Gorgeous text book past peak claret nose on open, a bit thin / acidic on the palette. But over the course of 2 hours over dinner the wine blossomed into a wonderful ‘66. Past peak for sure, but graceful, dried cedar box, dried fruits, medium finish. Acquired in 1970, so bottle condition / storage was not an issue. Very high shoulder fill. A testament to both this Chateau, and the often overlooked ‘66 vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bottle filled to high shoulder. Cork came out cleanly.
On the nose, wonderful tertiary aromatics--sandalwood, cardamom, balsam, allspice.
In the glass, shows unexpected significant bricking at the rim, but with a core of deep red. Aromas of red and black cherry and lingonberry forward, picking up big, deep tertiary aromatics mid-palate--waves of sandalwood, frankincense, cardamom, allspice and pine forest--with more of the same echoing aft.
Tannins resolved, but still present, providing a minerality knitting this all together on the palate. Absolutely ethereal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 1966 Léoville Barton showcases the freshness and svelte profile which typifies the vintage. Here the nose too offers a red fruit profile - red cherry and tangy redcurrant preserves - with a panoply of pine forest, cedar, cardamom, and leather. So fresh and drinkable now, those famous 1966 tannins having finally melted away.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a 375. Have opened a couple of these in the last 6 months, and most have been DOA. This bottle had better fill and is very intriguing. Very pale translucent rim but still some dark color at its core. Soy, faded leaves, spicy tobacco and black earth on the nose. Fully tertiary flavors on the palate, with nice crisp red fruit, soy and hints of spice. Lovely old claret.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another great showing for this wine in the traditional, elegant style. Aromatics dominated by earthy, cigarbox and mushroom aromas. Impeccably balanced, long pleasant finish. Cork in decent condition, high neck fill. Decanted one hour prior to dinner. Not holding on too much longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
High neck fill. cork came out in one piece in good shape. Decanted just prior to serving. Classic St Julien profile just a little on the decline: tannins mostly dissolved, fruit drying up just a little but beautiful evolved cigarbox and spicy notes. Excellent complexity. Very elegant wine. Drink up
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Route 66 - Bordeaux Exploration (Vaucluse Townhouse): Saints B: Came across as a bit more aged than some of the other wines to me. Some of that saddle oil. A bit of must. Still tasty, but not quite at the same level.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From the oenotheque machines at Hedonism in London. I was excited to try this one. ‘66 is an underrated year I think. Unfortunately a bit over the hill (note it had been in the machine for 4 days so not saying the vintage is). From a half bottle. Still the dried fruit and potpourri and leather but also that touch of the bad acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Poker night and Chris graciously popped a 1966 Cos and 1966 Leoville Barton.
In line with recent CT notes, the Leoville was the more lively wine and showed greater body and balance. It needed at least an hour in the decanter and was still developing three hours later. Slight barnyard, old baseball mitt, dried rose petals, Asian spice, and some acetate on the nose. After some air it had nice weight with good acidity for the finish. I got weird flavors, including tomato paste, but I guess that's part of the experience of an old wine from an off vintage.
The Cos was well past it's prime. Neat mix of Barnyard, leather, cedar, and spice on the nose. The palette seemed to have faded years ago and offered little to compete with the remaining tannins.
The Cos had a better fill by at least half an inch but the cork on the Leoville was in better shape and came out in one piece.
Both paired great with Thai takeout.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
LJ's Annual Luncheon (RDG): From magnum. Consumed with Anthony Barton, who had nice things to say about the wine. I sat at the table of the original purchaser of the bottle, and it had hibernated in his cellar since he purchased it. A fine example of mature claret -- a gentleman of a wine. Delicate and lovely. The Barton was the most "perfect" of the three '66s poured -- the tired fruit, acid, and tannin all still in balance. Maybe a once in a lifetime experience!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a stunning Bordeaux now in its 46th year. The wine was still tightly constructed expressing elegance and breed. The nose was ebullient with scents of roses and lilacs and dark cherries with tobacco and cedar. The taste was ripe and filled with cedary black cherries, currants and wild mushrooms with a hint of cigar box. WOW! The French are world class wine makers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Anthony Barton Dinner (Texture London): Anthony Barton said that it was from his Uncle's time and not one of his. In those days there was not a lot of money to spend on barrels or other items.
The wine was lovely for such an elder statesman. Slightly fading but still has all the elements of a classic bordeaux.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A Weekend in Excess; 1/20/2012-1/21/2012 (Trondheim, Norway): In neck. Wine Society botteling. Slightly darker than Lascobes; Shy nose, some spices and decaying logs; rather light in the mouth, refreshing, moderate body, the acidity carries the wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The fill was mid shoulder and appeared red in bottle. Cork totally wet to the top. Used the Durand and cork came out fine. Nice dark burgundy color but dead as a door nail. Watched in over 3 hours and did not improve. Worth a shot at $70.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby center, brick at edge. Cedar, tobacco, leather, very "lower Radcliffe Camera" kind of profile - old books. On the nose and palate, a lot of the primaries are faded, but some redcurrant still remains. What a comforting wine!
drunk along side a 52 haut brion, this was remarkably similar in it's disposition. expressive, mature nose of leather, great color, nice midpalate structure, and then a finish that dropped like a jumper off the cliffs of mohr.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Base neck fill. Cork was correct but unfortunately broke off into two pieces. Very dark in color which was surprising for its age. Tastes of blackberry, blackcurrant, leather, tobacco and earth. Very mature fruit on the palate and finish. A touch flat and tired with not much depth or elegance. In good shape but not really in my wheelhouse tonight. Held up for about 45 minutes in the glass and then started to degrade.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fully mature and resolved. Well balanced, complex, with and with a surprising amount of fruit left. Well-cellared bottles should last a little longer, but I would drink this up soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Leoville Barton Vertical; 12/4/2006-12/5/2006 (Spencer's): A nice, well balanced old-style Bordeaux. Lightish in color, with pleasing aromatics of strawberry and leather. Certainly not getting any better, but a testament to the staying power of aged Bordeaux, even in less celebrated vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1966 BORDEAUX (Walnut Creek, Ca.): Brick red color in the glass, nice fruit, on the nose, rich, luscious fruit, nice fruit on the finish, hint of acid on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
With MPL and BLR at S&F survey of '66 Bordeaux. Good mature ruby. Very herbal aroma, bordering on the objectionable. Ditto on the palate. Not my style. 5-8-10-4: 77/100.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
10/7/2023 - Old Wine Maven Likes this wine:
Gorgeous text book past peak claret nose on open, a bit thin / acidic on the palette. But over the course of 2 hours over dinner the wine blossomed into a wonderful ‘66. Past peak for sure, but graceful, dried cedar box, dried fruits, medium finish. Acquired in 1970, so bottle condition / storage was not an issue. Very high shoulder fill. A testament to both this Chateau, and the often overlooked ‘66 vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2023 - jhrabideau Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bottle filled to high shoulder. Cork came out cleanly.
On the nose, wonderful tertiary aromatics--sandalwood, cardamom, balsam, allspice.
In the glass, shows unexpected significant bricking at the rim, but with a core of deep red. Aromas of red and black cherry and lingonberry forward, picking up big, deep tertiary aromatics mid-palate--waves of sandalwood, frankincense, cardamom, allspice and pine forest--with more of the same echoing aft.
Tannins resolved, but still present, providing a minerality knitting this all together on the palate. Absolutely ethereal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2021 - englishman's claret wrote: 93 Points
The 1966 Léoville Barton showcases the freshness and svelte profile which typifies the vintage. Here the nose too offers a red fruit profile - red cherry and tangy redcurrant preserves - with a panoply of pine forest, cedar, cardamom, and leather. So fresh and drinkable now, those famous 1966 tannins having finally melted away.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2021 - Burgnick wrote: flawed
In magnum. Maderized.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2020 - jreis Likes this wine:
From a 375. Have opened a couple of these in the last 6 months, and most have been DOA. This bottle had better fill and is very intriguing. Very pale translucent rim but still some dark color at its core.
Soy, faded leaves, spicy tobacco and black earth on the nose. Fully tertiary flavors on the palate, with nice crisp red fruit, soy and hints of spice. Lovely old claret.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2019 - vagrantone Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another great showing for this wine in the traditional, elegant style.
Aromatics dominated by earthy, cigarbox and mushroom aromas. Impeccably balanced, long pleasant finish.
Cork in decent condition, high neck fill.
Decanted one hour prior to dinner.
Not holding on too much longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2019 - vagrantone Likes this wine: 92 Points
High neck fill.
cork came out in one piece in good shape.
Decanted just prior to serving.
Classic St Julien profile just a little on the decline: tannins mostly dissolved, fruit drying up just a little but beautiful evolved cigarbox and spicy notes. Excellent complexity. Very elegant wine. Drink up
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2019 - MC2 Wines wrote:
Route 66 - Bordeaux Exploration (Vaucluse Townhouse): Saints B: Came across as a bit more aged than some of the other wines to me. Some of that saddle oil. A bit of must. Still tasty, but not quite at the same level.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2018 - MC2 Wines wrote:
From the oenotheque machines at Hedonism in London. I was excited to try this one. ‘66 is an underrated year I think. Unfortunately a bit over the hill (note it had been in the machine for 4 days so not saying the vintage is). From a half bottle. Still the dried fruit and potpourri and leather but also that touch of the bad acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2015 - overhill wrote: 90 Points
Poker night and Chris graciously popped a 1966 Cos and 1966 Leoville Barton.
In line with recent CT notes, the Leoville was the more lively wine and showed greater body and balance. It needed at least an hour in the decanter and was still developing three hours later. Slight barnyard, old baseball mitt, dried rose petals, Asian spice, and some acetate on the nose. After some air it had nice weight with good acidity for the finish. I got weird flavors, including tomato paste, but I guess that's part of the experience of an old wine from an off vintage.
The Cos was well past it's prime. Neat mix of Barnyard, leather, cedar, and spice on the nose. The palette seemed to have faded years ago and offered little to compete with the remaining tannins.
The Cos had a better fill by at least half an inch but the cork on the Leoville was in better shape and came out in one piece.
Both paired great with Thai takeout.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2014 - englishman's claret wrote:
a tired half bottle
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2012 - THA wrote:
LJ's Annual Luncheon (RDG): From magnum. Consumed with Anthony Barton, who had nice things to say about the wine. I sat at the table of the original purchaser of the bottle, and it had hibernated in his cellar since he purchased it. A fine example of mature claret -- a gentleman of a wine. Delicate and lovely. The Barton was the most "perfect" of the three '66s poured -- the tired fruit, acid, and tannin all still in balance. Maybe a once in a lifetime experience!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2012 - johnwine Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is a stunning Bordeaux now in its 46th year. The wine was still tightly constructed expressing elegance and breed. The nose was ebullient with scents of roses and lilacs and dark cherries with tobacco and cedar. The taste was ripe and filled with cedary black cherries, currants and wild mushrooms with a hint of cigar box. WOW! The French are world class wine makers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2012 - RayOB wrote: 90 Points
Anthony Barton Dinner (Texture London): Anthony Barton said that it was from his Uncle's time and not one of his. In those days there was not a lot of money to spend on barrels or other items.
The wine was lovely for such an elder statesman. Slightly fading but still has all the elements of a classic bordeaux.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2012 - LWI wrote: 91 Points
A Weekend in Excess; 1/20/2012-1/21/2012 (Trondheim, Norway): In neck. Wine Society botteling. Slightly darker than Lascobes; Shy nose, some spices and decaying logs; rather light in the mouth, refreshing, moderate body, the acidity carries the wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2011 - gasman wrote: flawed
The fill was mid shoulder and appeared red in bottle. Cork totally wet to the top. Used the Durand and cork came out fine. Nice dark burgundy color but dead as a door nail. Watched in over 3 hours and did not improve. Worth a shot at $70.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2008 - englishman's claret wrote:
Ruby center, brick at edge. Cedar, tobacco, leather, very "lower Radcliffe Camera" kind of profile - old books. On the nose and palate, a lot of the primaries are faded, but some redcurrant still remains. What a comforting wine!
* * * *
0 = undrinkable, 1 = poor, 2 = mediocre, 3 = good, 4 = very good, 5 = superb
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/26/2008 - jeff nowak wrote:
drunk along side a 52 haut brion, this was remarkably similar in it's disposition. expressive, mature nose of leather, great color, nice midpalate structure, and then a finish that dropped like a jumper off the cliffs of mohr.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2008 - kstoddard wrote: 87 Points
Base neck fill. Cork was correct but unfortunately broke off into two pieces. Very dark in color which was surprising for its age. Tastes of blackberry, blackcurrant, leather, tobacco and earth. Very mature fruit on the palate and finish. A touch flat and tired with not much depth or elegance. In good shape but not really in my wheelhouse tonight. Held up for about 45 minutes in the glass and then started to degrade.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2006 - Spencer wrote: 91 Points
Fully mature and resolved. Well balanced, complex, with and with a surprising amount of fruit left. Well-cellared bottles should last a little longer, but I would drink this up soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2006 - ERoss wrote: 90 Points
Leoville Barton Vertical; 12/4/2006-12/5/2006 (Spencer's): A nice, well balanced old-style Bordeaux. Lightish in color, with pleasing aromatics of strawberry and leather. Certainly not getting any better, but a testament to the staying power of aged Bordeaux, even in less celebrated vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/1991 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 85 Points
1966 BORDEAUX (Walnut Creek, Ca.): Brick red color in the glass, nice fruit, on the nose, rich, luscious fruit, nice fruit on the finish, hint of acid on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/1989 - MicklethePickle Does not like this wine: 77 Points
With MPL and BLR at S&F survey of '66 Bordeaux. Good mature ruby. Very herbal aroma, bordering on the objectionable. Ditto on the palate. Not my style. 5-8-10-4: 77/100.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment