some earthy notes on the nose. The weight was there but I was a bit worried that the greenness would intensify with more cellaring. My opinion is to drink now.
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4/24/2015 - asparagus wrote: 90 Points
secondary elements are there, but still young. the 1994 vintage is turning out better than I expected.
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4/18/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lean and sweet; integrated and ready; light blackberry and cedar; semi-long finish;
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4/5/2015 - Harry Cantrell Likes this wine: 89 Points
Garnet. Nose took some coaxing but it was a Bordeaux nose, mildly enticing with seasoned salt and herbs. Taste was 'ponderous'-even bordering on rustic. Good but not stellar.
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2/26/2015 - CellarBord wrote:
never opened up, needed decanting, muted nose, celery.
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2/12/2015 - hkm520240 wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for around 2 hours and served blind.
Dark garnet with vivid vibrant hue, youth dark crimson rims. Elegant and perfumed nose, showing tobacco, cigar box, earth, forest floor, mineral, blackcurrant and dried herbs.
Structured and robust entry, still young and vibrant on the palate with plenty of blackcurrant, dark cherry and cigar box, truffle and earth. Solid mid-palate extend to a long persistent finish, ample tannins, ripe and chewy.
My best guess was a '95 Bordeaux left bank although I had tasted the same vintage twice. That said this bottle was holding very well after 20 years. Drinking on the peak now.
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2/1/2015 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 90 Points
Although this deep red/garnet wine still possesses sturdy tannins after 20 years, it likewise retains plenty of black fruit and a certain degree of elegance which is lacking from the 1994 offerings of most of its Bordeaux brethren. Cassis, graphite, violets, earth and coriander are delivered on the nose and palate, supported by fresh acidity and the aforementioned tannins. The alcohol (listed as 12.5%) is unnoticeable and the flavors build in the middle. Closing medium-to-long and with some tannic grip, it appears that this wine will always represent a "horse race" between the fruit and the tannins. I suspect that the latter will ultimately win out, but it is very drinkable now and likely has plenty of fruit to last another decade. Drink now-2025.
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1/20/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rubber, earth and blackberry with some barnyard; ageing gracefully; coarse blackberry with soft acidity and mellow tannins.
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12/24/2014 - Ralph_ wrote: 92 Points
a very good aged bordeaux
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12/22/2014 - j30 wrote: 91 Points
Nose of raisin and black fruits, a robust Bordeaux that's not immensely complex but smooth tasting and mature. Still a bit tannic but everything else has come together.
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11/25/2014 - affordableCollector wrote: flawed
burnt red, orange, in color. blackberry, sour fruit, trail, earth, dried out dirt, oxidized, oak, on the nose. medium-high acid, medium-high tannins, on the finish.
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11/17/2014 - CellarBord Likes this wine:
Has aroma of a St. Julien. Resolved tannins and ready to enjoy. Does not taste like a St. Julien. Style in not typical, yet I enjoyed it very much.
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10/29/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light nose; mature; blackberry with tannins resolved; some nice complexity; nice finish.
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10/1/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 90 Points
Light earthy herbaceous nose; some texture with some blackberry; sweet with decent integration; moderate finish; have to say paring was an issue - had chicken francaise.
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9/30/2014 - DrinkBordeaux Likes this wine: 92 Points
A nice, mature wine. Compared to the 96 Barton, the nose had less barnyard funk and fruit was more evident. Required little decanting but opened up a bit after an hour. Nose dominated by earthiness, pencil, and dark fruits. On the palate, there was blackberry, blackcurrant, tobacco. Nice acidity on the finish. Tannins well integrated. Not as complex as the 96, but overall, an enjoyable wine. I'm guessing there are a number of years left in this one.
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7/29/2014 - Motz wrote: 93 Points
From a half. Only slight bricking, which stood out given its age. Opened at 10:00, poured off a couple of ounces and decanted the remainder for 4+ hours. The wine was great from the outset and improved with air. The charming bouquet featured, menthol, eucalyptus, the finest quality pipe tobacco, black farm soil, charred earth, blackcurrant, juniper, and graphite. Sleek palate, with still vibrant acid and good grip. The wine strengthened from front to back, showing a precise mid palate and a rock solid finish. Among the more charming, even seductive, Bordeaux I have tasted. This should hold well for several years, possibly 8 to 10, but I cannot see it improving. There is no reason not to enjoy this now. Special!
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7/28/2014 - RichardP wrote: 90 Points
Eucalyptus, rose petal, and strawberry on the nose; on the palate, black cherry, currant, earth, and hints of strawberry and cocoa, with no detectable tannins, good acidity, and a bit of greenness on the finish. A good Bordeaux with secondary notes starting to overtake the primary fruit.
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7/13/2014 - AWBryce wrote: 92 Points
Potent nose, sweet cherries, earthy. Still tannic and quite young, great depth of fruit on the palate. I wouldn't touch these for a while.
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7/12/2014 - Wine Canuck wrote: 88 Points
Quite the contrast to the Lagrange poured beside it. Pours far darker in colour. The fruit is much darker and alcohol is elevated on the nose. Nose shows: blackberry, vanilla, cedar, confectioners sugar, brown spice and the slightest hint of farmy notes. Essentially quite clean. The palate is densely structured with some tannin remaining and dark fruit and vanilla repeating on the medium minus finish. This may have some upside potential if aged out a few more years but it's not exactly my preferred style.
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7/5/2014 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
Nose is more impressive than the palate with funk, gravel, coffee and cherry notes. The palate was a little green and I don't see this wine developing beyond this. Drink now.
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6/12/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light nose; mature, earthy, integrated and austere; light blackberry; well composed; soft and lean; easy and elegant; moments of sweetness in the finish.
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6/1/2014 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beautiful wine at its peak. Garnet in color with no evidence of bricking. Modest nose but full bodied and complex on the palate with layers of fruit, chocolate, minerals and cigar box. Elegant, long lasting finish with well integrated tannins.
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5/29/2014 - MRichman wrote:
Pepper, mint, herbs. Stiff but resolved tannins. Drinking well. A little hard, a little dilute.
B
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5/19/2014 - galewskj wrote: 93 Points
30 minute decant, followed 2 pours at a tasting for a couple hours. Overall a well-made aged traditional Bordeaux that is drinking well right now. Lots of barnyard funk initially on the nose that faded into the background after about 15 minutes. The fruit took it's time in coming out, finally showing up after about an hour. At that time, it becomes very complex with earth, flowers, just so much going on.
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5/15/2014 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Bordeaux Offline (Rincon 38, Mpls, MN): Dark red color with 1-2 mm bricked meniscus. Decanted for 30 minutes, drank 2 2.5 oz pours over 2.5 hours. This was delightful, great nose with an ethereal perfume that literally blows up over an hour in glass, lavender, funk, damp earth, leather, pencil lead, cassis, raspberry, cinnamon, a touch savory. The fruit on both the nose and palate really emerges after the first hour in glass. The palate is feminine and medium bodied, smooth integrated tannins that have a ways to go, leather, mushroom, earth, spice, dried currant, dried berry, a touch of anise, mineral, and a medium plus to long finish. Very elegant, very impressive. This is in a perfect place right now. A 60-90 minute decant will nail it. This is good for 10 years plus easily. Tied for my WOTN.
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5/5/2014 - MrBrege wrote: 93 Points
Incredibly fresh nose dominated by berries - raspberries, blue and black berries, black currants, supplanted by notes of cedar and pencil - I could smell it all evening. In the mouth it is smooth and fairly concentrated, The tannins are mostly resolved and what is left will keep the wine at this level for a few more years, but they complement the experience rather than detract. An excellent wine, especially for the vintage. Had the finish been longer this would have been a 94 score, but it is a 93 in any case.
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4/27/2014 - j30 wrote: 91 Points
Matured Bordeaux nose of preserved plum, leather, soy sauce, and slight spice. Medium bodied, yet filling and juicy. Slightly spicy. Good balance, but still considerably tannic which seemed to have softened somewhat after hours of air. Still youthful but the tannins may be tough to crack.
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3/24/2014 - Kriz wrote: 88 Points
I like it. Green peppers on the nose and some other green elements on the palate as well. However, I like it more than some of those heavyweights.
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3/19/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Classic austere tar on the nose; balanced and integrated; nicely matured; blackberry with a soft smooth rather opulent character; elegant and soft with still lively tannins; beautiful finish.
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3/19/2014 - englishman's claret wrote: 92 Points
I love Barton, but this really is an Englishman's Claret - cassis, a pinch of cedar, liquorice, and wood spice. With a couple hours worth of air, this picks up a lot of density on the nose but always stays austere on the palate. I love it, but I love lean, lithe wines (otherwise how could my handle be "englishman's claret"). Food wine. Start drinking it after it's been in the decanter for an hour. At peak.
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3/2/2014 - shleepy wrote: 90 Points
Deep red with hint of brick orange. A little spicy, with strawberry jam on the nose. Hibiscus, a little honey wax, black currant, mild earthiness. Some tannins.
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2/21/2014 - MrBrege wrote: 93 Points
What a typical and terrific Leoville Barton. Deep nose of pencil lead and cassis, distinct black currants. Despite its age the tannins are still present, as this Chateaux seemingly never really wants you to consume their wine until it is 25-30 years at least, so here at 20 it still seems pretty young, just entering its drinking window. But the balance is great, fruit and acidity to match the tannins, barely any bricking at the rim. The finish is very long and very smooth. The actual wine will last for many, many years to come, although it's unlikely to get much better. The problem I always have with this style is that frequently the hardware (cork etc.) runs out way before the wine does, sometimes even when it has been kept in perfect conditions. Still, when it's on - like this bottle, where the cork was in perfect shape - it is really great value! Needless to say, the 94 vintage was far from stellar in general on the left bank; more kudos to LB for produce such a solid blend in those circumstances. I am very pleased to have bought a case just now (rather than 20 years ago).
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2/18/2014 - StefanAkiko Likes this wine: 92 Points
An elegant, classy and classic Bordeaux with earthy, leathery horse and stables combined with pure red berries. LB outperformed in this vintage.
Mature dark red color.
Nose was more appealing (included licorice and toasted barrels) upon opening, but more nuanced and restrained at the restaurnt after its 3 hrs decant. The pure red berries that create the foundation of this wine's nose create drama.
On the palate, this wine is fabulously balanced and soon reaching maturity. Acids are M++ and tannins M+. All components are well integrated with the red fruit shining, just like spot lights put light on a stage. This is an elegant, maturing LB with still plenty of life left. It sings with a rather small, yet precise, voice.
If we had a case, we'd break it open next year and drink one btl a year.
Wife: 91p
At absolutely magical French restaurant L'Effervescence in Nishi-Azabu (Tokyo).
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2/16/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 95 Points
Superb effort in a tough year; classic leather, rubber and cedar nose; austere earthy herbaceous blackberry; complex and structured with great texture; sweet and sour tannins; long, long finish with some light lingering sweet blackberry and slight licorice element.
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1/6/2014 - dpolivy wrote: 91 Points
DRC Tasting Group: Bordeaux Night (Wild Ginger, Seattle, WA): Tasted blind. Nose of spice, green pepper, and coffee. Leather, dust, and earth on the body, with some mildly tart acids. Drying, fine tannins finish it off.
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1/6/2014 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
In a lineup that included a '45 Haut Brion and a '79 Cheval Blanc it was hard for this baby to stand out. It was a very nice wine though that is drinking well right now.
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12/31/2013 - ekallio wrote:
High fill level and the cork was in very good condition. Perfumed but not explosively so. The wine is very harmonious, but a little bit on its way out, it seems. Slightly lacking intensity by now. There's still a good freshness to it that really came alive with food.
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12/28/2013 - pkatz wrote: 90 Points
Mature, pleasant. Not sure it was worth the wait or the price.
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12/16/2013 - hkm520240 wrote: 94 Points
Monday night Dinner (Bedrock Bar & Grill): Dark ruby red. Warm and beautiful bouquet of tobacco, cigar box interwoven with cassis, black cherry and capsicum. Medium bodied and elegant, classic left bank stuff with tobacco, cigar box, blackcurrant and black fruits.
Richly mouthfeel with tart and lively acidity, balance and harmony and posses good finesse. Soft and fine tannins with long aftertaste.
This is the standout wine for the night, even better than the bottle I brought to Jade Palace in August. Lovely.
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12/13/2013 - BSA Likes this wine: 92 Points
(Klubben - especiale)
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12/11/2013 - Sheila62 Likes this wine:
Served from Magnus..Very good left bank Bordeaux with dark fruits, ample a city, and cedar box..true to form
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11/28/2013 - sandwich Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drink it now if you have some. Classic left banker with dark blackberries and toasty oak. It has a woody alcohol finish but is drinking very well. I'm sure it has a few years left, but I can't see it improving beyond what it shows today.
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11/22/2013 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
Nicely aged wine with most of the primary fruit gone but lovely secondary notes. Leather, earth, tobacco. Silky smooth and very popular tonight at dinner.
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10/20/2013 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rubber and leather nose; smooth lean blackberry with texture and earth; good balance and nice finish.
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9/25/2013 - Grand Amateur Likes this wine: 90 Points
This particular battle showed very well. After some air, the red and black fruits came forward. No hurry to drink. It will keep.
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9/23/2013 - Nels+ Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark ruby red with bold brown rim, nice elegant and seducing nose, cigar box, earth, hints of spice an sweet gum. Classic aged bordeaux with cigar box, tobacco, cherry and blackcurrant on palate. Nice balance acidity with a long persistent finish and still intense tannins. Nice!
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9/14/2013 - Jhcwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose - Very little. Tannic.
Palette - Abit tannic. But still reasonably delicate.
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9/13/2013 - Mascalese Likes this wine: 91 Points
Perfect mature harmonic cs served with moose tartar. All smiles😄
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8/21/2013 - hkm520240 wrote: 93 Points
Wednesday wine dinner with fellow HWZ and visitors from US (Jade Palace Restaurant): Opened for bottle breath since noon time but it wan't enough and further decanted for another hour before serving at the dinner.
Dark ruby red with slight brick red rims, nice subtle elegant and complex nose, cigar box, tobacco, earth, mocha with hints of spice at the end. A very classic claret that is typical of the vintage and shed its weight along the aging process. Elegant, subtle and full of finesse, compliment by cigar box, tobacco, cherry and blackcurrant on palate. Nice balance acidity with a long persistent finish and smooth tannins. Surprising this is drinking very well now but it should continue to hold.
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8/9/2013 - Lype Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking nicely now, tasty and full-bodied, chocolate, tobacco, meaty, does not have the depth of stronger vintages though.
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7/29/2013 - Cheungtp wrote: 89 Points
The last bottle was quite a surprise, so carrying a certain degree of expectation on this one. Slight disappointment that this one exhibited characters more associated with the 1994 vintage - lean, under ripeness and loads of greens. Brick red in color, bouquet was predominately barnyard, rustic and soy, with only a hint of red fruit and smoke. Texture on the palate is still very LB like, nicely structured, with decent amount of soft, dry tannins. Though there's that austerity sense on the palate, muted cherry and tobacco notes, air time didn't add much.
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6/29/2013 - Isalasdad wrote: 92 Points
Took this to Ruth's Chris. The Chateau Leoville Barton is always great. This old vintage paired well with my filet. Dark fruits, strong tannins and a smooth long finish make this earthy wine exquisite.
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6/25/2013 - Champagneinhand Likes this wine: 93 Points
Again this was teamed up with a 1988 beside for comparison and to give us some perspective when going through a flight of 2003 Bdx to access aging potential relative to how the wines were showing at 10 years of age. This wine was much more deep red as opposed to the more purple 1988. The nose on this was much more awake and filled with plenty of red fruits like dark bing cherry, some red currants and logan berry. It also had the cedar tobacco notes and muddled earth. on the palate the fruit showed very well considering its age, typical of LB wines. earth was also present and what stuck out nicely was the bright acids that married well with soft mouth coating tannins. This really had a nice long finish that kept me adding a touch more to my glass. excellent.
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5/26/2013 - Stephen_Skelton_MW Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank the last of my 8 bottles last night and have just tasted it again this morning. It was fairly closed when I first opened it and although the colour was quite brick-red and I thought it might be past its best, on tasting it was superb and today even better. Just a classic, balanced, rich and round mature Bordeaux. Good length and a wine that needs decanting 24 hrs at least before drinking. Not a huge wine and I would have liked more nose, but very good old-style Bordeaux.
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5/25/2013 - Radboy wrote: 94 Points
Hints of leather and earthy forest, the fruit is holding up quite well. Subtle cherry with hints of violets. Damn good shit!
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3/14/2013 - farinas Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wine Regions of the World (Private Residence): Color was an intensely saturated full body red with a bouquet balanced ripe fresh fruit, sweet currant, blackberries. Entry was lively and refreshing with acid, tannins, and alcohol all in great harmony. Body was medium with plum, soft tannins, and a healthy dose of glycerin with a medium to long finish.
My first experience with a Barton and I must say that I'm impressed with quality and finesse of what's in the bottle (especially a 19 year old bottle). These wines are in the classic style with perfect balance and the vintage quality just seems to dial up/down its intensity.
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3/8/2013 - Cheungtp Likes this wine: 94 Points
Ruby red with just a touch of browning near the rim. This claret has still kept some youthful character in herself, with aromatics of soft red fruits, violet, forest floor and tobacco leaf. Silky on the palate, with the tannins just about noticeable, very finely integrated already. The wine added some weight with more air time, and revearled soothing bouquet of dried leather, cocoa powder, pencil shaving and hint of mushroom. Tannins gotten more tasty, and the wine has a nice acidity to keep it well balanced and fresh. Such a nice tasing experience.
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2/15/2013 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Leather nose with a blackberry integrated tannin structure; broad sweet lengthy blackberry and licorice; smooth and long.
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2/12/2013 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Light earthy blackberry nose; Blackberry with silky tannins; textured; well structured and complex; silky and long finish.
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2/9/2013 - ataraxy wrote: 88 Points
meh. Just not very together or interesting. nose, taste, finish all lackluster.
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1/30/2013 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Earthy blackberry nose; complex with blackberry, cherry, raisen, licorice and sweet earthy notes and well integrated tannins throughout; elegant with beautiful balance although a bit reticent and semi-sour at times; finishes long with silky tannins.
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1/13/2013 - Pknut wrote:
Rather youthful, showing dark cassis on the palate and softer chocolate notes. However, I think some very low TCA obscured the full potential here. Not entirely ruined by TCA, but compromised. With Randy.
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1/5/2013 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Initial rubber nose, later lighter; smooth and earthy; sweet soft light tannins; some licorice; balanced with good complexity; smooth semi-tart and long finish.
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12/21/2012 - paulst Likes this wine: 90 Points
Initially sweet blackberry some tar nose; later lightened; light sweet blackberry with integrated tannins; soft and lean; moderate finish.
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12/20/2012 - Milos Likes this wine: 91 Points
Mid red in colour; just a touch of brick on the rim. Dark red cabernet fruit with touch of wood but not cedar yet. Very elegant on the palate with great structure. Decent finish.
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12/16/2012 - capacious Likes this wine: 88 Points
We have opened this wine 5 times since 2009- very consistent impression- a well made wine, but no wow - just a reasonably well made wine that falls a bit short even if left to breathe for a couple of hours
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10/15/2012 - VeniceCalif wrote: 92 Points
Rich garnet color, just a bit brownish. Very nice Bordeaux nose of earth, plums, iron filings, allspice notes. Austere on the palate, not at all flabby or superannuated. Very firm acid backbone supports cedar and cooked black cherry notes. Finishes long, with excellent grip and low tannins. This is an oldish bottle but still lively. A bit austere perhaps, but completely worth drinking and even holding for awhile longer.
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10/7/2012 - LFCHALA Likes this wine: 94 Points
The ability of aging Leoville Barton is amazing. This wine has an incredible balance and concentration to their age.
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10/7/2012 - rwgray wrote:
Notes to follow
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10/5/2012 - NineteenEightyTwo wrote: 87 Points
Promising start, with aromas of spice and dirt after a few hours of decanting. Unfortunately, it never really went anywhere, despite being allowed to breathe for several hours. Maintained an astringent tannic backbone throughout, but the hoped for fruit flavors didn't materialize. As a result, this reminded trapped in the low end of the flavor register, with only muted sous bois notes. A disappointment after a strong showing from the overachieving 1994 Pichon Lalande (see my 8/27/12 note).
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7/31/2012 - salil wrote: 91 Points
Impressions from memory; no formal notes. A lovely showing, drinking wonderfully now with the fruit still fresh and bright, but augmented by layers of mature sous bois and cedary flavours. There's good depth and presence, but at the same time a lightness that makes it very refreshing after a few heavier young Bordeaux.
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7/18/2012 - Caskar wrote: 90 Points
a disappointment compared to the '89 Chasse Spleen. Seemed thin in comparison.
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7/14/2012 - Zinlady wrote: 94 Points
- Garnet color. It's in total harmony with a full body. Smooth texture with a long finish - Wonderful, dark, full bodied, ready to drink. We had with tuna (pepper and soy). It went so well. Nice finish. Balanced.
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6/3/2012 - kevincheng Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened up with a nose of game and violet rounded off with a bit of a leathery tint. Colour was dark crimson red/purple with flavours of tobacco, oak, limestone and a bit of a powdery finish. Not as interesting as i had hoped but drinking reasonably well right now.
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3/25/2012 - Fateful Destiny Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very nice. Good fruit on nose and palate. Somewhat light, but good balance. I thought this was a good value and still retained fruit despite its age.
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3/17/2012 - Tree512 wrote: 90 Points
Ur-BDX. Surprisingly ripe and complete red fruit on top of fully mature tannins. Just a touch of green, with a persistent gamey/unami note. Very enjoyable - will age from here but unlikely to improve.
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3/4/2012 - steffenpelz wrote:
33rd Austin Wine Salon - Bordeaux (Max's Underground): Tasted blind. Cassis, cured ham, violets and savory, almost iodine note. Quite nice, but somewhat unexciting. I guessed the bank correctly, but the appellation incorrectly.
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1/28/2012 - rnellans wrote: 92 Points
Dark in color. Black current, cedar, tobacco, spice and leather aromas. Full bodied with nice mid palate fullness. Great balance with integrated tannins on the finish. Drinking well.
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1/14/2012 - pkatz wrote: 85 Points
OK but nothing special.
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1/8/2012 - play36 wrote: 92 Points
Long decant. Needed an hour to open up. Cedar box on the nose. Tannins are still prevalent. Velvet mouthfeel. Long finish. Still has a lot of life.
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1/1/2012 - jcoleman wrote: 91 Points
very pleasant wine from an average vintage. lovely cedar bouquet with nice depth of flavour. good complex brambly flavourand a decent finish
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12/28/2011 - raginbajan wrote: 90 Points
Decent with short finish. Not much complexity, but a respectable wine.
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12/27/2011 - R. Hung Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is my second bottle. The last one was opened a year ago and I gave it 90 points. This time, it was a even better one. Just pulled and poured in a Portuguese restaurant. It was in dark garnet with a slight brick color rim. The initial nose was rather closed but opened up quite nicely in 30 mins, full of cherries. The palate matched nicely with lots of cherries, violet, chalk and a hint of licorice with smooth tannin. We finished it in about two hours, and it just got better and better. I really enjoyed it. I will definitely buy a few more bottles if I could find some.
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12/18/2011 - pavel_p wrote: 87 Points
First bottle from a case in seemingly very good condition: fill high neck, cork looks good too with only a quarter or so soaked. 45 min decant. Dark garnet. Muted nose, lack of fruit makes this wine austere and astringent, and some dry tannins come to the surface. Also some cedar. Disappointing - sold the remaining 5 bottles.
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11/26/2011 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful, classic Saint-Julien, intensity and depth, perfect weight (12.5%), a very successful 1994 (a great bottle anyway), cedar, beautifully rounded, velvety tannins and minerals provide grip, excellent length. Great now - 2020.
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11/19/2011 - salil wrote: 92 Points
This is in a great place right now, with the fruit still fresh and youthful but framed by maturing cedar, graphite, herbal and floral elements. This isn't about ripeness or density, but rather conveys flavours with a finesse and lightness of touch I rarely find in modern Bordeaux. Fantastic, elegant claret that still has the fruit and structure to continue aging for some time.
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10/23/2011 - Harry Cantrell wrote: 88 Points
Garnet. Nose was a muted Bordeaux with some age-seasoned salt, some dried herbs, not much fruit present. Taste was also tertiary, no fruit in presence, just dried herbs, seasoned salt (with the actual salt). Acid mid-palate with no obvious tannins on the aftertaste/tongue. OK, not great.
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10/14/2011 - clementwolf wrote: 91 Points
The nose is quite strong, with violets, tobacco, and some cough syrups?? the wine doesn't look any bit like a 17 yr old, deep violet in colour, but tannins are fading and wine is quite smooth on the palate. Medium length finish. Quite a pleasant treat.
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9/24/2011 - englishman's claret wrote:
750, good fill, good cork. Mature disc, robe. Not a particularly distinctive nose; rather unassuming and anonymous. A disappointing Barton, but a bottle from the same source two years ago was notably better. Bottle variation at work, I think.
2.5-3/5
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9/24/2011 - aagrawal wrote: 91 Points
Deeper violet, hint bricking; red fruit, mint, nice fruit. Very good. 91-92
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9/18/2011 - alittle wrote: flawed
Andrew's 27th Birthday (Dave's House): Bottle tasted cooked. Re-bottled, to be returned.
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9/8/2011 - Rupert wrote: 88 Points
Langoa v Leoville (Les Deux Salons, London): Dumb nose, more giving on the palate, fine and leafy, it hints at so much but ends up giving little - I think this may be the first 94 claret I've had
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9/8/2011 - SimonG wrote:
Les Deux Bartons (Les Deux Salons): A flub of blackcurrant leaf but fairly tight on the nose. Similar on palate initially, still quite blackcurranty bit wig a nicely mineral quality through the mid-palate. Positive finish though no great length. Elegant and smooth. ***
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9/6/2011 - balassis wrote: 91 Points
Dinner at home with my friend George and my wife Marilena.
Popped and consumed after about 30 minutes.
Muddy garnet with a brick hues.
Attractive nose full of black cherries, cedar, charcoal, grandma room and rosemary.
Layers of gentle oaky vanilla.
On the palate is medium bodied, with high level of acidity, vibrant tannins and fruity character.
Flavors of cherries, forest fruits, wood, truffles, cinnamon and oak.
Long aftertaste.
Ready to consume now or to keep for a decade.
Just acceptable pair with a venison ragu.
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8/27/2011 - DanE wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful deep ruby with a pale rim.
Complex tobacco and leather nose.
Wonderfully complicated and well balanced. Lots of live in this wine still.
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7/19/2011 - aagrawal wrote: 90 Points
WineBerserkers Brunch and Dinner (San Francisco): Lovely dusty fruit, blackberry, a little reticent on the nose; palate is still a bit structured and young. Overall good. 90+
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3/26/2011 - BartsBIN Likes this wine: 92 Points
I managed to buy some Leoville Bartons of the mid 90s only this week so was quite curious how they were. Was very positively impressed by the 94; I decanted it for an hour or so, and it opened up beautifully; vanille, a hint of cinemon and lots of cassis. Think its a good time to drink this one - luckily I have more:-)
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3/6/2011 - winemaker wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured into 2 375s. Medium brick red, transparent. Subdued nose of loam. Tastes of cassis with firm tannins. Medium finish. Not that complex. Solid, if not exciting. Better than the '94 Palmer we had last night.
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3/4/2011 - Wine Sparty wrote: 91 Points
Couldn't decide whether to decant. Tasted right upon opening, and smelled mint & eucalyptus, as well as dark chocolate. Drank a glass w/o decanting, and decided to decant the rest to see if the "funk" smell might wear off. After decanting, a bit of the edge came off the smell & taste. It still had the eucalyptus aroma, and the taste is light red fruit. After an hour and a half or so in the decanter, the flavor kind of faded away. I think this might be best off without too much air, but still an enjoyable experience.
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2/11/2011 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Directly after opening smoky and cedary, depth and good fruit, classical, slightly dusty tannins; slightly austere on the palate, a touch of 1994-dryness but sufficient flesh, cedary length. After two hours more fruit, bay leaf, is clearly charging, a touch bloody; an hour after decanting showing very well, compleet and harmonious. Drink now - 2020.
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2/7/2011 - Steve C wrote: 92 Points
Great clarity to the eye and freshness to the fruit. Rippling of fruit and tannins on the tongue that provide a very sensual feel. Light at mid tongue, but length overall is excellent.
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1/22/2011 - Colima74 wrote: 93 Points
Pre-Falltacular dinner at Fratello's. Plenty of fruit to balance the tannin. Clearly older flavors at work, but this is not on the downside yet. Bright and clean.
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1/15/2011 - drwine2001 wrote:
Some 2008 and Other Bordeaux (Including 1994 Leovilles) (K&L Wines, San Francisco): Light center, orange rim. Appealing, subtle aromatics. Gentle feel with average acidity and some retained fruit. Finish is cut off by greener notes. While this is far better and has much more to it than its stable mate, still not a wine that excites the senses.
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1/10/2011 - elledeca wrote: 88 Points
had higher expectations from the winedoctor's tasting note.
ruby red.
faint/medium intensity nose: very herbal, tea, cedar, Lisa says carnations. some blackcurrant/raspberry.
medium body, quite acid and tannins stil there. very long, pomegranate, cedar and liquorice sticks.
would it get better?
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12/28/2010 - pinotwok wrote: 92 Points
Wirkt direkt nach dem öffnen rustikal mit staubigem Holz und Stallnoten, hat sich aber nach 6 Stunden Belüftung prächtig entwickelt. Johannisbeere, Zedernholz, Tabak, leichte florale Noten und Pfeffer. Am Gaumen mit viel Kraft und gut strukturiertem, recht fleischigem Körper, immer noch jede Menge Säure und gut integriertes Tannin. Hat noch genug Leben für einige Jahre in sich.
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12/26/2010 - cookiefiend wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful nose of black fruits, spices, and leather which continue onto the palate, especially black raspberries, with nice acidity and tannins. This was at its best early in the evening, later it seemed to get thin and tart. A very enjoyable wine!
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11/8/2010 - markjanes wrote: 92 Points
Deeply colored, moderate + extraciton at rim which is reddish. On the nose lovely with a good core of crunchy cassis, raspberry... nice barrique spice and pencil shavings, cigar box, hint of earthy, funk aromas. On the palate the wine has high acidity, a firm midpalate, a very nice transition into a finish with moderate tannins that are of average ripeness and are very well integrated... low to moderate ETOH. Wine has nice balance, great length, intensity, and complexity. Certainly finesse in there, the texture is crisp and crunchy, classic expression of place. Drinking at or near its peak with no signs of fading... wonderful bottle of wine really.
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10/28/2010 - jhannah27 wrote: 90 Points
Pretty opaque black purple with the beginnings of bricking around the edges. Dense black currant, plum, pencil lead and tar on the nose. Flavors mirror the nose with dense tannin still hanging around, but it resolves with with some air. Bright acid as well. I like it, but I wonder if it will improve anymore with more time in the bottle. I say drink up woth a couple hour decant.
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9/26/2010 - pkatz wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with proir bottle. Big tannins broken down well by steak.
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8/22/2010 - rnellans wrote: 91 Points
Decanted an hour. Dark in color with a hint of bricking. Black current, cedar, tobacco, spice and leather aromas. Full bodied with nice mid palate fullness. Great balance with integrated tannins on the finish. Drinking well.
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8/21/2010 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Classic Claret.
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8/9/2010 - gondrik wrote: 90 Points
Best soon after opening with traditional Bordeaux palate and nose. One hour later the tannins became more aggressive. This wine was better three years ago.
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8/8/2010 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Intense, masculine, somewhat austere.
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8/7/2010 - Rob MacKay wrote: 90 Points
Still quite dark in color with just a hint of bricking. Nose shows some earth, pencil shavings, and very pronounced black currant scents. Takes about an hour or two of decanting to really start coming together with a nice balance of acidity, medium weight and a lengthy finish. Fruit is still pretty vibrant and there is a light touch of the tannins on the finish. Matched very well with prime rib.
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7/12/2010 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Mature but not tired appearance; cedar, slightly dusty tannins supported by ripe fruit; dry and firm, rich tannins and ripe fruit, perfect weight and balance; good length. Understated, classic.
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7/5/2010 - alamoave wrote: 89 Points
Still vibrant. Balance not quite right, with acidity and the fruit a tad sour-tasting.
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4/14/2010 - burgburgburg wrote: 90 Points
deep ruby, nose is not as pronounced as I expected, bouquet comprises black fruits, leather, dark choco, wet leaves and touch of floral, full bodied, well-balanced palate with earthy, leather, coffee, dark choco, black currants and berries, nice tannin and fine acidity and spiciness, fairly long but not very complex finish, drink now
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4/11/2010 - TedH wrote: 93 Points
Black current and coffee. Mature tannins. I got something a little chauky that I liked. A lovely Bordeaux mouth and a satisfying finish.
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3/5/2010 - ctbob wrote:
Elegant, beautiful nose -- and then the wine was thin and forgettable; this was a gift, so not sure of the provenance, but based on this bottle I'd say drink up ASAP
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3/1/2010 - paulst wrote: 94 Points
Very impressive nose of rich earthy flowers and St Julien terrior; smooth sweet complex fruit on the palate; elegant light soft sweet finish.
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2/1/2010 - pkatz wrote: 90 Points
At this time tannins winning over fruit. My guess this wine is on the way down - not up. I've had too many off vintage bordeaux to have much optimism that this wine will get better. I will be drinking the rest sooner rather than later.
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12/20/2009 - englishman's claret wrote:
Fill into the neck. Trichromatic appearance, but still very deep. On opening, a nose of tart cherries, cedar, tobacco and new oak. Drying tannin. Plummy, oaky in the mouth.
One hour in, gave a bit more - earthier nose.
Two hours in - Horsey! Barnyard notes. Very rustic.
Three hours on - Less barnyard, iron, blood. Previous notes still apply, but thankfully that new oak blew off. At this stage, a very balanced and complete wine to me.
Four hours on - Less powerful, very claretty iron kind of thing.
Returned to the bottle and sucked the air out of the bit that was left. 24 hours later, a more complete wine - somewhat reminiscent of a more sedate version of a mix between how it showed hrs 3-4 last night. My inclination would be to hold any bottles for a few more years - the tannins did soften with air but it took a couple of hours and the fruit will certainly hold for another decade at the least. A wine built for aging. One of the really remarkable things about this wine was how fast it evolved in the (closed) decanter. A very different wine at 30 minute intervals. Took a while to hit its stride and would have been in the 3-3.5 range if assessed before 3 hours. I'd put my money on this becoming more interesting with more bottle age. In the end, a medium bodied wine lacking the panache of a great bottle - but certainly a very good one. Classic Bordeaux, if perhaps a bit angular at times. If you are going to drink this now, let it decant (closed) for 2.5/3 hours.
3.5-4/5
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12/18/2009 - ggmama wrote: 93 Points
classic bordeaux. drank beautifully but this wine can last for at least another ten years.
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12/6/2009 - paulst wrote: 98 Points
Soft elegant earthy smooth blackberries with sweet tannins and long smooth finish.
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11/22/2009 - cellarid wrote: 92 Points
last bottle was the best. surprised how long it took to open up. very classic nose of graphite and dark fruits with saddle and tons of cigar. with air, the palate opens up and becomes more youthful. take away for me is that you go with great producers in even 2nd-tier vintages and you wait long enough and they become what they should. really impressive.
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8/2/2009 - Steve C wrote: 91 Points
Superb layered nose opening fully after one hour in decanter. Dark hue rim. Good cedar fresh, not delicate. Silky tannins. Broad acidity. Length excellent but lost with time in decanter over 3 hours.
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6/17/2009 - Hazeo wrote: 95 Points
Wow. Gorgeous nose. Silky dense fruit with amazing complexity. WOTN for me.
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6/1/2009 - Fielding wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 30 minutes. Nose is a bit off, possibly signifying the beginning of its descent. There are cherries on the nose, but also a bit of plastic, somewhere between new car smell and cough syrup. The palate is still strong, with cherry, raspberry, tobacco, leather and mint. Long finish. Time to drink up.
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4/25/2009 - cabguy99 wrote: 92 Points
Classic bordeaux. Baryard on then nose. Smooth. Realtively simple yet elegant. True Bordeaux.
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3/21/2009 - i musicisti di boston wrote:
double decanted, then drunk alongside the 96. Shows classic left bank characteristics, in a slightly more austere frame: cedar, pencil lead, dried black currant. very good, if slightly less generous and deep than the 96, but I enjoyed its elegant classicism very much.
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3/9/2009 - NavyGrog wrote: 90 Points
Drank with other distinguished Bordeaux (L'Eglise, Grand Mayne, Calon Segur, Mouton, Pontet Canet). Very smooth and fruity, though a little unidimensional.
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3/8/2009 - guile wrote: 92 Points
Decanted about an hour. Strong nose of raspberry permeated the glass. Plenty of leather, cherry and black fruit with some sour element. Nice finish. Not even remotely similar to the explosive spice nose that we encountered with our other wine, the Calon Segur 96.
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2/1/2009 - Dave Canada wrote: 92 Points
Dark colour..
Nose of pyrazene, blackberry, mint, bell pepper, euycalyptus
Palate shows leather, pyrazene, ink, cherry, blackberry and tea
Finish is medium with tobacco, leather
I find this a touch simplistic and a bit green for me.....this is a 30 year wine........still not a lot of secondary characteristics.
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12/24/2008 - tvmama wrote: 93 Points
pre christmas dinner at k&b @ bainbridge
good bordeaux. very enjoyable.
decanted for 3 hours.
tasted young and great cherry and cherry taste.
needs LONG decanting!
needs several more years of cellaring... :(
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12/21/2008 - Steve C wrote: 92 Points
Decanted two hours. Bright shine and fresh open cassis and cedar on the nose. The breadth of dark fruit is good, with sensual softish tannins. There is still enough acidity to keep this developing for some time yet. Very enjoyable.
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11/21/2008 - Tree512 wrote: 89 Points
Much more classical. Reasonably ripe fruit, some greenness, completely resolved but not quite mature. More complete than the last bottle but no great shakes.
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11/1/2008 - paulst wrote: 90 Points
Leather nose; earthy blackberry with smooth sweet tanins and long finish.
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10/25/2008 - Colima74 wrote: 94 Points
Dinner at Cal Poly, all pre-1995 wines. Fruit still bright, no visible signs of aging. Wonderful secondary flavors that one associates with bdx. A joy to try over 3 hours.
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9/14/2008 - Steve C wrote: 91 Points
Dark bright colour and dark fruit nose. This evolved over 2 hours. The palate was well spread but dark fruit dominated. Tannins were fine and the length was good. Overall the balance was llimited by the darkness of the fruit and the tanins though fine had bluntness.
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8/25/2008 - Duncan wrote: flawed
Unlike previous bottles, this was not an elegant yet concentrated classic claret. In fact it was remarkably lacking in character both shortly after opening and decanting, and after several hours to open up. Not tight or closed, just flat and flavourless. Possibly too old - not a great year after all. But much more likely subtly corked, almost all aromas and flavours leeched out.
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8/2/2008 - Colima74 wrote: 92 Points
With dinner at Marche Moderne. First sip, very tannic and tight. But over about 3 hours showed better and better. Still lots of dried/ripe fruit and good tannic structure. Classic bdx nose. There is a line of acidity running through this that I really liked, though some who might not like tart cherry could be put off. 4.0++ Excellent fill on this. Have two more.
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8/1/2008 - Paul Lin wrote: 88 Points
Tasted from the last third of JD's bottle. Mature notes of cigar tobacco, ash, and cassis. Smooth on the palate, and certainly ready to drink, but finishes with a bit of tart cherry fruit. The finish is moderate but does not leave an impression. As some here on CT indicate, it tends to taper off sooner than one would like. 88-89 points.
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4/26/2008 - WineAggregate wrote: 91 Points
Beautiful classic Bordeaux, leather and cigar-box. Lots of evolution and softening left. Dark, brooding.
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3/20/2008 - cellarid wrote: 92 Points
Absolutely terrific nose. Lots of fruit, but mostly resolved. Solid structure. Good now and over the next 5 years easy. Just a tad short on the finish, but otherwise very classic and delicious. Nose is worth it alone.
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2/13/2008 - bmr67 wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful aroma on this wine; i could just smell it for an entire meal. Solid cedar box and cassis with some added dark fruit, mint and licorice in the background. Well integrated; decanted for an hour and half and then let sit over night. Because a bit dull on the finish on the second day otherwise would have scored 93.
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1/25/2008 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: flawed
Brought to Vintage Wines, Ltd. for single-blind Medoc tasting. Badly corked.
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1/15/2008 - DLT wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Prior bottle was corked, this one is fine. Classic ruby color with just a little bricking. Nose shows leather, cedar and some eucaplytus, with a little red fruit sneaking through. On the palate, sour cherries and currents, tobacco, with a spicy kick on the midpalate into the finish. Tannins are soft, but hang in there on the barely medium finish. This is a nice wine drinking well - no reason to wait, shows a nice attack and solid midpalate, with the finish just a bit weak. 5+12+16+7.
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1/15/2008 - DLT wrote: flawed
Corked.
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1/4/2008 - baja wrote: 90 Points
As suspected the first bottle I had of this must not have been a good example. This time round it is showing much nicer. Decanted for 1 hr. The color is ruby with a little slight bricking around the edge. Nice clean nose of red fruit, leather, mineral and cedar. The palate shows nice cassis, cherry, cedar and some nice spice. The tannins are just about fully integrated at this point. The long finish shows nice mineral notes but is a slight bit drying. I get no bitter notes like I found in the last bottle. This is an lighter style easy drinking LB.
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1/1/2008 - Gargoyle wrote: 87 Points
Decided based on recent disappointing Pichon Baron experience that the '94 Bordeaux need to be consumed! This had far more life in it than the Baron, with a good leather and red fruit nose, less faded colour (although still notable brick colour around the rim) and half decent length, but still tannic a fairly short finish for this wine (tasted the '97 later which was a far more elegant, structured classic Leoville Barton - rated 91). Glad most of my 1994's are gone.
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11/23/2007 - baja wrote:
Purchased from West Palm. High shoulder fill. Cork was soaked to the top....? storage condition. Decanted for 2 hrs. Color is dark Ruby with the slightest of bricking on edge. Nose of St. Julien mineral, red fruit, cedar, leather and shoe polish. Palate of cassis, cedar, tobacco and red berries, medium bodied with a bitter edge to it. There are firm bitter tannins present and the finish is medium . The wine seems flat...possibly not the best bottle to judge it by. This is an 87 but bottle may is suspect so not going to score.
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11/17/2007 - Tree512 wrote: 87 Points
Surprisingly easy to drink with little tannin left. Some ripe fruit but a giant hole in the mid palate and quite short. I would never have guessed this to be Leoville Barton of any vintage.
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11/1/2007 - Mark wrote: 87 Points
An off bottle? Tight, Austere, very tannic at first. On e hour later, tannins declined, but not very much. Spice box, leather and pepper. Dark fruit of cassis and current. Light during mid-body. Short finish and a little underwhelming.
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10/24/2007 - JScott wrote: 91 Points
Pleasantly surprised. Entering a nice window, some secondaries over plummy dark fruit. Still a more severe structure, which it may never overcome completely, but not off-putting.
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8/12/2007 - Griffin wrote:
Drank 18-Oct-2003
Far too fruity for my interest. B- was pleased with the assertiveness on the mid-palate.
(I’m sure that I would have a different opinion of the wine with my current tastes and preferences in 2007. I believe my impressions were influenced by the 1953 Lafite I drank with B- 4 days prior to drinking this wine)
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4/28/2007 - balassis wrote: 93 Points
Ruby/purple color, with some brown hues at the edges.An impressive nose of red fruits, leather and smoke. Very powerful on the palate, full-bodied with sweet tannins and layers of cherry jam, oaky vanilla and spices.Long - long finish, more than 30 sec. A great St Julien to drink absolutely. Good ageing potential for at least a decade.
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1/3/2007 - Tad GW wrote: 90 Points
Smoothe lush fruity wine with the tannins and acids in the background letting the lovely flavours and full fruit dominate. Drinking very, very well right now.
Even better on day 2. The fruit was rounder, the perfumes more intense and complex. Day two I would rate this a point or two higher than the rating below which was what I gave it on day one.
50+5+11+16+8=90
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12/4/2006 - Spencer wrote: 90 Points
Still quite young, but this is starting to come together. Balanced, with none of the green, woody notes that I picked up in the last bottle. This should improve, and age quite well. I would hold off on this wine for several more years.
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12/4/2006 - ERoss wrote: 91 Points
Leoville Barton Vertical; 12/4/2006-12/5/2006 (Spencer's): Still seemed quite youthful...not giving much on the nose, but I got cedar, black fruits, and dark chocolate. Good depth of flavor and textural richness when compared with the '93. Tannins starting to mellow, but still there in spades.
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10/16/2006 - cvvhrn wrote: 94 Points
It was an excellent wine! Classic Bordeaux nose with nice fruit balance, soft but could still store in the bottle for some time
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5/20/2006 - JScott wrote: 90 Points
Good, not great, probably won't ever be. On the other hand, has the stuff to age for years yet.
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5/17/2006 - Vine wrote:
Our first of three bottles purchased. Deeper red colour than I would have expected from this vintage. Very nice Bordeaux nose, which proved to promise better than the wine delivered. In the mouth - a touch oaky - not as concentrated as other vintages of Leoville Barton. Very nice but not great. For those into scores - say high 80's not low 90's. We've had other wines from this vintage - Haut Brion and Cheval Blanc - the Barton is not quite as good as these. Drink up!
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3/12/2006 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Elegant wine. Typical Bordeaux. Prime drinking now. Last bottle.
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3/10/2006 - The Thirsty Dog wrote: 89 Points
Nice wine with good fruit, balance and a nice firm nose to it. Have had since release and just opened for the first time. It is still a very young wine and needs another 3-4 years before it starts to show well I believe. Lots of firm tannin which will mellow over time.
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2/4/2006 - graemeg wrote:
The Leoville aromas were slightly more restrained, a little more reminiscent of cedar, and the palate was slightly better structured than the Wynns [86 John Riddoch], but perhaps more bony and angular. The two wines did a fascinating job of demonstrating two sides of the same varietal coin (although how much merlot is in the St Julien, I wonder?). 1994 in Bordeaux seems to be one of those neither-one-thing-nor-the-other vintages, and I suspect that for many of the wines there’s nowhere much left to go, so it was pleasing that this was as attractive as it was.
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1/28/2006 - dbkitc wrote:
Lovely garnet, just starting to mature Bordeaux color. Fabulous nose – 19+! Cassis, stones and just a hint of herbs – to me this is classic left bank Bordeaux smells. Just a hint of vanilla frames these elegant aromatics. Medium weight, with excellent richness. The palate is much more reserved than the nose – still tight though hinting at excellence – though I don’t think this will ever be outstanding. Wish I had more – this is a wine to begin drinking in 2010. (18)
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12/11/2005 - CSteefel wrote:
San Francisco Bay Area Leoville Barton Vertical (Moraga): Dark ruby red, this was one of the surprises of the evening. Surprisingly tannic, concentrated, and extracted on the palate, this wine showed a somewhat evolved but more subdued nose than the 1996 or 1990 on either side. Similar to the 1996 in the underlying level of extraction in the wine, still the Chateau seems to have carried it off quite well here. Most tasters thought this was an 89-90 point wine, but I would consider more in the range of a 91 pointer for the impressive combination of intense flavor, suave tannins, and St. Julien typicity it delivers. Any doubts about the quality of this wine are erased by the long finish it delivers.
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12/6/2005 - jamiekutch wrote: 90 Points
Dinner and tasting at Traci's; 12/1/2005-12/6/2005 (San Francisco): Plum dfruit the wine drank well. Some pencil lead with tannins that are well integrated into the wine. The finish is rather short though and after being with the wine for 20 minutes it began drying up and showed a touch green.
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10/17/2005 - Morten wrote:
With "Vinpanel" as last bottle. Unready but great and rich. deep colour. Fantastic for the vintage
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10/3/2005 - acinonyx wrote: 93 Points
Tasted multiple occasions. Wonderfully balanced, noble wine, great pleasure to drink. Nose classic St Julien - rich fruit, pencils, nothing out of place. Acidity good, tannins still a bit hard, but good mouthfeel and balance. Fortunately, there are no excessively fruity flavours that would be very out of place in a wine of structure such as this - a wine to think about and to understand its complexity, rather than a fruitcake. A finish that can only be described as dignified. One of the best 1994s!
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7/7/2005 - RJD wrote: 91 Points
A birthday wine for me. Great purple color, clear, with ever so faint bricking on the edges of the Vinums. Nose is absolutely wonderful. Without being able to describe all of the complexity, you know how great Bordeaux smells? Well this smelled like great Bordeaux. I can't express how nice a nose this is. The surprising thing is that cherry is one of the first scents that comes to mind. I know, I know, this is Bordeaux. But that is what I get. But I pick up currant and a ton of "earthiness" too. Perhaps some cedar. The tannins are "dusty" to me, although the acid, tannin and fruit seem to be in check (balanced). The disappointement here is that the fruit appears to be a tad muted (I don't dectect any TCA). I love this wine, but wish it had just a tad more fruit. However, I give a solid 91 points because this stuff was so good.
Night two: some interesting olive notes appear. Fruit has not increased, but perhaps more complexity?? Leather, pencil lead?? Still 91.
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3/1/2005 - winefool wrote: 90 Points
Bright purple. Nice aroma, OK fruit. 3/05
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8/7/2004 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
1994 Bordeaux at the 10 year mark (Yan's China Bistro, Walnut Creek, Ca.): Nose of black berry, black currants, and forest floor, on the palate, medium/big body, very tasty, mouth filling fruit, almost elegant, and a long, lovely finish with a hint of soft tannins on the aftertaste.
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7/7/2004 - Joe Belmaati wrote: 84 Points
Dark red in the glass. Completely closed on the nose, however a faint scent of wet bricks appeared with air. Somewhat thin and lean in the mouth with a hard flavour profile. Lacking roundness and sweetness, and dominated by harsh and dry tannins with a chalky dry finsh. Not so nice.
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4/6/2004 - Spencer wrote: 89 Points
First Tuesday Group - My House: 1994 Cabernet/Bordeaux Horizontal. This wine was also much better the next day. My ninth place, and the group's eighth place, wine. The three Bordeaux in this tasting just didn't match up favorably with the West Coast wines. They came across as hard, astringent, and somewhat devoid of fruit. The way it improved in bottle cheered me up somewhat though, since I have 11 bottles left of this. Perhaps it will be more giving in 5 years.
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4/2/2004 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 90 Points
Tasted unblinded at the Vintage Wines, Ltd. wine bar. Bright disc. Deep ruby/garnet robe with red rim. Clean nose, showing moderately intense aromas of currants, cherry, meat and brier. Full-bodied on the palate and relatively high in acid, with generous, somewhat coarse tannins and similar flavors as for the nose. Medium, dry finish. The fruit is there for this wine to improve, but the coarse character of the tannins is definitely the plague of the vintage.
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3/5/2004 - James Arthur wrote:
Rather classic nose of currants, with very deep colour, but a bit opaque. Nice depth, with classic Bdx balance and flavours. Just a hint of bitterness/stems. Very good, especially for weak vintage. About fullyt mature, I’d say.
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1/18/2003 - peternelson wrote: 95 Points
Red Carpet: Big dirt wine; Deep scarlet; mushroom nose, not lots gong on in nose; dark forest dirt mouth, heavy body, nice hi t’s.
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9/1/2002 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 91 Points
Bright disc. Opaque ruby with red rim. Clean nose, showing moderately-intense currants, cherry, pencil shavings and oak. Full-bodied on the palate, with massive, fairly well-integrated tannins. High acidity. Not yet complex. Medium, somewhat hot finish. Needs time.
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5/13/2002 - James Arthur wrote:
Good nose. Dense, with good body but a bit flabby and a hint of vegetal. Very good for th evintage, but not a great wine by any means.
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5/13/2002 - James Arthur wrote:
Had bad cold, so hard to tell much. Seemed a bit vegetal and dull, but I couldn’t smell anything, so....
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5/20/2001 - James Arthur wrote:
Very good. Excellent BDX nose, good fruit and drinking well now. Not too tannic. Very pleasant surprise from a marginal vintage.
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5/16/1997 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 93 Points
Tasted at Vintage Wines, Ltd. tasting bar. Deep ruby, red rim. Intense black cherry, cherry and currants on nose and palate. Medium body, medium oak. Long, supple finish. Excellent wine, especially for this vintage. Nice now, but will definitely improve
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