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 core, aple rim. Nose shows red and balck berries, touch of gravel. Slightly reticent. Medium bodied, red-toned fruit, cedar, decent length but slightly drying tannins on the finish.
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1989 Bordeaux Horizontal - London (Piccolino, Exchange Square): Inky blue fruits here. Cool and savoury. Palate classical Barton with lots of cedar and classy plum fruits. Palate has a lovely spiciness. Tannins are resolved. With air a subtle star anise character emerges. Very classy.
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Still a tad tannic right out of the bottle. Decanted half the bottle for 30 minutes, tried, then added the rest to decanter. Nice nose after decanting that wasn't there upon opening. Enjoyed the bottle, fun to drink an older wine.
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Double-decanted and consumed over 2 days (2/3 of the bottle kept in the fridge). Tobacco, fresh mint, cool graphite notes, leather and fruit of cherry and dark berry. Fresh and juicy but with limited structure. Otherwise powdery tannin. This has aged gracefully and shows a beautiful mature aroma profile. Was even better on day 2.
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On the downward slope, but still enjoyable. Garnet with some bricking. Faint forest floor and tobacco, frame some fruit. Fine dusty tannins, and decent acidity. Will not evolve any further, but a nice wine to open asap.
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Quick double-decant recommended. Fully mature nose of mushrooms, truffles, forest floor, tobacco along with dark cherry and blueberry fruit. The palate is mature, light and delicate, with a satin texture and impeccable balance. The finish is long and accentuates tobacco flavors while still carrying the earthy base notes. This 1989 is in great shape and at its absolute peak. A beautifully scented, detailed and magistral wine.
Greatest Hits of the 1980s and 1990s Bordeaux (Hawksmoor Guildhall): Deep red. Initially muted on the nose, giving little up and I found it needed some coaxing to emerge. What 33 year old wine needs coaxing?! Wow! Cassis and cream starts to grow on you as you warm and swirl, and the first sip can only be described as a silken caress. It glides. This is a reallly sexy wine, feminine, lithe, elegant, cool, with no rough edges. It is also very precise and focussed, not hiding in it's shell, but nonetheless streamlined and reserved. A wonderful bottle that we all really enjoyed, but pipped to the post for me by the more developed and tertiary 1985 Gruaud-Larose.
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Greatest Hits of the 1980s & 1990s Bordeaux (Hawksmoor Guildhall, London, UK): Wow. Cool fruited with the tiniest nudge to grated milk chocolate on the nose on pouring. The chocolate soon fades but a charming nose of irises, some red fruits a little smokiness emerges with some Parma ham top notes. Texturally gorgeous and multilayered with fully resolved tannins, a little tea leaf and cigar box. When served alongside the 1990 I have always tended to have a slight preference for the that wine but tonight the 1989 is just ahead. Both gorgeous. My 2nd wine of the night.
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Colour deep red. Nose cigar box(that's the first time I have used the expression but it was true especially when recently opened). The different tastes evolved in the course of the evening - really nice wine
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Cork Vault Bottle Share 9.1.22 (Charlotte, NC): Decanted for two hours before sampling and tasting over the subsequent two hours. It needed every ounce of air you could give it. Opulent nose of cedar and tobacco. Full-bodied on the palate with well-integrated tannins allowed the red and black fruits to deftly shine over the gentle tobacco notes. Excellent length on the finish. An exceedingly high quality wine.
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Double decanted in the AM for sediment, at which time it was a little tight, then decanted and drunk over a couple hours in the PM. Full disclosure, I adore Leoville Barton.
A beautiful nose of cassis, violet, tobacco, and soil notes. A fantastic and comforting nose like your favorite old blue jeans. On the palate, it's mid plus weighted and classically proportioned, but the magic of the nose was not matched by the palate. I'm picking nits here as it was quite good, but relatively firm at first and a little compact on the palate, with more of the same cassis, tobacco, violet, and some ferrous notes on the back end. Even after a few hours, it finishes a bit clipped for what the nose promised. Still outstanding and then some, but not the best bottle I have had. The nose was wonderful, the palate merely very good to outstanding. I don't think this is drying out or fading, but I'll likely try another bottle some time not too far away. 92
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Cool and classical. Cedar and a mix of black and red currant. Mellow, mature claret with a good dash of vintage richness. Mellow, rich and balanced. ****
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Reserved, black fruited and tea leaf, apricot and vanilla. It’s brooding and young. Tannins still have the hint of grit. It’s still got greatness in 10 years
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I suppose every bottle is different but it’s hard for me to believe anyone can rate this in the high 80s. I bought this at auction and that is sometimes a risk but this wine is absolutely stellar and right in it’s prime!
Wet Cedar and Moss, tobacco, garlic clove, and a burst of sweet cherry that lingers on the palette. Fresh yet complex… Beautiful wine!!
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Bought this wine earlier this year from an estate sale, so I was really unsure of how it would come out.
I must say, I was very surprised. Absolutely stunning. Leather, earth, clove, red cherries on the nose. Velvet on the palate. Finish is long and slightly austere. Prime drinking window at the moment, at least my bottle is.
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Cranky, old-school, austere wine with firm, rustic tannins and a big dose of cedar, tobacco leaf, bright, crisp, crunchy red fruits, and a lean, bordering on severe finish.
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This started out a little weak but gained complexity with time. Ruby with lite pale rim, cab-tobacco notes, mineral, gravel, good acidity, dry med. tannins, got a little more floral after 15 min. First scored it 89, then 91 later. DD Bordeaux 1989-2000 Lawson's Steakhouse
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Quite youthful for a 1989. Clearly this wine was built to last. Seems to have reached a plateau, but certainly no signs of decline.
LB is always regal and supremely balanced, and this one is no exception. But that perfect balance comes at a cost- nothing really stands out, and it's very hard to figure out what LB's unique selling point is.
A good pairing is critical, which this didn't have this evening. But even so there is better value elsewhere.
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Wasn’t showing as many tertiary notes as the other wines and somehow was less noted. A little tight still but well structured and still showing fruit. Definitely life left it in for several years.
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Gareth's Bordeaux Dinner - Hawksmoor Guildhall (Hawksmoor, Guildhall, London): Very deep ruby/garnet, narrow pale rim. Quite reserved on the nose at first then showing ripe black fruits - cassis, smoky mineral, touch of tobacco. Medium bodied, lovely dark fruit, tobacco, gravelly mineral, quite soft but very intense, fresh acidity carrying a long, harmonious finish. Excellent, drinking really well.
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Stored in a cold cellar since release. Entrancing fruit , cedar bouquet. Fully resolved. Lovely flavour and balance. A wine of precision that fades with grace. A point but time in hand.
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The 1989 Léoville Barton is another example of a wine showing better from large format (6L) than I recall from 750. Winsome; redcurrant, rose, and cedar, elegant and fully resolved with a wonderful medium weight. A wonderful accompaniment to dinner, a charmer.
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DnP. Deep medium red, yellow tinged, 5.5. Wonderful mature classic Haut-Medoc bouquet, forest floor, pencil, herbaceous, jasmin flower, complex. Harmonious palate, almost resolved tannins, elegant long finish. Drink now-2035. Wauvv, this was in perfect condition. All what I expect from a mature left bank Bdx.
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This is why you buy Bordeaux (when you are young) and keep it in your cellar for 25+ years. This wine was a joy to drink! Black plum and some black current, cigar box, fine leather, pencil lead, impeccable claret structure. My only criticism is that the oak remained fairly prominent and might have melded better. It may need a bit of time. The dregs were poured out of the bottle about 18 hours after it was opened (intact cork). The dregs had not faded one bit on the nose or palate. Bravo!
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This is still delicious! Great bouquet mostly of ripe fruit, plum and raisin (it was a hot year apparently), complemented with cedarwood and earthy element. This wine has still great freshness and is balanced and concentrated. The acidity has come a bit more forward as you would expect with aging. Nice full finish. Just great classical Bordeaux, elegant and delicate.
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Great bottle - compared with the '89 Pavie (the latter a slight winner in my view). Fantastic freshness and still lot's of tannins left. Hard to believe that this is over 30y old, so lively and nice dark fruit. I think this has still at least 10y left. There is just nothing that compares with quality aged bordeaux. What a joy
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The wine is clear, medium intense Ruby core with a medium broad watery rim, developing
Nose is clean, medium intense aromas of dark plums, cigar box, bellpepper, bandage, pencil, textbook Bordeaux, developed
Palate is dry, medium alcohol, medium ripe and silky tannins, medium+ acidity and flavour intensity, medium body, dark plums, dark cherries, pencil, ceder, bellpepper, touch of bitterness in a long finish
Very well balanced, long smooth finish, intense acidity, very complex and solid concentration. Believe this is perfect now, will keep for a long time, but absolutely a joy to drink now. Outstanding quality, 93-94p
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Nice bottle from auction. Plenty of life, no bricking. Floral nose with mild earthiness. Present fruit, but light and with tannic grip. Just great bottle.
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Immaculate cork and levels. Fully translucent. Light brick throughout, slight yellowing at rim, looking fully mature. Rich, sweet nose - vanilla, cherries, red meat. Medium to full bodied, tannin and fruit in perfect harmony. Sensational. Definitely worth drinking up though nothing to suggest it won’t hang in there for a few more years yet.
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Not a great bottle. Same source as my last which was similar. Cork was perfect. Purchased from reliable retailer. Heavily bricked. Tired nose, tertiary fruits. Just a hint of mint on the palate showing a little life but otherwise all tertiary mature notes, brown sugar etc. Unexpectantly tired for a leoville Barton. Drinkable but not interesting or enjoyable.
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Still stunning. Plenty of raisin/tobacco/dried fruit with loads of spice and earthy qualities on the nose. Fresh soil, leather, and a dark core of fruit show beautifully with medium mouthfeel/tannin/acidity all in balance. Incredible, peaking I’d say. Drink now and over the next 5+ years.
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1989/1990 St. Julien Bordeaux (Yan's China Bistro, Walnut Creek, Ca.): Nose of black berry, black cherry, red cherry, and roasted coffee grounds, opened slowly but steadily and finally showed a good nose at the 40 minute mark, same on the palate, big body, tasty, smooth, slight hint of very, very soft tannins on the midpalate, and medium/long finish, at peak so enjoy anytime the next 5 years.
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Bottle and cork were in perfect condition; the filling-level was into the neck, no seepage, the cork came out in one piece. The wine was dark ruby in colour and offered black currant, cherry, bell pepper, cold-brew black coffee, cedar and tobacco as well as spice, balsamic notes and a mineral component, with lively acidity, fine, firm, mostly resolved tannin and very good length. Medium-bodied, dense, complex and Incredibly smooth, like pure silk! Less firm and more open than the bottle I had earlier this year. Larissa and I both liked the wine a lot. No need to hurry; this lovely St. Julien is showing well but also still has as a long life ahead.
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Great nose that was initially heavy on forest floor and and a nearly Mouton-like lead characteristic. The wild earth started to fade to show more ripe but developed red berry. Softer palate and thinning out a touch on the back end. Showed way above its calibre, very happy.
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Grand Cru Wines at The Kenwood (The Kenwood, Mpls, MN): Very dark red/purple color. 30 minutes splash double decant; drank a glass over 90 minutes. The nose shows outstanding purity to the dominant grahite aromas, very pretty with the black fruit sliding in and slowly coming more to the front, a touch of funk with the leathery earth. The palate is also stellar, enticing tannins, cassis, dark berries, tobacco, graphite, savory and full bodied. This is integrating well now, and shows the structure to easily make this a 50+ year wine. Outstanding. 94(+?)pts.
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Not sure why this is mostly getting low 90s scores but I loved our btl tonight! Thanks Dan! Tonight's blt was still a semi opaque ruby red in color with some lightening on the edges. This displayed pretty much anything you ever wanted from aged BDX but still seemed pretty youthful in a 90%+ resolved way at age 30! In other words if I live long enough this may drink well and likely even better on its 60th birthday! Tonight it showed the richness of the vintage but was still energetic and fleet of foot. Loaded with; dark fruit, tobacco leaf, cedar, and Barton minerality this is one delicious and at the same time ethereal glass of wine. The nose echos the palate and both make for a harmonious symphony. And, this still likely improves, crazy!
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even in the company of several fine reds, '98 Aldo Conterno, '08 Thomas Pinot Noir, Tempier Migoua the Leoville Barton was noteworthy. A consummate Saint Julien at its peak; lovely developed nose, a soft rich mouthfeel and flavours that carry seamlessly into a fine, long finish. I will drink my last two bottles as occasions arise.
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Second Sunday Group: 1989 Bordeaux (MiY's): Double blind. Aromas of mixed fruit, perfumey floral elements, cedar, tobacco and spice. Good fruit on the palate, more dark than red, with spice and tobacco flavors too. Here is another that shuts down in the glass,becoming much less expressive...tight, though not as tannic and without the austerity of wine D. 88-8 pts.
My #7, Domino's #1 Group #4, 53 pts
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Po’s 89 Bordeaux @ Trompette (La Trompette, London): Almost a touch of honey here. A broader, looser nose but quite a bright, pinched palate before opening up to show a smoothness with a giving and very attractive harmonious mid palate to finish. ****
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1989 Bordeaux Dinner (Joseph's Place, Wong Chung Hang, Hong Kong): Almost-opaque fresh ruby/purple. Nose is absolute unmistakable St Julien... sun warmed cedar woods, warm damp earth, hints of white mushrooms, quartz minerals...complex. Palate is medium but fresh acidity, deep compote blackberry, slightly smoky, a little bit monotone and rustic. Good length and resonance. Very good but lacking a bit in sophistication, especially on the palate. 91-92.
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Best bottle of wine that I've had in recent memory, but then again I haven't pulling the good and old stuff very often. But on the occasion of friends visiting from Montana and others joining us for dinner, I popped this for a guest who was interested in trying a Bordeaux. Purchased as futures. Stored in a cool/humid underground cellar early on and then in climate controlled free standing unit the last 10 years. No ullage. Cork was minimally saturated about 1/4 of the way up. Minimal sediment. Decanted and poured into Riedel Sommelier Grand Cru and also a Bordeaux Vinum. Deep red/purple with only a hint of a lighter rim. Amazing intensity of color at 30 years. Intense, complex nose of dark, restrained fruit and tobacco/cedar that was intoxicating. In the mouth, complex, similar flavors and the most delicious, soft, integrated tannins with a long delicious finish that lingered and lingered. This is how I imagined buying and laying down wines could reward decades later. A gift from the 36 year old me to the now 66 year old me and new friends. Does it get better than this as far as the experience that wine and food deliver, sans scores?
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Decanted about 1 hour prior to serving and consumed over the next 2 hours. Virtually opaque black-garnet color. Moderately complex and beautifully balanced nose of tobacco, red fruit, coffee, and cedar. Very silky and balanced on the palate as well with an overall palate impression of grace and fullness but lacking power and some depth. The wine held up nicely for about 2 hours and then began to fade.
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Drank from decanter (briefly) at Intersect. Wine was a bit thin, reserved, short at first taste. Let sit in decanter and half-way thru our meal, the wine had evolved and improved dramatically. Nose of cassis, tobacco and coffee, fruit evolved and became more apparent. Wine showed nice depth, good length, with lots of tertiary stuff--mushrooms, earth, cedar. What started out as an ok wine became a lovely, example of a well-aged left banker that is in a good place. Drink now but def decant!
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Third Bordeaux of the night. Very reserved, particularly after the inviting, expressive, flavourful Prieuré-Lichine 1986. Lovely black fruit, black currant, blackberry and black cherry fruit despite of its age, joined my mineral and balsamic notes, with fine, firm tannin and good (but not great) length. Very firm and restrained. Good structure. Elegant, even aristocratic.
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Holiday dinner at the French Embassy, Washington D.C. (French Embassy): Of the three late 80s Bordeaux from this first flight, the most "seamless" and in that sense, the most successful, although the Rauzan may have more personality? We did not spend as much time with these three as we should have, I fear, but I give the edge to the Léoville Barton 1989, a wine I have always enjoyed - and more than the 1990. It gives off notes of cassis and lead pencil but rather subtle in expression, certainly very (too?) smooth in texture, with subtle richness. Time in glass lends more weight. A long finish. I have another bottle and will spend more time with it next time!
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Drinking at peak and ready to go, lots of complexity and classic Bordeaux character, green tobacco and pepper strong, tart red currant, late bitter mineral; good but lacks the depth to be great.
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Bordeaux Wimps (10 Years and Counting) (La Trompette, Chiswick): 5/12. Medium/deep garnet. Complex nose, mainly red fruit, plenty of gravelly mineral and smoke. Medium bodied, minerally fruit, more black-toned than the nose perhaps, earth, with fine if stubbornly fine tannin, and then fresh acidity carrying a good length finish. Excellent
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Bordeaux 1989 (@ Monarh): Beautiful bouquet with dark berries, earth, autumn forest, beautiful oak and cedar. Same on the palate, graphite, chocolate, earth, mushrooms and a firm amount of acidity.
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For me this was the wine of the evening. I love Leoville Barton wine's and this is a great example of why I chase them. Classic St. Julian. Did not decant but it had a lot of sediment. Quick pour over to collect the sediment before serving and it showed perfectly. Another stellar 1989 from the left bank.
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Short decant. Very nice but rather mature compared to other 89's I've had lately. Have 3 bottles left and will probably consume the remaining within 10 years.
Decanted 1 hour. Dense ruby to full garnet. Classic st Julian nose, cedar and sandalwood with some blackcurrant and a touch of mulberry. Nothing flashy, just understated elegance. Satisfying. Seems to get a ldttle lighter and brighter and redder fruited towards the end of the bottle. ****
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Bordeaux 1989 blind tasting, wine #8: One of very few chateaux's still owned by the same family since the classification 1855.
Lush and generous wine wth grand aromas, almost new world in character. Complex and exotic nose with Christmas spices, ginger, eucalyptus, violet, cedar, tobacco, plums, citrus, coca cola, roasted notes, multi layered and nuanced. 7 votes.
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11th of 12. 1 hour decant. Quite closed on the nose but a great deal of flavour on palate. Leather, earth, leaves and coffee with herby plum/prune fruit. Quite austere on finish and not terribly long. Drunk with steak and jacket potato. Superb. 4+/5
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Vertical tasting at home - 1989, 1996, 2005, 2012. The group rated this as the second best of the night. Color of red in the middle with brown, and slightly clear, edges. Scents of mushroom, barnyard and light touch of red fruits. Tastes were consistent with scents, with medium acidity and comparatively very little tannins.
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Dark red as expected. Brooding nose not particularly open. This has opened up in the 10 years since last tasted, but still seems young and primary with firm tannins. I'm guessing sometime in the next decade it will get to the next stage! Served alongside a very nice but unextraordinary 1990 Pichon Lalande and with scallop and monkfish skewers and the cheese course. Excellent.
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Double decanted in AM and drunk over several hours.
On the nose, cassis, violets, bitter chocolate, pencil shavings, and stony fruit. A little more structured on the plate than the perfumed nose would suggest. A little ferrous undertone on the palate. Stone and wet gravel, cassis and dark fruits. It is a little compact at first, but grows. Drinking at early peak and I suspect will be better in 5-10 years Very long. 93
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Wine-Pages Glasgow Festival of Wine Post Offline (The Western Club, Glasgow): Compared to the 1982 drank alongside this, this has a much more closed, muted nose. Sweet blackcurrant fruit is eventually released, and it's clear there's some class here. Lighter and fresher than the 1982 (which is hardly surprising, though the degree to which it is, is greater than I'd probably have expected). This feels almost too young, with relatively fresh fruit and a firm tannic structure. Almost feels a bit separate on the palate.
Barton tasting with Damien Barton Sartorius (Gordon's): Red brick. Showing signs of age (more than it should at this point). Some fruit and tannins are still there, but this is tired and drinking like it is 20 years older than it is (and not in a good way.) Flawed bottle?
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Leoville Barton at Gordon's (Gordons Waltham): color garnet with some browning at edges. nose has leather licorice and chocolate and seems a little heat damaged. a pity because despite this the wine stills shows its class. was able to smell a glass from a second bottle that was much better and if the rest of the lineup was any indicator, this is likely a show-stopper
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Aroma: ripe black-currant, coffee, leather, spice, wood, Medium-bodied+ with good acidity and mature and fine grained tannins. Soft and balanced. Very, very good length. (93)
Excellent and mature Saint-Julien. Do decant. Needed two hours to open up.
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The 1989 Léoville Barton is still a very youthful, tight wine, even in the context of the slow-evolving 1989 vintage. A pretty classic bouquet of cassis, cedar, rich soil and a nice framing of new oak is followed by a powerful, intense wine that need a good decade more in the cellar to unwind.
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Perfekter Korken, grauenhaftes Etikett. 1 Stunde karaffiert. Glänzendes Rubinrot mit Brauntönen. In der Nase Tabak, Rauch, schwarze Kirschen und Brombeeren. Frisch mit einem Hauch Eukalyptus und Kräutern. Wunderbarer reifer Bordeaux, wie hab ich das vermisst.
Eine leicht saftig, cremige Textur mit feinsandigen Tanninen. Mittelkräftiger Körper. Schöne Harmonie von klassischen, gereiften Bdx Aromen, etwas Kraut, dunkle Früchte, Blaubeeren. Da passt alles zusammen. Geräuchte Paprika, Datteln. Säure ist präsent, aber sehr harmonisch integriert. Langer Abgang. 92/100
www.vvWine.ch
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Tight with very austere fruit. Still quite tannic. Not showing much tonight. Still obvious upside but tonight suggests that the wait will be longer and the upside less versus previous expectations
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Dinner with Dan, Manette and Evan (Dan & Manette's house): Ahh, aged Bordeaux. Has the approachability and fragrance of the 1989's at this point, but also the freshness and structure of Leoville Barton. Best of both worlds. Medium weight with good combination of red and blue fruit (more red, really). Drinking well out of the bottle; didn't go downhill over 2 hours. Decant not necessary, but helped open somewhat over 30 minutes. Gorgeous wine. Classic St Julien, classic Barton. More, please.
Everything that can be gorgeous in Claret is here. Luscious and perfumed black fruit. Smoky incense and violets with tobacco and cedar. This is silky and creamy with a strong backbone of minerality and tannin. The tannins are still firm given the age, but are finely grained and support the whole thing beautifully. Everything here is pure, but there is a certain ethereal note that brings it all home. Stunning (and especially with lamb).
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Good cork. Decanted 1/2 hour. Medium/deep garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose is smoky, minerally, underlying mainly black fruit. Medium bodied, smoky, red and black berry fruit, a touch of savour, tannins still a touch firm but not obtrusive, balanced acidity, very good length finish with a touch of creamy red fruit coming through. Excellent, if not quite with the interest of some previous bottles.
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Bordeaux Wimps, Benoît Chamoux table (La Trompette, London): Double decanted four hours in advance. Mid garnet to ruby at the core. Cedar and spice on the nose. Classic restrained St Julien palate. Classic Barton in a rich vintage. ****
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(Purchased from Belmont 11/2015) Cork was in bad shape and readily slid into the bottle. Wine exhibited significant TCA, though this dissipated over three days. However, the wine was ultimately dried out. Too bad; seemed to be brilliantly balanced with perfect weight and good fruit. How sad. Probably poor storage.
bonus bottle cracked generously by Alex nose - tobacco, hay, funk, soy sauce mouth - complex cherry fruit, hints of orange peel and tobacco. delicious and very open for business.
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With dear friends today for lunch "at the turn" :)
Stood 750ml for weeks. It might've gotten shaken in some car travel over this weekend but nothing tragic. No decant this time, simply popped cork 30 mins ahead, then served with a terrific rack of lamb. Another strong showing and quite similar to my previous one: "Classic Barton profile on the nose (cedar, leather) and palate (great structure, grippy tannins holding dark red fruit, oak fading). Medium-plus finish. Continued to improve in the glass over the course of an hour, slowly gaining weight without any drying." The nose grew a bit more reticent after the hour, while the palate was filling in beautifully. At peak now but no rush to finish these.
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The wine was very fresh tasting for such an old wine. Great bouquet; good fruit. It was paired with a 1996 Leoville Barton that had more strength and tannin. Both were excellent. There was a debate about which was preferred.
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Decanted one hour. Still deep red, showing some age but not that brown. Warm, mellow with plums chocolate and tobacco. Slight acidity on finish and still has soft tannins. Very nice 4/5
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Stood 750ml for weeks. Decant for an hour, then served. Gorgeous browning ruby color profile. Very similar showing to my last one: "Classic Barton profile on the nose (cedar, leather) and palate (great structure, grippy tannins holding dark red fruit, oak fading). Medium-plus finish. Continued to improve in the glass, slowly gaining weight without any drying." This bottle had a tiny hint of sweetness to it that gave it an added dimension. Lovely! Zero rush - this has at least another decade of strong showings ahead.
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Decanted for 2 hours and this is actually necessary for a 1989 wine. The color is old mature Bordeaux, so is the smell. It smells like raisin, blackberry, black currant (cassis), plum, mineral, espresso and light toast. The body is medium but with smooth and silky texture. Long finish, truly delicious, it tastes better than the 1994 Latour which was in pair for the dinner.
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The bottle seemed to be in perfect condition; the filling level was ideal, the cork intact. The wine was medium to dark garnet in colour and threw a notable amount of sediment (and the bottle was heavily crusted). The wine offered black currant, dark cherry, floral notes, withered flowers, wet autumn leaves, cedar, leather, tobacco and a touch of mint on the mature nose. On the palate the wine showed black currant, dark cherry, plum, cedar, leather, tobacco and spices, with medium to medium-plus acidity, well-integrated, medium-plus tannin, a great, silky mouthfeel and superb length. The medium-bodied, medium-concentrated Bordeaux was smooth and impeccably balanced, with good complexity, and drank very well. It improved with aeration, drank consistently well over two days, and should be good for another 10+ years. Oh, what a great St. Julien!
From memory: Classic mature Bordeaux – lots of cassis, cigar box and cellar dust. Lean and elegant with some faint green notes. Good, but not great – lacks the depth I would expect from a wine of this calibre. Although there was little detectable development during consumption, I would probably have given it an hour or two in the decanter if I had been given the chance to start over again.
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Decanted for about one hour before dinner. Initial funk on nose & palate faded, though didn't disappear completely. More red than brown on color, though not much more. Mellow & certainly mature, but not much depth/complexity, decent but not long finish. Likely past its peak.
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Medlar lunch: Lovely classical St Julien nose, cedar, some blackcurrant, but overall more a case of elegance and restraint. A blue stocking rather than the turned up hem of the Cos. Long and smooth, with just a twinkle of the eye. Very smooth and harmonious and proper. Classic claret ****
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Drinking perfectly, classic claret. The condition of this wine just cannot be better. Deep ruby color with minimal bricking on the rim. Cedar, leather notes enveloped by elegant blackcurrant fruit. Tannin still present in the background but mostly integrated now. There is no need to rush with this wine but it's so good now, why wait?
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Stood 750ml for a week. Slow ox 3hrs, decant for an hour, then back in the bottle and served. Ruby color with only slight bricking. Classic Barton profile on the nose (cedar, leather) and palate (great structure, grippy tannins holding dark red fruit, oak fading). Medium-plus finish. Continued to improve in the glass, slowly gaining weight without any drying - impressive given how much air it consumed this afternoon! Zero rush - this has at least another decade of strong showings ahead. 93-94 tonight.
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Nicely cool blackcurrant nose. Similar on the attack. A little more precision and focus than the 90 earlier in the week, and a bit more mineral line through the mid-palate. The 90 did come across as a little riper-fruited but I think it's more that the 89 has a little more mineral definition and fresher acidity. Very harmonious and with a good length to the finish. Decanted a couple of hours before drinking and drinking well over three hours. ****1/2
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Really enjoyed this, quite classic style claret decent bricking showing now and on the nose there's smoke, earth, tobacco, with hints of some primary black currant aromas, palate is really smooth, clean and quite expressive with acidity on the higher side (personally like that)
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Medium red-garnet color. Subtle nose of black currant and mint, leather jacket, can't pin down the vague herbs and brush. On arrival, medium-low tannin, medium acidity; slightly stiff-bodied for a 25 year old Medoc, but there's something very old-fashioned here in terms of barely-ripe Cabernet Sauvigvon and modest new oak treatment. Correct, unexciting, but very satisfying. Probably will last forever like this. Paired well with a garlic roasted leg of lamb. Bottle #4 of four.
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Cork is badly soaked, but comes out in one piece. Medium/deep garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose is complex, mature with smoky black currant fruit, notes of tobacco and earth. Medium bodied, blackcurrant, lots of tobacco, smoke, touch of cool, gravelly minerals, tannins still a touch firm but pretty fine, very good length finish. Excellent.
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Rett fra flaske, så er den litt tilbakeholden. Tar på seg noen fine florale toner, noe jordlig, litt rødfrukt kommer frem også. Bra konsentrert frukt, og fin struktur. Holder trøkket opp gjennom hele smakskurven. Fine, men godt merkbare tanniner. Lang finish. Stram, fin og tåler mange år.
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(2 hour decant, from magnum) Ink black color. Concentrated nose of black fruits, tobacco and mint. Still young and fresh on the palate. Tannins are granular and sweet with blackberries and cassis and concentrated "grape" through the mid-palate. Long finish that includes some graphite to balance the fruit. Wonderful structure. Easily has another 15 years.
Note: drank this 25 year-old after a 50-year old Ducru and the context made the Barton seem very young in comparison.
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I opened and decanted this wine about 1 hour before I started consuming it. It continued to develop flavour over the course of 2 hours. I would suggest giving it more than an hour before you start drinking in earnest just to provide enough time to really open up. The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. The body is medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes medium with low acidity. Classic barnyard smell.
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Bordeaux Wimps (La Trompette, Chiswick): Medium/deep garnet, medium pale rim. Smokey black fruit, hint of fruit cake, harmonious, seamless, good length finish. Lovely ****.
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Decanted 1 hour. Good cork - maybe 25% soaked. Medium garnet core, medium pale garnet rim. Nose is relatively youthful, with dark, slightly smoky fruit, cedar. Medium bodied on the palate, dark smoky fruit, some redder fruit tones, tannins firm but quite fine, quite expansive on the good length finish but not as soft and giving as the last bottle.
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Beautiful fully mature, well aged Bordeaux with medium, full body, cedar, and secondary aromas, resolved tannins and long finish. 4 hour slow ox, 1 hour decant.
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At Le Talbooth, Dedham, Essex. No formal note. Deep, dark fruit, soft, rich and generous yet not at all heavy, laboured or over-ripe, cedar, spice and smoke, nice balancing acidity, long harmonious finish. Complex, attractive and I would say pretty much at its peak. Outstanding.
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had high expectations. Decanted it an hour before drinking. Initially looked pale in the decanter but on the edge of the glass, it is in fact quite deep and dark. There was nothing on the nose when first opened but it then really opened up by the time it reached the glass. Cork travel was about a third of the way up. Lots of wood. For a wine of this calibre and age, it all depends on its provenance and how it has been kept. It's just passing its peak now and needs drinking up.
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Very mellow, smooth, with notes of raspberry, blueberry. Very pleasant. Seems like it won't be improving with age. Probably drinking at its height right now. Lovely wine. Drinking great right now.
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San Diego WineSpectator.com Offline, 10/3/2013 (Farm House Cafe, San Diego): Decanted two hours. Clear medium garnet-blood red. Wonderful bouquet of creme de cassis, blackberry liqueur, fresh cigars, stony clay, mint and evergreen. Medium body, superb freshness and structure thanks to well-balanced acidity. Quite similar to 1989 Pichon Lalande tasted last month. Only a faint herbal bitterness on the finish kept this from ranking among my top three tonight.
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Spanish Wine Tasting and Dinner at BDV (1855 and Bistro du Vin): Nose of interesting green peppers and also some kind of creamy aroma. Smooth and sweet on the entry and elegant on the palate. Oak just nice. Some minerality. Overall softness, but some slight spice on the mid-palate made it interesting. Overall, very good balance. Medium finish. In a good place, but may possibly get better with a few more years.
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Tasting 4 Bordeaux, fourth place. Bright red color in the glass, medicinal nose with dark fruit, more of the same on the palate, opened slowly, lighter mouth feel, touch simple, medium body, medium finish.
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Classic Bordeaux. Won't disappoint you. In the mouth lots of earth and leather. Soft and round. Gets better with some air (probably some 3 or 4 hours).
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Quite a bit of funky funk barnyard funk on the nose that blew off over time. After a few hours in the decanter this wine showed some legs with the classic St. Julien palate. It is drinking well right now and has many years left. The only real critique (other than the funk) is that it has a remarkably quick finish.
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Bordeaux 1989 Horizontal Tasting (Zurich): Intensive red. Lactic nose, chocolate. Flavors of red berries. A bit bitter but all supported by the nice sweetness and well integrated tannins. The wine is long and deep but all is a bit one dimensional. No hurry to drink this wine. Drink - 2025.
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Very good Bdx and drinking very well right now. Opened 3 hrs before drinking and then decated at the restaurant, seemed to get stronger in the glass. Hint of cedar and mineral on the nose with a nice fruit on the palate. Light red in the glass with mild bricking around the edges. Absolute joy of a wine.
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Haven't had this for 18 months and what a cracking good bottle of claret this is; I have never had it tasting better. Decanted for two hours and it really needed every minute of that; at no point did it begin to fade in the glass either throughout the evening. Quite dark in colour with spicy plums and damsons backed up by Barton's trademark cedar, leather and hint of tobacco leaf on the gorgeous nose. This particular example is still full of life and, if anything, seems to have put on weight from previous bottles I have had. The tannins are dry and dusty and even if this vintage doesn't quite have the complexity and class of the '88 and '90 it's still an excellent example of fine, traditional, old-fashioned claret (with the emphasis on traditional old-fashioned). A number of fellow tasters on here have inferred that this wine is on the way down, but I can only assume those bottles have been stored badly or not given enough air. On this showing there is no rush to drink up as it is barely in it's drinking window; still another 15-20 years in the bag. Estimated maturity: 2012-2025+
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THis bottle was quite nice....not great but very good. The last 2 times I have tried this wine, it has been very good, and much better than previous instances. In a good place, but not for long term cellaring. Soft, velvety mouthfeel, woodsy on the nose and palate.
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Carafé 1 heure et demie avant de servir (aucun dépôt!). Ce vin est l'une des bonnes bouteilles bû depuis longtemps. Légèrement tuilé aux abords, le vin ne fait pas son âge. En bouche, les tannins sont fondus et long, un équilibre parfait. Conservé depuis 20 ans à 12 degrés. Le nez est très fleural. Si bien conservé ce vin est a boire au cours des 2 prochaines années.
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Yes, it was cheap at its time, yes, it is a deuxième cru, yes, Anthony Barton is an icon in history, yes, it is a great vintage. BUT: This wines was completely as I expected: nice St. Julien nose (but the nice cedar nose of young Bartons fades after several years), almost no weight and austere finish. I don´t know why this Chateau is so overrated by winecritivcs around the globe. The wine is always cheaper than the other deuxième cru and I have an assumption why that is.
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Purchased in October 2012 from Winebid. Mid neck fill level, although the cork showed some minor seepage up through one side. (The wine was in stellar shape showing it has been properly stored.) Coloration was darker than I expected, with not much bricking. The initial pour showed the wine to be closed, which made me wonder if the fruit had faded from age. 60% of the bottle was decanted in a narrow 5 inch decanter that I tend to use for older wines, allowing the remainder to aerate within the bottle. The first three hours and during the meal the wine did not show much of any fruit in the nose or taste, but it was serviceable with a prime rib roast with a robust Dijon whole peppercorn coating. Upon revisiting the wine after the meal........it soared both on its own as well with a 1000 day aged Gouda. After the first sip revealed that she had opened up, I poured a glass for BWH and myself, and refreshed the decanter from the bottle. At this time the wine showed tart black fruits, and a sweetness that I never thought was going to show based upon the first hours of taking sips of the wine. The nose also opened up more showing the same dark fruits, but was not as impressive as the palate. The next pours from the decanter, with most now coming from the bottle 30 minutes earlier, were just as open and vibrantl. I still have 1 bottle left which came from the same consignor at Winebid, and my projection is to wait at least 3 more years before I try it. A more accurate drinking window for an 89 LB that has been properly cellared is 2012 - 2024. If anyone has this, it is not a crime to consume now with a decant that you monitor how it is opening up, or you can wait for some years if the wine has been properly cellared.
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Much better than previous bottles, the 89 has finally lost the slight coarseness that blighted it during its youth. This will never be as good as the 90, but the 89 is certainly better than the 82 or 85. Ripe cherries showing at last, rather than hiding behind a cloak of leather, with a medium body and decent, satisfying finish. It doesn't reach the heights of the best Pauillacs in 89, but this is certainly the best 89 in St.Julien.
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Decanted 20 minutes. This wine is in a perfect place. Bright cherry with hints of spice, leather and tabac. Such a velvety mouth feel but still fairly masculine with tannins to go another 5-10 years at least. Wish I had more of these!
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Bordeaux 1989 left bank (with a bonus VCC): Beautiful depth on the nose, with touches of sweet fruit and tobacco leaf, quite subtle but focussed and driven. Very precise. This wine is certainly masculine to Margaux's femininity, and there is considerable power in the chunky four square tannins and ample structure. Another one that could last for an age, but is certainly true to its style. Great character.
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Rupert's 89 'Super Seconds' Offline (The Medlar, London): Single blind. Denser, darker fruit, again, St Julien I think. Barton? A density here, and darker fruit. Very smooth and complete. This is good. Long, complex, persistent, harmonious. ****1/2
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Super Tasting 1 of 6 - Andrew does 1989 Bordeaux (Langdon Hall, Blair, Ontario): This wine was a touch muted and really suffered being tasted in the company of Haut Brion, La Mission and Palmer etc. This wine seemed average. It was a touch muted on the nose with pyrazene and graphite and some dark fruit. The palate showed a bit more with currants and cherry but it was still simple and transitioned to a medium finish at best.
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Super Tasting 1 of 6 - Andrew (Langdon Hall, Cambridge, ON): This wine is still relatively primary. Strangely fruit came across as a touch candied initially, but opened up to show blackberry and mushroom which gave it appeal. Definitely outclassed, but would stand alone just fine. Palate retains structure and is a bit drying. Nice overall though.
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Tasting Group Dinner Series (1 of 6) / Andrew's 28th Birthday (Red Room, Langdon Hall, Cambridge, Ontario): This wine received the same treatment as the others in the flight; essentially decanted approximately 2 hours in bottle. Purple in the glass, with slight garnet brick. This was slightly less complex than the better wines of the flights, showing notes of blackcurrant, plums, cedar, leather, spice and a touch of mushroom on the nose. On the palate, this is not as well rounded as the better wines tonight, showing some hard edges. Finish is moderate, but rather dry, and is accented by dark fruit, spice and undergrowth notes. Beautifully mature Bordeaux but outclassed by a number of wines at the table tonight, as well as other wines within the flight.
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750. Good cork. Brick robe. Very much a charcoal and beef blood claret throughout the course. Drunk over four or so hours and while it took a while to open out, it was never really that vivacious on the nose. From about forty five minutes to an hour and a half, there was a real richness on the palate - full of dark fruit and tobacco. But overall, a little underwhelming. In my humble opinion, very good but a shadow of the classic 1990.
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My second experience with this wine and I continue to think it is one of the best values in older Bordeaux (think what you would pay for a "better" Chateaux from '89 v. the LB?!). The wine shows a richer-than-expected color with a nose of dried red fruits, rich soil, wood chips and oak while the palate is lusher and softer with more fruit, sweet spice and pretty fruit. Finish is medium in length and was welcoming. This bottle (not mine) reminds me as to why I wish I bought more when I had the chance.
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Perfect cork. High fill. Vibrant deep red color. Explosive nose of red fruits, and classic bordeaux taste on the mouth. A youngster, easy to drink after being opened but not decanted for 2.5 hours. Still must have decades left in it. Drank with grilled meats and with a group of 11, and several folks felt this was the wine of the night. Hard to argue the point!
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This wine, taken from my cellar, was purchased upon release and cellared in pristine fashion. It was double-decanted, allowing approximately two hours in decanter prior to funneling back into the cleaned bottle. The wine was then taken to a restaurant, where it was consumed with Wagyu beef and mushroom pasta. The robe is deep garnet and the rim is brick. The nose shows moderately intense aromas of pipe tobacco, potpourri, plum and earth. Full-bodied on the palate, with medium acidity, soft residual tannins, well-integrated alcohol and flavors mirroring the nose. The middle palate is solid and the smooth finish is medium-to-long. This wine is a bit of an enigma at this point. When double-decanting, a tasting portion was retained in a Riedel Bordeaux glass and allowed to aerate 4-5 hours. It showed a more complex and fruit-filled bouquet in this glass than did the wine poured at the restaurant, making me suspect that I did not give the wine enough air prior to funneling back into the bottle. Drink now-12/17.
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darker red with only a little lightening at the rim. Biggest, youngest of the Bdx this evening with likely room for improvement but very nice now. Very good to excellent with an upside.
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Garnet. Nose was full force of Bordeaux Tobacco, anise. Taste was full bore anise, tobacco and cassis. there is a hint of hotness but it seemed more on the entry than on the finish (where I usually get alcohol). Can age some more from a good cellar.
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Mature. Dark with some bricking. Floral and dark fruit aromas. Lots of depth in mid-palate. A somewhat lush mouthfeel. Sweet finish with very soft tannins. Not a lot of acid. I think one should enjoy now.
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Classically styled and may be one of the better values that I've had in a long time, this wine presented a beautiful brickish hue and burnt ochre rim. The nose was a little closed at first but after 30 minutes in the decanter the nose showed lovely spice, sandalwood, dried herbs and a soft touch of craisin, but leans heavily on the herbal side. Palate was medium bodied and showed more fruit with tones of elegant red fruit and berries, though still showing non-fruit flavors of herbs, licorice and wood. The soft and rounded tannins allowed the wine to flow smoothly and everyone enjoyed it immensely.
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Decanted for about an hour. Initial color was muted but as it got air, the color deepened to a rich ruby. Nose was complex but refined with background hints of smoke layered with an earthiness you'd expect from a classic Bordeaux. Very refined on the palate, not big but definitely stood up to the steaks we paired it with. Very enjoyable wine.
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Decanted one hour. Classic mature claret. Elegant and smooth. A feminine wine, not a blockbuster. Good balance and reasonable length. Perfect match for roast lamb. Excellent 4/5 (90-94)
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fully mature Bordeaux. This bottle was in pristine condition. Cork was also in perfect condition. Wine exceeded expectations. While not the biggest or most robust from the class of 89. This wine delivered the goods and was what I consider a good value. Highly recommended.
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Maybe it was just this bottle, but it feels like this one never opened up (even after a few hours). Flat with a mild finish. I've had this before and it's been much better, but that was several years ago.
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A big, deep nose opens this wine, layered with aromas of chocolate and earth, tar, black fruits and sweet Asian spices, quite deep and complex and at the same time powerful aromas push back on the senses right from the beginning; big and sweet in the mouth on entry with a rush of black fruits; earthen and tannic still, but with balanced flavors and appealing richness; in some ways this wine seems like a younger and less developed version of the ’82 noted below; there are still evolving flavors of dry red fruits in the form of crabapple and cranberry, but there is a lot of volume to this wine at the same time; long finish, sweet and citric with spicy notes at the end. (18+)
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Haven't had this for a while, but what a cracking good bottle of claret this is. Decanted for one hour. Quite dark in colour with spicy plums and damsons backed up by Barton's trademark cedar on the nose. Quite surprisingly this particular example is still full of life and, if anything, seems to have put on weight from previous bottles I have had. There's a hint of stewed prunes on the long finish. This doesn't quite have the complexity and class of the '88 and '90, but it's still an excellent example of fine old-fashioned claret. On this showing there is no rush to drink up either; still another 10 years in the bag. Estimated maturity: Now-2020+
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Beautiful and mature bouquet with some earthy impressions. In the mouth this is a feast with beautiful mature cassis, pleasant fresh acidity and soft and round tannin with still a pleasant bite. Fully mature, really lovely and complex mature Bdx and no real hurry.
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Les Deux Bartons (Les Deux Salons): A bit richer and fleshier on the nose cf 88. Sweet, rounded and quite open on the attack and mid-palate, more classically dry on the finish. A touch of mint too. Classical and proper. Just starting to relax but some way off being ready. ***(*)
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Absolutely lovely and delicious with rack of lamb. Perfectly evolved, elegant with great finesse. When it it goes right, drinking aged Bordeaux is a sublime experience.
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This classic St Julien is an elegant offering, Concentrated brick red colour with brown edge. The nose is cedarbox, tobacco, red fruits and spice, very aromatic. I am delighted with the finesse and structure after 22 years. It is at its peak now and losing some of the forward red and black currant fruit driven flavours of the past. I have previously rate this 96 points 3 years ago. It still has plenty of spice and tannins so it may well keep for a few years more. I hope it does not suddenly dry out soon.I will be evaluating this wine closely from now onwards.
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A lot of bottle variation with the half case I had. Last bottle was the best and shared with David O'Reilly. This was, however; a perfectly aged Bordeaux. Everything you read about regarding aged French wines and how ineffable the drinking experience really is, can be summed up with this bottle.
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Wanted to celebrate something, but seemed to have picked the wrong bottle. Rather light, balanced, leather, wet clothes, my grandmas closet. Not good not bad...
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Decanted for two hours, utilizing a funnel. A slightly bricking rim, with a dark garnet core. A paradox in that it's a youthful nose, yet showing a lot of secondary nuances of cedar, licorice, lavender, tobacco, hot stones and cloth. smoothed-out and somewhat evident tannins, with a nice long finish. Complexity that is tranquil and cognitive of the '89 vintage. There's still a long life ahead and the evolution of this claret has been enjoyable to follow. Not the '95, '05, '00 or my favorite - '03, however, an outstanding Barton by any means. Drink now - 2020.
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nice complete claret. a little oaky on the nose, but fresh and elegant with nice red fruit on the palate. quite long with medium acidity and the next taste never disappoints. at its peak now, surely, but no hurry here. decant for the deposit, no need for air.
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This bottle had slight cork taint. Not enough to spoil the wine with food, but not pleasant enough to drink unaccompanied. Despite this flaw it was still possible to see what this wine would be like in untainted form. Colour is medium ruby with no sign of ageing. Quite feminine in style compared with what Barton usually offers and is well balanced although quite medium-light in structure; certainly not the weight of the '88 or '90. There is no rush to drink this up, but at this stage I can't see it adding complexity with age. If this hadn't been flawed I would have been looking at a rating in the region of 89 or 90. Estimated maturity: To 2020.
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Decanted at Joe's, Chicago. Upon first taste, I was sure this was past its peak and a ways downhill. After just a few minutes in the glass, the funk blew off and this became most everything you could want in a mature Bordeaux. Elegant, heady, complex. Long, velvety finish. yum. Extra treat was drinking this side-by-side with a bottle of '95. Neither one hurt the steak even a little bit.
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The worst of CT shows itself in this thread. Idiots commenting on wine. What can I say, I call them as I see them. Everything from 97 to 87. Well, I don't do points. As one guy "points" out, what is the difference between 91 and 92 points? Farce. Anyway, I say that because I am about to give some kind of score: 88-90. Even Robert Parker has taken to a range of points. This wine, pretty good, opens with air, like several hours decanted, sheds the meatiness, with very complex fruit coming through on the palate. The nose is honest with a bouquet of what you expect, dried red fruit, humid earth, some graphite, etc. The palate, this strikes softly with resolved tannins, however surprisingly lively acidity still (not overly), and nice balance of elements (hence why it has lived this long...) Better with food it struck me, than by the glass. But definitely not over 90 points. Good, aged, just because it is old, does not mean it is great. It is good, very nice and good. Yum.
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What better way to celebrate a Giant world series victory then with an 1989 Bordeaux, the year of the earthquake series! One of the last games I was at. Great fruit with polished manly tannins. Well balanced with much complexity. A great wine to savor.
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Here is a fabulously rich old style bordeaux that is still kicking - and strong for it's age. I was expecting muted tannins and bordeaux earth and whilst definitely there they are still in the background somewhat. Tannins are still strong, rich red berry fruits with hints of fresh blackberry. For me personally I thought it needed more time in the bottle. Barton's wines sometimes have the strange desire to lie dormant in the bottle for 10-15 years before mellowing and I think this might be one of them. I would leave for another 5. It's a fantastic wine though! If only I had enough to try 1 each year from now until 2020
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Bryan's Dinner Party Offline (The Ledbury, London): Quite a full purple-ruby. Savoury character, dry tannins, good structure, needs time. The 78 alongside is a clear favourite for current enjoyment. ***(*)+?
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At San Antonio vertical. I did not find this wine as enthralling as others in the group. More elegant Bordeaux than I expected, with floral strawberry and barnyard notes on nose. Light cherry red fruit on palate that sometimes reminded me more of a Oregon pinot than a classic Bordeaux. The fruit was pretty, but I found this well below the more recent vintages as far as complexity and finish.
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San Antonio Wine Geeks - Leoville Barton Vertical (Steve's house): Decanted about 12hrs prior to tasting, excellent fill and cork. Nose was a little closed but pretty, and the only wine that I got a touch of violets from. Otherwise a little mint, tobacco and cigar box. Red fruit dominated palate, quite lush, and with fine tannins still present in the background. Lengthy finish of spice box and espresso, and a licorice/minty/eucalyptus quality. Really complete, balanced wine, possibly the most complex of the evening. Strikingly young, but so good now. Some would argue to age more, but I like it now.
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Tasted alongside the 1989 Vieux Chateau Certan and 89 Talbot. All were decanted.
Leoville Barton required about 2 hours decant before it showed. Initially, muted nose and palate. But once open, its most distinguishing characteristic was savory and balanced quality. Sweet cherry, herbs (lavender?), hint of cedar. Less volume than the other two wines, but far more interesting. Drink.
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Drunk for a celebratory lunch. Decanted 90 minutes before drinking , excellent and drunk very well Lovely bouquet and very smooth.92 points , still retained it's bouquet when remains of decanter drunk in evening.
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belle robe sombre, nez encore puissant fruits rouge, arôme tertiaires, pointe de cuir et fruits cuits; tannins encore présent mais fondus notes de fruits rouges très murs, compotés; belle longueur, droite
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Given the Chateau and the vintage I was hoping for a lot more. I loved the intoxicating nose of elegent cherry and forest and spices. Wonderful.(i'd give it 94 if just for the nose). But on the palette it was disappointing ... a bit too much sugary sweetness, still seem primary and not too complex. Medium bodied but slightly lean.
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13th Annual Lyon 10 year Retrospective (Eugene, Oregon): Very subtle as a ringer in this tasting of '99's from all over, most couldn't come close guessng. Nose was modest and not overtly "Bordeaux". Tannins are resolved, nice fruit and good length. So smooth and lingering in this group I had a hard time pouring out/spitting.
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Notes not taken at time but was part of a meal that included the 1990, 1989 and 1988 Barton. This wine is more feminine and lighter than the 1990 and 1988 and was a clear third place in comparison. This still has a few years ahead of it and could well add a bit more complexity with age. Hasn't got the substance of the '90 and '88, but still a very pleasant bottle.
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The previous bottle must have been a little off or somewhat oxidized, because this one was much better. The cork and the fill were perfect. Some appropriate bricking was obvious at first glance. Though not lacking in dark fruit (blackberry, plum), oak and cedar aromas and flavors were really the focus of this bottle. More so, maybe, than I would ultimately prefer. A toasty edge and tobacco hints provided some welcome complexity. I take back what I said about this wine not being worth the price.
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Similar to the previous tasting note, but the floral aromas were fainter and there was some barnyard on the nose this time. This wine is pleasant and easy to drink, but it does leave you wanting a bit more complexity and a lot more structure. For the price, it is not worth seeking out anymore.
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Spice, cassis, tobacco and cherries on the nose. The wine finishes with roasted black and red fruit. This is an elegant style of wine for the Chateau. All the tannin is resolved, and the wine is ready for prime time drinking. Owner Lillian Barton thinks the 89 and 90 are the same level of quality, but feels the 90 needs more time before it is mature.
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served this wine (single blind) at a selkirk manor housewarming dinner with main course of wegman's meatloaf. pat, keith and jean were in attendance. with a few hints, keith was able to zero in on the producer, since it one of his favorites. he determined approximate age but not the vintage. the wine presented in very sound condition. dark color. somewhat restrained nose. nice mouth grip. mostly plum and dark skinned fruit on the palate. keith and i agreed that although lacking some of the grace and finesse, that it offered more of compelling interest than the 1970 latour which we drank alongside. wow, what a comparison. in this case, my experience was closer to the spectator review than the majority of cellar tracker members in that i feel that this wine is just hitting its stride and will continue to develop well for a few more years. this wine represents a prellude to the quality this producer has achieved in more recent vintages along with commensurate price increases.
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Brought to our friends' place for dinner. Great wine - reserved, but elegant. The tannins were entirely resolved, so this lacked a little bit of structure, but it drank very smoothly and easily. Dried flowers, vanilla and dark fruit stood out on both the nose and the palate.
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Classic claret. Nose of spice and ripe fruit and madeira-cake when decanted, settling down to sandlewood, cedar, some balckcurrant and a whiff of graphite. Quite dry and traditional, some soft tannin remaining that blurs away with food, cedar, blackcurrant, fruit-cake, long dry finish. Classic claret, very satisfying, evolves well in the glass ****
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Decanted about 30 min Brick hue, a bit of a brown tinged rim Very delicate perfume and fruit, camphor, with numerous other identifiable aromas that fleeted by, different with each wiff. An amazing grapey palate with a thick back of the palate chewy jammy-ness. Complex and compelling. This seems to be mid stride and not slowing down. I kept going back to the glass, really liked it. Drink or Hold 5+13+17+8
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Compared against a 1989 Penfolds Bin 707 CS. MF red, touch of browning at edge; subdued complex nose compared to the up front penfolds. Classy though & subtle. MF on the palate, maybe just losing its fruit but still very drinkable & quite long on the finish. Drink now.
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Drank over a dinner of Beef Bourginon and truffled mashed potatoesr at home with Todd and Mina on a Sunday night. Decanted for an hour beforehand and consumed over a couple of hours. Black/blood red in colour and just showing some transparency at the edges and the only visual hint of its true age was that it was slightly watery at the rim. Rather restrained nose of tar, freshly-sharpened pencils and deep, not-quite-ripe blackberries. Lovely big muscular mouthfeel with great tannic structure balanced by good acid. Some length but a bit slow to unravel in your head. Dark and brooding but lovely. Will be better in several years. Classic, classic Bordeaux at its best.....if you like, slightly austere, restrained wine. I've never fully come to understand the term "the sleeper of the vintage" but this wine probably sums up what people mean by it.
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Garnet orange at the rim. Mellow smooth nose of spices, some tobacco. Taste was a light mix of spices, tobacco with a hint of licorice. Good, but drink up.
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Drank 2 bottles over a period of 2 weeks. The 1st one did not impress at all - although the nose was beautiful with lots of farmyard aromas, the taste was not impressive. Short aftertaste, and showing signs of corkage. The 2nd bottle performed much better. Bright garnet rim with purple middle, pronounced aromas of stony fruit and vegetal aromas. Still developing. Beautiful mid-palate with short finish though. Good claret. Since I tasted it alongside Mouton 1989, maybe that's why it couldn't show its best. :)
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Drank with Brad and Gigi at James. Very good but nothing outstanding. Classic Bordeaux without a lot of sweetness. Maybe just a bit disappointing given the year but still a very enjoyable bottle.
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This will not improve further and may even just be starting to fade a little. Nevertheless, it remains full of mature, spicy fruit: blackcurrants with a touch of spice and some discreet oak. It has great balance and length and certainly gives the 1990 a run for its money.
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Not much fade at the rim. Bright colour- more ruby than garnet. Rich red fruits on the nose. strawberries and cassis. Quite vibrant primary fruit. Serious depth to the aromas on the nose. Much more developed on the palate. Lovely balance. Very long. Some vegetal notes and cherries. Tobacco and cedar on the finish. On this showing could go on for another 10 years easily.
On tasting again later intense blackcurrant leaf and some bell pepper developing. Powerful stuff!
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Jeroboam Club: Ch. Leoville Barton Vertical (Averys, Bristol): Deep plum red, hints of maturity. Sweet attractive nose, hints of cola bottles, elegant but a bit muted. Good weight and structure but lacks sweetness and plumpness in comparison with the 1990. Hefty, clay-like tannins still coat the mouth, and slightly detract from the sweet fruit revealed (at last) on the long finish. Still needs time.
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Bright ruby red, even colour right to the rim, still quite youthful. lots of red and black berry fruit with cedar and cigar boxes on the nose. Rich black berry and plumb fruits with a sweetness in the background, good balance with soft tannin and acid. One of the better 89s I have tasted to date, I wonder Why?? Looking back at my previous notes I see I have awarded this the highest rating, Must question if this was Just a lucky Bottle??
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Decanted 2 hours. Dark ruby color. Shy nose, some red currants. Delicate wine. Red currants, ripe strawberry, cedar, tobacco leaves. Good finish. Fine claret.
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while the level in the bottle was good the cork appeared moist, brick red thinning at the rim, nice berry fruit dry middle and finish, is the fruit drying out or is it due to a poor cork, certainly not up to the standard of the previous bottle I prefer the 1988
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WIML90+. This is a very delicate and feminine style of wine. My first bite of food was too strong for it. I set it aside and allowed my palate to clear and then the wine showed much better sipped all on its' own. Drink over the short term maybe? Serve alone.
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Dark, young, tight, impenetrable nose. This opens up over time but remains somewhat tough and not particularly fun to taste. Have heard good things about this wine so maybe need to try another bottle.
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Leoville-Barton Vertical (Nook): The freak show, vastly different in personality from every other wine in the vertical, even the 2003. With its airy, diffuse band-aid scents and flavors that seemed simultaneously stewed and earthy, I would have pegged this as a Chateauneuf if you poured it to me blind. That's not a compliment from me.
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Decanted for an hour. Mature brown colour, thining towards the rim, Warm inviting nose of plums, pencil box, leather. Flavours fill the mouth, rich warm soft fruits, blackberries, plums, silky coating the mouth, good length with just a hint of tannin at the end
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Medium red with hint of brick on rim. Effusive nose of blackcurrant, lead pencils. Medium weight, hint of sweetness, plums, good structure, refined, quite light for a Leoville Barton. Medium length. Easy drinking. Very good. Ready now and should be good to 2020+
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To me, distinctly, albeit slightly, better than the '89 Las Cases I paired with it at the Four Seasons dinner with the Cataldos and the Liptons. (I held the minority opinion though). Classical Medoc profile of blackcurrent, blackberry and graphite. Not over extracted and not a trace of bitterness. Not the most powerful or concentrated wine, but admirable for its sense of restraint in a vessel of perfect harmony. Really good now; I doubt it will improve - but I wouldn't be surprised either.
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A spectacularly well preserved bottle from a recent purchase from K&L. Is this is new release? An ideal "second growth" wine. Not the profound masterpiece of a great First Growth - or Leoville-las-Cases when it's on form - but smooth, rounded, perfectly proportioned and just plain delicious. The tannins are well absorbed and there's just no reason not to like this. It's clearly ready now. On the slightly negative side, the bouquet, while correct, is rather mute. The perfect wine when you want to be satisfied, but not challenged.
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A bit softer than I expect Barton to be, especially in a year like '89, but still well-balanced. Loaded with ripe red fruit, and still surprisingly primary. I'm not entirely sure how this is going to hold up - it seemed to lack the structure and depth of the best Bartons - but it's certainly an enjoyable wine to drink now.
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Leoville Barton Vertical; 12/4/2006-12/5/2006 (Spencer's): I liked this better than most in the group - what drew me in was the complexity and depth of fruit - ripe dark berries, Kirsch - with some meaty and spice notes as well. Richly endowed with plenty of tannins to hold up for the long haul.
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Very approachable and ready to drink but still has a bit of an edge that says it can sleep for a few more years. Earth and cedar on the nose and nicely complex fruit, berry and cassis flavors. Decent finish. An excellent match with grilled lamb.
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Had another bottle at Lawry's over prime rib. Dark garnet color. Again, classic Leoville Barton, cedar, leather, earth. This one still had good tannin and tasted relatively young and fresh. This drinks great now, but will still be good in another 5-10 years.
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Popped and poured. More deep red than the 1988 Leoville Las Cases (more purple) we had next to it. Cedar, leather, but rather fleshy and supple, not as angular as the Las Cases. Drinking very well now, very smooth.
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Surprisingly young. A classic Bordeaux taste. Pencil shavings and cedar box, as they say. If I had more, I'd wait a few more years still. Very well balanced but just a little unrefined still. Did not get much of the "old" taste yet.
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Nothing to write home about. Perfectly drinkable but not very harmonius and perhaps a bit thin. This one didn't have the barnyard characteristics others have commented on but neither did it have the compelling cedar/lead pencil aspect that is often so characteristic of good bordeaux. Tasted blind this would never have been mistaken for an excellent wine.
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San Francisco Bay Area Leoville Barton Vertical (Moraga): Dark ruby red, almost opaque compared to the 1990. A beautifully nuanced and complex nose of tobacco and damp earth is beginning to emerge on this wine, not so powerful as in the 1982, but showing notes of violets, rock dust, and cassis. The palate is equally well balanced, delivering finesse, power, and sheer flavor intensity along with an impressive finish. The dark fruit and tannins on this wine seemed to be virtually indistinguishable. None of the tasters could remember the scoring for this wine, but it was the 2nd or 3rd favorite of the night for most. Very impressive, classically styled Claret, perhaps in the style of the 1985, but with a bit more power and extract.
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1989 Leoville Barton: The color is still quite dark, but on the palate and nose this is mature, midweight, velvety and elegantly flavored. My favorite of the three, but definitely more subtle than the others.
1990 Leoville Barton: This has opened up enough for current enjoyment, but it promises a long life with continued development. Richer and more structured than the 1989. Also with leather notes that may be evidence of some brett.
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1989 Pichon Baron, Pauillac, France. $40 on release, $160 currently. I only bought two, so I had been waiting on this. Decanted 1.5 hours, but tasted upon opening. Delicious both ways. The bouquet is true to its commune, but not effusive as say a St. Julien or Margaux may be. Clearly a California style as some have noted. This is a powerful Pauillac that remains elegant. Tannin is fully integrated and resolved. The color is still a dark ruby, indicating this will likely last another twenty years. The finish is persistent, midpalate is lush and layered. Flavors of current, flint, cherry. A complete wine. 92 points bouquet, 96 points palate.
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Ruby purple. Muted nose. Intense cabernet fruit, blackcurrent and leather. Meaty and acidic - it cries out for food. Very long, with ripe tannins. Relatively approachable.
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I was impressed by this bottle. Despite less than stellar provenance (was bought in the Caribbean some years ago) was in great condition. Classic Bordeaux on nose & palate, a little earthiness on the finish, pretty close to its peak I'd say. Wish I had a bunch more.
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Color is still deep dark red. Very few signs of aging. Nose was somewhat subued, but gained strength as it sat in the glass. On the palate, the wines seems to be lacking acidity, with insufficient fruit and to make up for the lack of structure. By the end of the meal, the wine had grown in richness and aromatics and had a long, pleasing finish with completely integrated tannins. However, it seems flabby and uncompelling. This is a fine Bordeaux, but I don't think it is ever going to be a great one. (Bottle from my cellar, taken to dinner at Jeanty at Jacks)
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Anything Goes at Café Italia: Blind Red 5 - Bordeaux nose, clearly. Old wood, tannin, pencil lead. Licorice. Medium-bodied red fruit. Pleasant. A bit soft, but nice. Chocolate. Good.
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Deep red brick color with very little lightening at the edge. Initially closed, after 45 minutes or so, the nose was superior with tobacco, smoke, spice and cedar. On the palate, however, it is much less impressive. It has a medium body and limited richness. The finish has mostly resolved tannins. No sense in waiting for this to get better, although it will last at least 5 to 8 more years. (From a 375 purchased off the winelist at Jardiniere).
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Tasted unblinded at the Vintage Wines, Ltd. wine bar. Bright disc. Medium-to-deep garnet robe with brick rim. Clean nose, showing a beautiful intense bouquet of kirsch, leather, smoke and chocolate. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with low acidity and medium sweet residual tannins. The flavors mirror the nose. Long, smooth finish.
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Consumed at Decos Restaurant (San Diego). Bottle brought from my personal cellar for Ken Johnson's birthday dinner. The light was dim, but it can be said that the color was deep ruby. Clean nose, evolving over 45 minutes to show cherry, mint, leather and briary aromas. Medium-bodied on the palate, with medium supple tannins, similar flavors as for the nose, and a long, smooth finish.
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Bright disc with medium ruby/red robe and reddish-orange rim. Clean nose showing intense ripe plum, cherry, cedar and cigar box. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with ample but well-integrated tannins and similar flavors as nose. The finish is long and smooth. Will likely improve but is quite beautiful now.
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Very good wine; fully approachable and drinking perfectly. Good garnet red colour, just fading a little at the rim. Nose is quite tight (cf the '90) and dense : lots of red fruit and cedar. In the mouth a glorious openness and rich fruitiness. Well balanced but nowhere near the weight of the '90.
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Deep ruby with red rim. Light sediment at this point, but would still decant. Intense nose of cedar, currents, berries and chocolate. Similar flavors on palate, especially chocolate after 30 minutes. Full body, full but supple tannins. This wine is outstanding and will definitely further improve.
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CT Group does 1995 Bordeaux w/ Blind Wine Mania @ Mike J: Brought by JoeC. An evolved wine with a mellowed fruit profile. Only the slightest hint of amber on the edge. Soft and friendly... some cedar and red fruits. Drinking nicely right now.
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Tasted at blind horizontal Bordeaux tasting at Vintage Wines, Ltd. Bright. Deep purple with violet rim. Nose shows prominent wood (oak and eucalyptus), closed but with currants and blackberries. Abundant fruit on palate. Good acidity and extract. Moderate tannins. Long, smooth finish.
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3/9/2024 - atbarbar Likes this wine: 94 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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2/22/2024 - Paul D wrote: 90 Points
Deep garnet core, aple rim. Nose shows red and balck berries, touch of gravel. Slightly reticent. Medium bodied, red-toned fruit, cedar, decent length but slightly drying tannins on the finish.
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2/22/2024 - Vinumming & Ahhing Likes this wine: 94 Points
1989 Bordeaux Horizontal - London (Piccolino, Exchange Square): Inky blue fruits here. Cool and savoury. Palate classical Barton with lots of cedar and classy plum fruits. Palate has a lovely spiciness. Tannins are resolved. With air a subtle star anise character emerges. Very classy.
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1/20/2024 - jviz wrote: flawed
Unfortunately corked, with good material underneath
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1/12/2024 - uncle fester Likes this wine:
Still a tad tannic right out of the bottle. Decanted half the bottle for 30 minutes, tried, then added the rest to decanter. Nice nose after decanting that wasn't there upon opening. Enjoyed the bottle, fun to drink an older wine.
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12/28/2023 - Veg Likes this wine:
Still ok remarkably. Pale but smooth and flavourful.
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12/11/2023 - Jonnytheneedle Likes this wine: 94 Points
beautiful with youthful taughtness still, an absolute joy to drink, the same age as the waitress so she got a taste too.
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9/28/2023 - sirpat00 wrote: 94 Points
Double-decanted and consumed over 2 days (2/3 of the bottle kept in the fridge). Tobacco, fresh mint, cool graphite notes, leather and fruit of cherry and dark berry. Fresh and juicy but with limited structure. Otherwise powdery tannin. This has aged gracefully and shows a beautiful mature aroma profile. Was even better on day 2.
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2/19/2023 - guribh wrote: 91 Points
On the downward slope, but still enjoyable. Garnet with some bricking. Faint forest floor and tobacco, frame some fruit. Fine dusty tannins, and decent acidity. Will not evolve any further, but a nice wine to open asap.
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12/10/2022 - sirpat00 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Quick double-decant recommended. Fully mature nose of mushrooms, truffles, forest floor, tobacco along with dark cherry and blueberry fruit. The palate is mature, light and delicate, with a satin texture and impeccable balance. The finish is long and accentuates tobacco flavors while still carrying the earthy base notes. This 1989 is in great shape and at its absolute peak. A beautifully scented, detailed and magistral wine.
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12/5/2022 - oenanthe Likes this wine: 94 Points
Greatest Hits of the 1980s and 1990s Bordeaux (Hawksmoor Guildhall): Deep red. Initially muted on the nose, giving little up and I found it needed some coaxing to emerge. What 33 year old wine needs coaxing?! Wow! Cassis and cream starts to grow on you as you warm and swirl, and the first sip can only be described as a silken caress. It glides. This is a reallly sexy wine, feminine, lithe, elegant, cool, with no rough edges. It is also very precise and focussed, not hiding in it's shell, but nonetheless streamlined and reserved. A wonderful bottle that we all really enjoyed, but pipped to the post for me by the more developed and tertiary 1985 Gruaud-Larose.
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12/5/2022 - Vinumming & Ahhing Likes this wine: 95 Points
Greatest Hits of the 1980s & 1990s Bordeaux (Hawksmoor Guildhall, London, UK): Wow. Cool fruited with the tiniest nudge to grated milk chocolate on the nose on pouring. The chocolate soon fades but a charming nose of irises, some red fruits a little smokiness emerges with some Parma ham top notes. Texturally gorgeous and multilayered with fully resolved tannins, a little tea leaf and cigar box. When served alongside the 1990 I have always tended to have a slight preference for the that wine but tonight the 1989 is just ahead. Both gorgeous. My 2nd wine of the night.
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11/17/2022 - Rogershkg wrote: 93 Points
Colour deep red. Nose cigar box(that's the first time I have used the expression but it was true especially when recently opened). The different tastes evolved in the course of the evening - really nice wine
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9/1/2022 - kevinpatrick Likes this wine:
Cork Vault Bottle Share 9.1.22 (Charlotte, NC): Decanted for two hours before sampling and tasting over the subsequent two hours. It needed every ounce of air you could give it. Opulent nose of cedar and tobacco. Full-bodied on the palate with well-integrated tannins allowed the red and black fruits to deftly shine over the gentle tobacco notes. Excellent length on the finish. An exceedingly high quality wine.
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8/13/2022 - cct wrote: 92 Points
Double decanted in the AM for sediment, at which time it was a little tight, then decanted and drunk over a couple hours in the PM. Full disclosure, I adore Leoville Barton.
A beautiful nose of cassis, violet, tobacco, and soil notes. A fantastic and comforting nose like your favorite old blue jeans. On the palate, it's mid plus weighted and classically proportioned, but the magic of the nose was not matched by the palate. I'm picking nits here as it was quite good, but relatively firm at first and a little compact on the palate, with more of the same cassis, tobacco, violet, and some ferrous notes on the back end. Even after a few hours, it finishes a bit clipped for what the nose promised. Still outstanding and then some, but not the best bottle I have had. The nose was wonderful, the palate merely very good to outstanding. I don't think this is drying out or fading, but I'll likely try another bottle some time not too far away. 92
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7/22/2022 - Pitefredrik wrote:
Magi. Höstlöv, dov dämpad bred smak. Magnifik.
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5/13/2022 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points
Cool and classical. Cedar and a mix of black and red currant. Mellow, mature claret with a good dash of vintage richness. Mellow, rich and balanced. ****
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2/22/2022 - vintage_whine wrote:
Reserved, black fruited and tea leaf, apricot and vanilla. It’s brooding and young. Tannins still have the hint of grit. It’s still got greatness in 10 years
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2/5/2022 - Nmilau Likes this wine: 95 Points
I suppose every bottle is different but it’s hard for me to believe anyone can rate this in the high 80s. I bought this at auction and that is sometimes a risk but this wine is absolutely stellar and right in it’s prime!
Wet Cedar and Moss, tobacco, garlic clove, and a burst of sweet cherry that lingers on the palette. Fresh yet complex… Beautiful wine!!
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12/25/2021 - catowne1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bought this wine earlier this year from an estate sale, so I was really unsure of how it would come out.
I must say, I was very surprised. Absolutely stunning. Leather, earth, clove, red cherries on the nose. Velvet on the palate. Finish is long and slightly austere. Prime drinking window at the moment, at least my bottle is.
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11/10/2021 - Jeff Leve wrote: 88 Points
Cranky, old-school, austere wine with firm, rustic tannins and a big dose of cedar, tobacco leaf, bright, crisp, crunchy red fruits, and a lean, bordering on severe finish.
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11/8/2021 - peternelson Likes this wine: 90 Points
This started out a little weak but gained complexity with time. Ruby with lite pale rim, cab-tobacco notes, mineral, gravel, good acidity, dry med. tannins, got a little more floral after 15 min. First scored it 89, then 91 later. DD Bordeaux 1989-2000 Lawson's Steakhouse
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10/25/2021 - hargy Likes this wine: 92 Points
the 1989's are superb and this was no exception - mature, complex and long, this was lovely
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10/15/2021 - NewFrenchClaret Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quite youthful for a 1989. Clearly this wine was built to last. Seems to have reached a plateau, but certainly no signs of decline.
LB is always regal and supremely balanced, and this one is no exception. But that perfect balance comes at a cost- nothing really stands out, and it's very hard to figure out what LB's unique selling point is.
A good pairing is critical, which this didn't have this evening. But even so there is better value elsewhere.
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8/27/2021 - Wrighty Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wasn’t showing as many tertiary notes as the other wines and somehow was less noted. A little tight still but well structured and still showing fruit. Definitely life left it in for several years.
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8/22/2021 - Paul D wrote: 93 Points
No formal note. Dark fruit, smoke, mineral, quite rich and soft now on the palate, good acidity, long finish
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8/14/2021 - rhit wrote:
Excellent showing. Plenty of fruit and structure in great balance. Will probably last a while longer, but delicious now.
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7/10/2021 - tcarter Likes this wine: 95 Points
Awesome. Still very much alive. All the classic characteristics of a well made BDX. Great juice.
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6/28/2021 - Paul D wrote: 94 Points
Gareth's Bordeaux Dinner - Hawksmoor Guildhall (Hawksmoor, Guildhall, London): Very deep ruby/garnet, narrow pale rim. Quite reserved on the nose at first then showing ripe black fruits - cassis, smoky mineral, touch of tobacco. Medium bodied, lovely dark fruit, tobacco, gravelly mineral, quite soft but very intense, fresh acidity carrying a long, harmonious finish. Excellent, drinking really well.
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6/13/2021 - Thoughtful Likes this wine: 94 Points
Stored in a cold cellar since release. Entrancing fruit , cedar bouquet. Fully resolved. Lovely flavour and balance. A wine of precision that fades with grace. A point but time in hand.
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5/29/2021 - englishman's claret wrote: 93 Points
The 1989 Léoville Barton is another example of a wine showing better from large format (6L) than I recall from 750. Winsome; redcurrant, rose, and cedar, elegant and fully resolved with a wonderful medium weight. A wonderful accompaniment to dinner, a charmer.
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3/28/2021 - asgerG wrote: 96 Points
DnP. Deep medium red, yellow tinged, 5.5. Wonderful mature classic Haut-Medoc bouquet, forest floor, pencil, herbaceous, jasmin flower, complex. Harmonious palate, almost resolved tannins, elegant long finish. Drink now-2035. Wauvv, this was in perfect condition. All what I expect from a mature left bank Bdx.
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2/20/2021 - Beaunedoc Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is why you buy Bordeaux (when you are young) and keep it in your cellar for 25+ years. This wine was a joy to drink! Black plum and some black current, cigar box, fine leather, pencil lead, impeccable claret structure. My only criticism is that the oak remained fairly prominent and might have melded better. It may need a bit of time. The dregs were poured out of the bottle about 18 hours after it was opened (intact cork). The dregs had not faded one bit on the nose or palate. Bravo!
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1/10/2021 - Evanakarp wrote: 94 Points
drinking great, perfectly balanced after ~1hr decant. i'd guess this still has 5ish years at its peak.
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1/2/2021 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
Really nice wine, with soft texture and lovely blue and black fruit with some earth and smoke. Beautiful wine, drinking well.
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12/25/2020 - Veg Likes this wine:
Very refined
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10/22/2020 - tmagsmaken wrote: 92 Points
70% Cab, 25% Merlot, Petit Verdot 5%
This is still delicious! Great bouquet mostly of ripe fruit, plum and raisin (it was a hot year apparently), complemented with cedarwood and earthy element.
This wine has still great freshness and is balanced and concentrated. The acidity has come a bit more forward as you would expect with aging. Nice full finish. Just great classical Bordeaux, elegant and delicate.
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8/16/2020 - mpoel Likes this wine: 95 Points
Great bottle - compared with the '89 Pavie (the latter a slight winner in my view). Fantastic freshness and still lot's of tannins left. Hard to believe that this is over 30y old, so lively and nice dark fruit. I think this has still at least 10y left. There is just nothing that compares with quality aged bordeaux. What a joy
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7/20/2020 - Ebrim Likes this wine: 93 Points
The wine is clear, medium intense Ruby core with a medium broad watery rim, developing
Nose is clean, medium intense aromas of dark plums, cigar box, bellpepper, bandage, pencil, textbook Bordeaux, developed
Palate is dry, medium alcohol, medium ripe and silky tannins, medium+ acidity and flavour intensity, medium body, dark plums, dark cherries, pencil, ceder, bellpepper, touch of bitterness in a long finish
Very well balanced, long smooth finish, intense acidity, very complex and solid concentration. Believe this is perfect now, will keep for a long time, but absolutely a joy to drink now. Outstanding quality, 93-94p
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7/18/2020 - WbstrSt Likes this wine:
Nice bottle from auction. Plenty of life, no bricking. Floral nose with mild earthiness. Present fruit, but light and with tannic grip. Just great bottle.
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6/12/2020 - Fletch0007 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Immaculate cork and levels. Fully translucent. Light brick throughout, slight yellowing at rim, looking fully mature. Rich, sweet nose - vanilla, cherries, red meat. Medium to full bodied, tannin and fruit in perfect harmony. Sensational. Definitely worth drinking up though nothing to suggest it won’t hang in there for a few more years yet.
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4/25/2020 - Nutty08 wrote: 88 Points
Not a great bottle. Same source as my last which was similar. Cork was perfect. Purchased from reliable retailer. Heavily bricked. Tired nose, tertiary fruits. Just a hint of mint on the palate showing a little life but otherwise all tertiary mature notes, brown sugar etc. Unexpectantly tired for a leoville Barton. Drinkable but not interesting or enjoyable.
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4/23/2020 - bugpharm Likes this wine: 96 Points
In a very nice place right now but still with plenty of life.
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3/29/2020 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Still stunning.
Plenty of raisin/tobacco/dried fruit with loads of spice and earthy qualities on the nose. Fresh soil, leather, and a dark core of fruit show beautifully with medium mouthfeel/tannin/acidity all in balance. Incredible, peaking I’d say. Drink now and over the next 5+ years.
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2/18/2020 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
1989/1990 St. Julien Bordeaux (Yan's China Bistro, Walnut Creek, Ca.): Nose of black berry, black cherry, red cherry, and roasted coffee grounds, opened slowly but steadily and finally showed a good nose at the 40 minute mark, same on the palate, big body, tasty, smooth, slight hint of very, very soft tannins on the midpalate, and medium/long finish, at peak so enjoy anytime the next 5 years.
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12/24/2019 - PSPatrick wrote: 93 Points
Bottle and cork were in perfect condition; the filling-level was into the neck, no seepage, the cork came out in one piece. The wine was dark ruby in colour and offered black currant, cherry, bell pepper, cold-brew black coffee, cedar and tobacco as well as spice, balsamic notes and a mineral component, with lively acidity, fine, firm, mostly resolved tannin and very good length. Medium-bodied, dense, complex and Incredibly smooth, like pure silk! Less firm and more open than the bottle I had earlier this year. Larissa and I both liked the wine a lot. No need to hurry; this lovely St. Julien is showing well but also still has as a long life ahead.
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11/28/2019 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 92 Points
Great nose that was initially heavy on forest floor and and a nearly Mouton-like lead characteristic. The wild earth started to fade to show more ripe but developed red berry. Softer palate and thinning out a touch on the back end. Showed way above its calibre, very happy.
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11/13/2019 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Grand Cru Wines at The Kenwood (The Kenwood, Mpls, MN): Very dark red/purple color. 30 minutes splash double decant; drank a glass over 90 minutes. The nose shows outstanding purity to the dominant grahite aromas, very pretty with the black fruit sliding in and slowly coming more to the front, a touch of funk with the leathery earth. The palate is also stellar, enticing tannins, cassis, dark berries, tobacco, graphite, savory and full bodied. This is integrating well now, and shows the structure to easily make this a 50+ year wine. Outstanding. 94(+?)pts.
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11/13/2019 - chablis28 wrote: 96 Points
Not sure why this is mostly getting low 90s scores but I loved our btl tonight! Thanks Dan! Tonight's blt was still a semi opaque ruby red in color with some lightening on the edges. This displayed pretty much anything you ever wanted from aged BDX but still seemed pretty youthful in a 90%+ resolved way at age 30! In other words if I live long enough this may drink well and likely even better on its 60th birthday! Tonight it showed the richness of the vintage but was still energetic and fleet of foot. Loaded with; dark fruit, tobacco leaf, cedar, and Barton minerality this is one delicious and at the same time ethereal glass of wine. The nose echos the palate and both make for a harmonious symphony. And, this still likely improves, crazy!
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10/12/2019 - Axelpeter wrote: 93 Points
Carli60)
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8/21/2019 - Mansavage Likes this wine: 96 Points
even in the company of several fine reds, '98 Aldo Conterno, '08 Thomas Pinot Noir, Tempier Migoua the Leoville Barton was noteworthy. A consummate Saint Julien at its peak; lovely developed nose, a soft rich mouthfeel and flavours that carry seamlessly into a fine, long finish. I will drink my last two bottles as occasions arise.
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7/14/2019 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
Second Sunday Group: 1989 Bordeaux (MiY's): Double blind. Aromas of mixed fruit, perfumey floral elements, cedar, tobacco and spice. Good fruit on the palate, more dark than red, with spice and tobacco flavors too. Here is another that shuts down in the glass,becoming much less expressive...tight, though not as tannic and without the austerity of wine D. 88-8 pts.
My #7, Domino's #1
Group #4, 53 pts
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6/11/2019 - Nutty08 wrote: 88 Points
Not a great bottle but not flawed. Showed mushroom and mint, but tired palate lacking freshness. Not a great bottle. A bit stewed.
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5/29/2019 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points
Po’s 89 Bordeaux @ Trompette (La Trompette, London): Almost a touch of honey here. A broader, looser nose but quite a bright, pinched palate before opening up to show a smoothness with a giving and very attractive harmonious mid palate to finish. ****
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5/24/2019 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 91 Points
1989 Bordeaux Dinner (Joseph's Place, Wong Chung Hang, Hong Kong): Almost-opaque fresh ruby/purple. Nose is absolute unmistakable St Julien... sun warmed cedar woods, warm damp earth, hints of white mushrooms, quartz minerals...complex. Palate is medium but fresh acidity, deep compote blackberry, slightly smoky, a little bit monotone and rustic. Good length and resonance. Very good but lacking a bit in sophistication, especially on the palate. 91-92.
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5/17/2019 - drdecanto Likes this wine: 96 Points
Best bottle of wine that I've had in recent memory, but then again I haven't pulling the good and old stuff very often. But on the occasion of friends visiting from Montana and others joining us for dinner, I popped this for a guest who was interested in trying a Bordeaux. Purchased as futures. Stored in a cool/humid underground cellar early on and then in climate controlled free standing unit the last 10 years. No ullage. Cork was minimally saturated about 1/4 of the way up. Minimal sediment. Decanted and poured into Riedel Sommelier Grand Cru and also a Bordeaux Vinum. Deep red/purple with only a hint of a lighter rim. Amazing intensity of color at 30 years. Intense, complex nose of dark, restrained fruit and tobacco/cedar that was intoxicating. In the mouth, complex, similar flavors and the most delicious, soft, integrated tannins with a long delicious finish that lingered and lingered. This is how I imagined buying and laying down wines could reward decades later. A gift from the 36 year old me to the now 66 year old me and new friends. Does it get better than this as far as the experience that wine and food deliver, sans scores?
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3/17/2019 - tomandlu wrote: 90 Points
Decanted about 1 hour prior to serving and consumed over the next 2 hours. Virtually opaque black-garnet color. Moderately complex and beautifully balanced nose of tobacco, red fruit, coffee, and cedar. Very silky and balanced on the palate as well with an overall palate impression of grace and fullness but lacking power and some depth. The wine held up nicely for about 2 hours and then began to fade.
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2/27/2019 - cephomer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank from decanter (briefly) at Intersect. Wine was a bit thin, reserved, short at first taste. Let sit in decanter and half-way thru our meal, the wine had evolved and improved dramatically. Nose of cassis, tobacco and coffee, fruit evolved and became more apparent. Wine showed nice depth, good length, with lots of tertiary stuff--mushrooms, earth, cedar. What started out as an ok wine became a lovely, example of a well-aged left banker that is in a good place. Drink now but def decant!
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2/16/2019 - PSPatrick wrote: 92 Points
Third Bordeaux of the night. Very reserved, particularly after the inviting, expressive, flavourful Prieuré-Lichine 1986. Lovely black fruit, black currant, blackberry and black cherry fruit despite of its age, joined my mineral and balsamic notes, with fine, firm tannin and good (but not great) length. Very firm and restrained. Good structure. Elegant, even aristocratic.
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1/11/2019 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 93 Points
Holiday dinner at the French Embassy, Washington D.C. (French Embassy): Of the three late 80s Bordeaux from this first flight, the most "seamless" and in that sense, the most successful, although the Rauzan may have more personality? We did not spend as much time with these three as we should have, I fear, but I give the edge to the Léoville Barton 1989, a wine I have always enjoyed - and more than the 1990. It gives off notes of cassis and lead pencil but rather subtle in expression, certainly very (too?) smooth in texture, with subtle richness. Time in glass lends more weight. A long finish. I have another bottle and will spend more time with it next time!
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11/11/2018 - Jdwinedrinker Likes this wine:
Agree with other notes - drinking nicely and showing pleasant aged character. Not overly complex or as deep as some of its 89 peers.
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10/14/2018 - ppearson9 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 15 mins and drank. Drinking very nicely. Not as complex as I’d hope for. Drink now.
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9/6/2018 - Paul D wrote: flawed
1989 Bordeaux at Piccolino (Piccolino, Exchange Square, London): Corked
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9/6/2018 - SimonG wrote: flawed
1989 Bordeaux @ Piccolino (Piccolino, Liverpool Street Stn, London): Corked.
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7/31/2018 - Rezy13 Likes this wine:
Drinking at peak and ready to go, lots of complexity and classic Bordeaux character, green tobacco and pepper strong, tart red currant, late bitter mineral; good but lacks the depth to be great.
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6/29/2018 - Paul D wrote: 92 Points
Bordeaux Wimps (10 Years and Counting) (La Trompette, Chiswick): 5/12. Medium/deep garnet. Complex nose, mainly red fruit, plenty of gravelly mineral and smoke. Medium bodied, minerally fruit, more black-toned than the nose perhaps, earth, with fine if stubbornly fine tannin, and then fresh acidity carrying a good length finish. Excellent
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6/23/2018 - ppearson9 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted two hours. Drinking nicely. Not too much sediment.
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6/16/2018 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Bordeaux 1989 (@ Monarh): Beautiful bouquet with dark berries, earth, autumn forest, beautiful oak and cedar. Same on the palate, graphite, chocolate, earth, mushrooms and a firm amount of acidity.
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4/15/2018 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Light nose; silky and textured with earthy raspberry-blackberry.
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4/8/2018 - englishmen’s claret Likes this wine: 93 Points
April Parliament: Commanderie de Bordeaux Boston
For me this was the wine of the evening. I love Leoville Barton wine's and this is a great example of why I chase them. Classic St. Julian. Did not decant but it had a lot of sediment. Quick pour over to collect the sediment before serving and it showed perfectly. Another stellar 1989 from the left bank.
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2/25/2018 - g-man wrote: 92 Points
Short decant. Very nice but rather mature compared to other 89's I've had lately. Have 3 bottles left and will probably consume the remaining within 10 years.
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1/12/2018 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Dense ruby to full garnet. Classic st Julian nose, cedar and sandalwood with some blackcurrant and a touch of mulberry. Nothing flashy, just understated elegance. Satisfying. Seems to get a ldttle lighter and brighter and redder fruited towards the end of the bottle. ****
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11/27/2017 - Markus IWC wrote: 93 Points
Bordeaux 1989 blind tasting, wine #8: One of very few chateaux's still owned by the same family since the classification 1855.
Lush and generous wine wth grand aromas, almost new world in character. Complex and exotic nose with Christmas spices, ginger, eucalyptus, violet, cedar, tobacco, plums, citrus, coca cola, roasted notes, multi layered and nuanced. 7 votes.
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11/15/2017 - nstow wrote: 93 Points
11th of 12. 1 hour decant. Quite closed on the nose but a great deal of flavour on palate. Leather, earth, leaves and coffee with herby plum/prune fruit. Quite austere on finish and not terribly long. Drunk with steak and jacket potato. Superb. 4+/5
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10/27/2017 - dase13 wrote: 93 Points
Vertical tasting at home - 1989, 1996, 2005, 2012. The group rated this as the second best of the night.
Color of red in the middle with brown, and slightly clear, edges.
Scents of mushroom, barnyard and light touch of red fruits.
Tastes were consistent with scents, with medium acidity and comparatively very little tannins.
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10/20/2017 - dcwino wrote: 92 Points
A lost Friday afternoon gathering – 75 Trotanoy, 07 Roumier BM and 10 Jobard Les Tillets that we all guessed at the Roulot. (Blacksalt, Washington DC): Very masculine nose displaying cremes de cassis, red currant jam, caramel, leather, cedar and earth. Excellent concentration, silky, good density, good acidity, noticeable but sweet tannins and a long cassis and caramel driven finish. This remains very youthful and a bit one dimensional. Needs another ten years to reach the peak.
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9/26/2017 - joshhug wrote:
Enjoyed. Better after it breathed for 2 hours.
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9/23/2017 - theRealPepe Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark red as expected. Brooding nose not particularly open. This has opened up in the 10 years since last tasted, but still seems young and primary with firm tannins. I'm guessing sometime in the next decade it will get to the next stage! Served alongside a very nice but unextraordinary 1990 Pichon Lalande and with scallop and monkfish skewers and the cheese course. Excellent.
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6/23/2017 - cct wrote: 93 Points
Double decanted in AM and drunk over several hours.
On the nose, cassis, violets, bitter chocolate, pencil shavings, and stony fruit. A little more structured on the plate than the perfumed nose would suggest. A little ferrous undertone on the palate. Stone and wet gravel, cassis and dark fruits. It is a little compact at first, but grows. Drinking at early peak and I suspect will be better in 5-10 years Very long. 93
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6/17/2017 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 88 Points
Wine-Pages Glasgow Festival of Wine Post Offline (The Western Club, Glasgow): Compared to the 1982 drank alongside this, this has a much more closed, muted nose. Sweet blackcurrant fruit is eventually released, and it's clear there's some class here.
Lighter and fresher than the 1982 (which is hardly surprising, though the degree to which it is, is greater than I'd probably have expected). This feels almost too young, with relatively fresh fruit and a firm tannic structure. Almost feels a bit separate on the palate.
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4/20/2017 - Edclr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Last 2 bottles, better than the last one a few months ago. Drink up now. Fruit mostly gone, now in secondary flavors of earthiness.
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2/13/2017 - RayOB wrote: 93 Points
Drank at 67
Fully mature with a wonderful depth. Classic claret.
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1/25/2017 - mattiasjansson wrote:
Barton tasting with Damien Barton Sartorius (Gordon's): Red brick. Showing signs of age (more than it should at this point). Some fruit and tannins are still there, but this is tired and drinking like it is 20 years older than it is (and not in a good way.) Flawed bottle?
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1/25/2017 - chcook wrote:
Leoville Barton at Gordon's (Gordons Waltham): color garnet with some browning at edges. nose has leather licorice and chocolate and seems a little heat damaged. a pity because despite this the wine stills shows its class. was able to smell a glass from a second bottle that was much better and if the rest of the lineup was any indicator, this is likely a show-stopper
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1/25/2017 - RockinCabs wrote: flawed
Leoville Barton Tasting Seminar - (1986 - 2011) (Gordon's Wines - Waltham, MA): Prune, Raisin, VA and sherry. Cooked bottle. I would not have served this.
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1/5/2017 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
In the zone right now.
Still plenty of fruit and structure.
Cherry, cola, and a touch of tobacco.
Will likely last another 5+ years easily.
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1/4/2017 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: flawed
Volatile acidity was overwhelming, oxidized likely from storage issues as this was a third hand purchase.
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12/11/2016 - guitarkim Likes this wine: 93 Points
Aroma: ripe black-currant, coffee, leather, spice, wood,
Medium-bodied+ with good acidity and mature and fine grained tannins. Soft and balanced.
Very, very good length. (93)
Excellent and mature Saint-Julien. Do decant. Needed two hours to open up.
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12/5/2016 - fcxj wrote: 80 Points
Unappetizing. I hope it was cork taint rather than how this is supposed to taste.
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12/3/2016 - Premium storage wrote:
Karen bday Rocco house
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12/3/2016 - Premium storage wrote:
For karen bday in rocco house
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10/22/2016 - Txa wrote:
Drinking super
Should be able to go another couple of years
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9/18/2016 - AudunG wrote: 93 Points
Classic aromas of cigar box, graphite and barnyard / stall. Silky in the mouth, with fine tannins. Intense and long.
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8/24/2016 - William Kelley Likes this wine: 93 Points
The 1989 Léoville Barton is still a very youthful, tight wine, even in the context of the slow-evolving 1989 vintage. A pretty classic bouquet of cassis, cedar, rich soil and a nice framing of new oak is followed by a powerful, intense wine that need a good decade more in the cellar to unwind.
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7/9/2016 - ciboy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Perfekter Korken, grauenhaftes Etikett.
1 Stunde karaffiert.
Glänzendes Rubinrot mit Brauntönen.
In der Nase Tabak, Rauch, schwarze Kirschen und Brombeeren. Frisch mit einem Hauch Eukalyptus und Kräutern. Wunderbarer reifer Bordeaux, wie hab ich das vermisst.
Eine leicht saftig, cremige Textur mit feinsandigen Tanninen. Mittelkräftiger Körper. Schöne Harmonie von klassischen, gereiften Bdx Aromen, etwas Kraut, dunkle Früchte, Blaubeeren. Da passt alles zusammen. Geräuchte Paprika, Datteln.
Säure ist präsent, aber sehr harmonisch integriert. Langer Abgang.
92/100
www.vvWine.ch
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7/8/2016 - tinybubbles wrote: 88 Points
Tight with very austere fruit. Still quite tannic. Not showing much tonight. Still obvious upside but tonight suggests that the wait will be longer and the upside less versus previous expectations
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7/1/2016 - aChave Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dinner with Dan, Manette and Evan (Dan & Manette's house): Ahh, aged Bordeaux. Has the approachability and fragrance of the 1989's at this point, but also the freshness and structure of Leoville Barton. Best of both worlds. Medium weight with good combination of red and blue fruit (more red, really). Drinking well out of the bottle; didn't go downhill over 2 hours. Decant not necessary, but helped open somewhat over 30 minutes. Gorgeous wine. Classic St Julien, classic Barton. More, please.
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6/30/2016 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 95 Points
Everything that can be gorgeous in Claret is here. Luscious and perfumed black fruit. Smoky incense and violets with tobacco and cedar. This is silky and creamy with a strong backbone of minerality and tannin. The tannins are still firm given the age, but are finely grained and support the whole thing beautifully. Everything here is pure, but there is a certain ethereal note that brings it all home. Stunning (and especially with lamb).
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6/26/2016 - Paul D Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good cork. Decanted 1/2 hour. Medium/deep garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose is smoky, minerally, underlying mainly black fruit. Medium bodied, smoky, red and black berry fruit, a touch of savour, tannins still a touch firm but not obtrusive, balanced acidity, very good length finish with a touch of creamy red fruit coming through. Excellent, if not quite with the interest of some previous bottles.
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5/9/2016 - shaferguy91 wrote: 91 Points
No decant. Drink up.
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5/4/2016 - theeagle03 wrote:
Big, still holding some fruit, leather and cigars but structured claret with backbone
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4/29/2016 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points
Bordeaux Wimps, Benoît Chamoux table (La Trompette, London): Double decanted four hours in advance. Mid garnet to ruby at the core. Cedar and spice on the nose. Classic restrained St Julien palate. Classic Barton in a rich vintage. ****
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3/26/2016 - aChave wrote: flawed
(Purchased from Belmont 11/2015) Cork was in bad shape and readily slid into the bottle. Wine exhibited significant TCA, though this dissipated over three days. However, the wine was ultimately dried out. Too bad; seemed to be brilliantly balanced with perfect weight and good fruit. How sad. Probably poor storage.
Opened this because it was suspect... good call.
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1/30/2016 - Spl232 wrote: flawed
Corked
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11/15/2015 - soyhead wrote:
bonus bottle cracked generously by Alex
nose - tobacco, hay, funk, soy sauce
mouth - complex cherry fruit, hints of orange peel and tobacco. delicious and very open for business.
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10/11/2015 - nortonnose wrote: 93 Points
With dear friends today for lunch "at the turn" :)
Stood 750ml for weeks. It might've gotten shaken in some car travel over this weekend but nothing tragic. No decant this time, simply popped cork 30 mins ahead, then served with a terrific rack of lamb. Another strong showing and quite similar to my previous one: "Classic Barton profile on the nose (cedar, leather) and palate (great structure, grippy tannins holding dark red fruit, oak fading). Medium-plus finish. Continued to improve in the glass over the course of an hour, slowly gaining weight without any drying." The nose grew a bit more reticent after the hour, while the palate was filling in beautifully. At peak now but no rush to finish these.
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8/3/2015 - LJT wrote: 93 Points
The wine was very fresh tasting for such an old wine. Great bouquet; good fruit. It was paired with a 1996 Leoville Barton that had more strength and tannin. Both were excellent. There was a debate about which was preferred.
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6/8/2015 - nstow Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted one hour. Still deep red, showing some age but not that brown. Warm, mellow with plums chocolate and tobacco. Slight acidity on finish and still has soft tannins. Very nice 4/5
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6/5/2015 - nortonnose wrote: 93 Points
Stood 750ml for weeks. Decant for an hour, then served. Gorgeous browning ruby color profile. Very similar showing to my last one: "Classic Barton profile on the nose (cedar, leather) and palate (great structure, grippy tannins holding dark red fruit, oak fading). Medium-plus finish. Continued to improve in the glass, slowly gaining weight without any drying." This bottle had a tiny hint of sweetness to it that gave it an added dimension. Lovely! Zero rush - this has at least another decade of strong showings ahead.
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5/9/2015 - John Tang Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for 2 hours and this is actually necessary for a 1989 wine. The color is old mature Bordeaux, so is the smell. It smells like raisin, blackberry, black currant (cassis), plum, mineral, espresso and light toast. The body is medium but with smooth and silky texture. Long finish, truly delicious, it tastes better than the 1994 Latour which was in pair for the dinner.
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4/18/2015 - PSPatrick wrote: 93 Points
The bottle seemed to be in perfect condition; the filling level was ideal, the cork intact. The wine was medium to dark garnet in colour and threw a notable amount of sediment (and the bottle was heavily crusted). The wine offered black currant, dark cherry, floral notes, withered flowers, wet autumn leaves, cedar, leather, tobacco and a touch of mint on the mature nose. On the palate the wine showed black currant, dark cherry, plum, cedar, leather, tobacco and spices, with medium to medium-plus acidity, well-integrated, medium-plus tannin, a great, silky mouthfeel and superb length. The medium-bodied, medium-concentrated Bordeaux was smooth and impeccably balanced, with good complexity, and drank very well. It improved with aeration, drank consistently well over two days, and should be good for another 10+ years. Oh, what a great St. Julien!
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4/11/2015 - Pebben wrote: 90 Points
From memory: Classic mature Bordeaux – lots of cassis, cigar box and cellar dust. Lean and elegant with some faint green notes. Good, but not great – lacks the depth I would expect from a wine of this calibre. Although there was little detectable development during consumption, I would probably have given it an hour or two in the decanter if I had been given the chance to start over again.
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4/7/2015 - CabZinMan Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted for about one hour before dinner. Initial funk on nose & palate faded, though didn't disappear completely. More red than brown on color, though not much more. Mellow & certainly mature, but not much depth/complexity, decent but not long finish. Likely past its peak.
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3/20/2015 - SimonG wrote: 92 Points
Medlar lunch: Lovely classical St Julien nose, cedar, some blackcurrant, but overall more a case of elegance and restraint. A blue stocking rather than the turned up hem of the Cos. Long and smooth, with just a twinkle of the eye. Very smooth and harmonious and proper. Classic claret ****
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2/20/2015 - Mentat Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking perfectly, classic claret. The condition of this wine just cannot be better. Deep ruby color with minimal bricking on the rim. Cedar, leather notes enveloped by elegant blackcurrant fruit. Tannin still present in the background but mostly integrated now. There is no need to rush with this wine but it's so good now, why wait?
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12/28/2014 - nortonnose wrote: 93 Points
Stood 750ml for a week. Slow ox 3hrs, decant for an hour, then back in the bottle and served. Ruby color with only slight bricking. Classic Barton profile on the nose (cedar, leather) and palate (great structure, grippy tannins holding dark red fruit, oak fading). Medium-plus finish. Continued to improve in the glass, slowly gaining weight without any drying - impressive given how much air it consumed this afternoon! Zero rush - this has at least another decade of strong showings ahead. 93-94 tonight.
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12/27/2014 - SimonG wrote: 94 Points
Nicely cool blackcurrant nose. Similar on the attack. A little more precision and focus than the 90 earlier in the week, and a bit more mineral line through the mid-palate. The 90 did come across as a little riper-fruited but I think it's more that the 89 has a little more mineral definition and fresher acidity. Very harmonious and with a good length to the finish. Decanted a couple of hours before drinking and drinking well over three hours. ****1/2
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12/25/2014 - eoinhharkins Likes this wine: 95 Points
Really enjoyed this, quite classic style claret decent bricking showing now and on the nose there's smoke, earth, tobacco, with hints of some primary black currant aromas, palate is really smooth, clean and quite expressive with acidity on the higher side (personally like that)
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11/25/2014 - winemaker Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasted alongside the 1990 and this was the better wine. The structure and acidity here carried the day vs the ripe fruit of the '90.
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10/15/2014 - Hodby wrote: 89 Points
Medium red-garnet color. Subtle nose of black currant and mint, leather jacket, can't pin down the vague herbs and brush. On arrival, medium-low tannin, medium acidity; slightly stiff-bodied for a 25 year old Medoc, but there's something very old-fashioned here in terms of barely-ripe Cabernet Sauvigvon and modest new oak treatment. Correct, unexciting, but very satisfying. Probably will last forever like this. Paired well with a garlic roasted leg of lamb. Bottle #4 of four.
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10/9/2014 - johnwine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wonderful structure but lacks sumptuous fruit.
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10/5/2014 - Paul D wrote: 93 Points
Cork is badly soaked, but comes out in one piece. Medium/deep garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose is complex, mature with smoky black currant fruit, notes of tobacco and earth. Medium bodied, blackcurrant, lots of tobacco, smoke, touch of cool, gravelly minerals, tannins still a touch firm but pretty fine, very good length finish. Excellent.
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9/30/2014 - hajoha wrote: 92 Points
Rett fra flaske, så er den litt tilbakeholden.
Tar på seg noen fine florale toner, noe jordlig, litt rødfrukt kommer frem også.
Bra konsentrert frukt, og fin struktur.
Holder trøkket opp gjennom hele smakskurven.
Fine, men godt merkbare tanniner.
Lang finish.
Stram, fin og tåler mange år.
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9/29/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light earthy nose; integrated with earthy sweet blackberry-blueberry; nice finish.
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9/27/2014 - unionst Likes this wine: 97 Points
(2 hour decant, from magnum) Ink black color. Concentrated nose of black fruits, tobacco and mint. Still young and fresh on the palate. Tannins are granular and sweet with blackberries and cassis and concentrated "grape" through the mid-palate. Long finish that includes some graphite to balance the fruit. Wonderful structure. Easily has another 15 years.
Note: drank this 25 year-old after a 50-year old Ducru and the context made the Barton seem very young in comparison.
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9/21/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light earthy nose; balanced and rather fully integrated; nice blackberry; good finish.
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7/28/2014 - SM7400 Likes this wine: 91 Points
I opened and decanted this wine about 1 hour before I started consuming it. It continued to develop flavour over the course of 2 hours. I would suggest giving it more than an hour before you start drinking in earnest just to provide enough time to really open up.
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. The body is medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes medium with low acidity. Classic barnyard smell.
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6/30/2014 - Paul D wrote:
Bordeaux Wimps (La Trompette, Chiswick): Medium/deep garnet, medium pale rim. Smokey black fruit, hint of fruit cake, harmonious, seamless, good length finish. Lovely ****.
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4/20/2014 - Paul D wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Good cork - maybe 25% soaked. Medium garnet core, medium pale garnet rim. Nose is relatively youthful, with dark, slightly smoky fruit, cedar. Medium bodied on the palate, dark smoky fruit, some redder fruit tones, tannins firm but quite fine, quite expansive on the good length finish but not as soft and giving as the last bottle.
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2/16/2014 - Geoff Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful fully mature, well aged Bordeaux with medium, full body, cedar, and secondary aromas, resolved tannins and long finish. 4 hour slow ox, 1 hour decant.
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2/12/2014 - Spl232 wrote: 93 Points
Commanderie Business meeting
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1/25/2014 - Paul D wrote: 95 Points
At Le Talbooth, Dedham, Essex. No formal note. Deep, dark fruit, soft, rich and generous yet not at all heavy, laboured or over-ripe, cedar, spice and smoke, nice balancing acidity, long harmonious finish. Complex, attractive and I would say pretty much at its peak. Outstanding.
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1/2/2014 - rakela wrote:
Had to decant after opening at restaurant. Still needs years of cellaring, very tight weak nose.
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12/25/2013 - shallIshantI Likes this wine: 89 Points
had high expectations. Decanted it an hour before drinking. Initially looked pale in the decanter but on the edge of the glass, it is in fact quite deep and dark. There was nothing on the nose when first opened but it then really opened up by the time it reached the glass. Cork travel was about a third of the way up. Lots of wood. For a wine of this calibre and age, it all depends on its provenance and how it has been kept. It's just passing its peak now and needs drinking up.
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12/15/2013 - aquaman wrote: 95 Points
2nd best bottle out of 3.. Decant is a must for this one for at least 1 hour..became more flora with time. N food friendly
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11/16/2013 - ckinv368 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very mellow, smooth, with notes of raspberry, blueberry. Very pleasant. Seems like it won't be improving with age. Probably drinking at its height right now. Lovely wine. Drinking great right now.
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10/31/2013 - Tad GW Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is drinking so well right now. Still, it needs to be opened and to let breathe for an hour to really start shining.
50+5+12+17+8=92
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10/3/2013 - Javachip wrote: 94 Points
San Diego WineSpectator.com Offline, 10/3/2013 (Farm House Cafe, San Diego): Decanted two hours. Clear medium garnet-blood red. Wonderful bouquet of creme de cassis, blackberry liqueur, fresh cigars, stony clay, mint and evergreen. Medium body, superb freshness and structure thanks to well-balanced acidity. Quite similar to 1989 Pichon Lalande tasted last month. Only a faint herbal bitterness on the finish kept this from ranking among my top three tonight.
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9/21/2013 - Jhcwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Toronto Wine Cru - WineSpectator Off-Line Event - Leoville Vertical (Crush Wine Bar, Toronto): 1989 Leoville Barton
Nose - Nice, Open. Evolved and improved in the glass.
Palette - As above, abit of tannin
Less substance and interest than the nose.
The wine declined towards the end of the evening.
93.
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9/13/2013 - Derek Darth Taster Likes this wine: 93 Points
Spanish Wine Tasting and Dinner at BDV (1855 and Bistro du Vin): Nose of interesting green peppers and also some kind of creamy aroma.
Smooth and sweet on the entry and elegant on the palate. Oak just nice. Some minerality. Overall softness, but some slight spice on the mid-palate made it interesting. Overall, very good balance. Medium finish. In a good place, but may possibly get better with a few more years.
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9/13/2013 - asparagus wrote: 91 Points
very good, but the rioja absolutely killed it. secondary notes and flavours, this baby can go on for decades.
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8/31/2013 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 88 Points
Tasting 4 Bordeaux, fourth place. Bright red color in the glass, medicinal nose with dark fruit, more of the same on the palate, opened slowly, lighter mouth feel, touch simple, medium body, medium finish.
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8/9/2013 - Lype Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quite closed at first, opens slowly and develops sweet raisiny tones, pencil shavings and cassis.
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7/22/2013 - LIE-user wrote: 92 Points
Classic Bordeaux. Won't disappoint you. In the mouth lots of earth and leather. Soft and round.
Gets better with some air (probably some 3 or 4 hours).
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4/21/2013 - sandwich Likes this wine: 93 Points
Quite a bit of funky funk barnyard funk on the nose that blew off over time. After a few hours in the decanter this wine showed some legs with the classic St. Julien palate. It is drinking well right now and has many years left. The only real critique (other than the funk) is that it has a remarkably quick finish.
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4/19/2013 - Wine_lvr wrote: 93 Points
Bordeaux 1989 Horizontal Tasting (Zurich): Intensive red. Lactic nose, chocolate. Flavors of red berries. A bit bitter but all supported by the nice sweetness and well integrated tannins. The wine is long and deep but all is a bit one dimensional. No hurry to drink this wine. Drink - 2025.
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4/15/2013 - SkeBum wrote: 93 Points
Very good Bdx and drinking very well right now. Opened 3 hrs before drinking and then decated at the restaurant, seemed to get stronger in the glass. Hint of cedar and mineral on the nose with a nice fruit on the palate. Light red in the glass with mild bricking around the edges. Absolute joy of a wine.
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4/13/2013 - Radboy wrote: 92 Points
This was quite nice. Still holding good fruit with well rounded back bone.
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3/27/2013 - nskelsey wrote: 93 Points
Haven't had this for 18 months and what a cracking good bottle of claret this is; I have never had it tasting better. Decanted for two hours and it really needed every minute of that; at no point did it begin to fade in the glass either throughout the evening. Quite dark in colour with spicy plums and damsons backed up by Barton's trademark cedar, leather and hint of tobacco leaf on the gorgeous nose. This particular example is still full of life and, if anything, seems to have put on weight from previous bottles I have had. The tannins are dry and dusty and even if this vintage doesn't quite have the complexity and class of the '88 and '90 it's still an excellent example of fine, traditional, old-fashioned claret (with the emphasis on traditional old-fashioned). A number of fellow tasters on here have inferred that this wine is on the way down, but I can only assume those bottles have been stored badly or not given enough air. On this showing there is no rush to drink up as it is barely in it's drinking window; still another 15-20 years in the bag. Estimated maturity: 2012-2025+
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2/10/2013 - Bistrobro1 wrote:
THis bottle was quite nice....not great but very good. The last 2 times I have tried this wine, it has been very good, and much better than previous instances. In a good place, but not for long term cellaring. Soft, velvety mouthfeel, woodsy on the nose and palate.
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1/18/2013 - becassine wrote: 95 Points
Carafé 1 heure et demie avant de servir (aucun dépôt!). Ce vin est l'une des bonnes bouteilles bû depuis longtemps. Légèrement tuilé aux abords, le vin ne fait pas son âge. En bouche, les tannins sont fondus et long, un équilibre parfait. Conservé depuis 20 ans à 12 degrés. Le nez est très fleural. Si bien conservé ce vin est a boire au cours des 2 prochaines années.
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12/31/2012 - Long Louis Does not like this wine:
Yes, it was cheap at its time, yes, it is a deuxième cru, yes, Anthony Barton is an icon in history, yes, it is a great vintage. BUT: This wines was completely as I expected: nice St. Julien nose (but the nice cedar nose of young Bartons fades after several years), almost no weight and austere finish. I don´t know why this Chateau is so overrated by winecritivcs around the globe. The wine is always cheaper than the other deuxième cru and I have an assumption why that is.
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12/23/2012 - Eclectic Palate wrote: 94 Points
Purchased in October 2012 from Winebid. Mid neck fill level, although the cork showed some minor seepage up through one side. (The wine was in stellar shape showing it has been properly stored.) Coloration was darker than I expected, with not much bricking. The initial pour showed the wine to be closed, which made me wonder if the fruit had faded from age. 60% of the bottle was decanted in a narrow 5 inch decanter that I tend to use for older wines, allowing the remainder to aerate within the bottle. The first three hours and during the meal the wine did not show much of any fruit in the nose or taste, but it was serviceable with a prime rib roast with a robust Dijon whole peppercorn coating. Upon revisiting the wine after the meal........it soared both on its own as well with a 1000 day aged Gouda. After the first sip revealed that she had opened up, I poured a glass for BWH and myself, and refreshed the decanter from the bottle. At this time the wine showed tart black fruits, and a sweetness that I never thought was going to show based upon the first hours of taking sips of the wine. The nose also opened up more showing the same dark fruits, but was not as impressive as the palate. The next pours from the decanter, with most now coming from the bottle 30 minutes earlier, were just as open and vibrantl. I still have 1 bottle left which came from the same consignor at Winebid, and my projection is to wait at least 3 more years before I try it. A more accurate drinking window for an 89 LB that has been properly cellared is 2012 - 2024. If anyone has this, it is not a crime to consume now with a decant that you monitor how it is opening up, or you can wait for some years if the wine has been properly cellared.
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12/10/2012 - Julian Marshall Likes this wine:
Much better than previous bottles, the 89 has finally lost the slight coarseness that blighted it during its youth. This will never be as good as the 90, but the 89 is certainly better than the 82 or 85. Ripe cherries showing at last, rather than hiding behind a cloak of leather, with a medium body and decent, satisfying finish. It doesn't reach the heights of the best Pauillacs in 89, but this is certainly the best 89 in St.Julien.
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12/2/2012 - BornToRhone Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 20 minutes. This wine is in a perfect place. Bright cherry with hints of spice, leather and tabac. Such a velvety mouth feel but still fairly masculine with tannins to go another 5-10 years at least. Wish I had more of these!
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11/18/2012 - thewineoceros wrote: 92 Points
Bordeaux 1989 left bank (with a bonus VCC): Beautiful depth on the nose, with touches of sweet fruit and tobacco leaf, quite subtle but focussed and driven. Very precise. This wine is certainly masculine to Margaux's femininity, and there is considerable power in the chunky four square tannins and ample structure. Another one that could last for an age, but is certainly true to its style. Great character.
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11/9/2012 - asparagus wrote: 90 Points
at its peak. still at least 5 years left in this yet.
should be decanted at least an hour.
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10/13/2012 - Attorney Somm wrote: 92 Points
Paired exceptionally well with lamb chops.
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9/18/2012 - SimonG wrote: 94 Points
Rupert's 89 'Super Seconds' Offline (The Medlar, London): Single blind. Denser, darker fruit, again, St Julien I think. Barton? A density here, and darker fruit. Very smooth and complete. This is good. Long, complex, persistent, harmonious. ****1/2
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9/15/2012 - Dave Canada wrote: 91 Points
Super Tasting 1 of 6 - Andrew does 1989 Bordeaux (Langdon Hall, Blair, Ontario): This wine was a touch muted and really suffered being tasted in the company of Haut Brion, La Mission and Palmer etc. This wine seemed average.
It was a touch muted on the nose with pyrazene and graphite and some dark fruit. The palate showed a bit more with currants and cherry but it was still simple and transitioned to a medium finish at best.
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9/15/2012 - Wine Canuck wrote: 91 Points
Super Tasting 1 of 6 - Andrew (Langdon Hall, Cambridge, ON): This wine is still relatively primary. Strangely fruit came across as a touch candied initially, but opened up to show blackberry and mushroom which gave it appeal. Definitely outclassed, but would stand alone just fine. Palate retains structure and is a bit drying. Nice overall though.
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9/15/2012 - alittle wrote: 91 Points
Tasting Group Dinner Series (1 of 6) / Andrew's 28th Birthday (Red Room, Langdon Hall, Cambridge, Ontario): This wine received the same treatment as the others in the flight; essentially decanted approximately 2 hours in bottle. Purple in the glass, with slight garnet brick. This was slightly less complex than the better wines of the flights, showing notes of blackcurrant, plums, cedar, leather, spice and a touch of mushroom on the nose. On the palate, this is not as well rounded as the better wines tonight, showing some hard edges. Finish is moderate, but rather dry, and is accented by dark fruit, spice and undergrowth notes. Beautifully mature Bordeaux but outclassed by a number of wines at the table tonight, as well as other wines within the flight.
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8/24/2012 - MC wrote:
With an hour decant this was great with food. Fully mature, an elegant wine that is best drunk now. A-
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8/22/2012 - wine&roses wrote: 96 Points
Perfect.
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7/23/2012 - nstow Likes this wine: 90 Points
Red brown. Medium intensity. Well balanced. Mellow fruit with herbs and some minerality. Acidic on finish. 4/5 (90-93)
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7/13/2012 - englishman's claret wrote: 92 Points
750. Good cork. Brick robe. Very much a charcoal and beef blood claret throughout the course. Drunk over four or so hours and while it took a while to open out, it was never really that vivacious on the nose. From about forty five minutes to an hour and a half, there was a real richness on the palate - full of dark fruit and tobacco. But overall, a little underwhelming. In my humble opinion, very good but a shadow of the classic 1990.
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6/29/2012 - Fishboy wrote: 92 Points
Another great bottle
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6/3/2012 - Reptibark wrote: 92 Points
My second experience with this wine and I continue to think it is one of the best values in older Bordeaux (think what you would pay for a "better" Chateaux from '89 v. the LB?!). The wine shows a richer-than-expected color with a nose of dried red fruits, rich soil, wood chips and oak while the palate is lusher and softer with more fruit, sweet spice and pretty fruit. Finish is medium in length and was welcoming. This bottle (not mine) reminds me as to why I wish I bought more when I had the chance.
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5/16/2012 - chenturn@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
- Crimsom color.
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4/29/2012 - jklaw7 wrote: 96 Points
Perfect cork. High fill. Vibrant deep red color. Explosive nose of red fruits, and classic bordeaux taste on the mouth. A youngster, easy to drink after being opened but not decanted for 2.5 hours. Still must have decades left in it. Drank with grilled meats and with a group of 11, and several folks felt this was the wine of the night. Hard to argue the point!
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4/1/2012 - AMRS Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice and classic. not as good as the 1982 but at its peak now.92+ points.
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3/24/2012 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 92 Points
This wine, taken from my cellar, was purchased upon release and cellared in pristine fashion. It was double-decanted, allowing approximately two hours in decanter prior to funneling back into the cleaned bottle. The wine was then taken to a restaurant, where it was consumed with Wagyu beef and mushroom pasta. The robe is deep garnet and the rim is brick. The nose shows moderately intense aromas of pipe tobacco, potpourri, plum and earth. Full-bodied on the palate, with medium acidity, soft residual tannins, well-integrated alcohol and flavors mirroring the nose. The middle palate is solid and the smooth finish is medium-to-long. This wine is a bit of an enigma at this point. When double-decanting, a tasting portion was retained in a Riedel Bordeaux glass and allowed to aerate 4-5 hours. It showed a more complex and fruit-filled bouquet in this glass than did the wine poured at the restaurant, making me suspect that I did not give the wine enough air prior to funneling back into the bottle. Drink now-12/17.
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2/18/2012 - dbg wrote:
darker red with only a little lightening at the rim. Biggest, youngest of the Bdx this evening with likely room for improvement but very nice now. Very good to excellent with an upside.
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2/18/2012 - Fishboy wrote: 92 Points
A fabulous wine with old world notes, good acidity and a smooth finish.
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1/23/2012 - cobbine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderrful dark brooding wine perfectly stored with moderate sediment, light tannins and full fruit with long tasty finish. To be drunken no
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1/8/2012 - Harry Cantrell wrote: 93 Points
Garnet. Nose was full force of Bordeaux Tobacco, anise. Taste was full bore anise, tobacco and cassis. there is a hint of hotness but it seemed more on the entry than on the finish (where I usually get alcohol). Can age some more from a good cellar.
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12/11/2011 - rnellans wrote: 92 Points
Mature. Dark with some bricking. Floral and dark fruit aromas. Lots of depth in mid-palate. A somewhat lush mouthfeel. Sweet finish with very soft tannins. Not a lot of acid. I think one should enjoy now.
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12/11/2011 - Reptibark wrote: 94 Points
Classically styled and may be one of the better values that I've had in a long time, this wine presented a beautiful brickish hue and burnt ochre rim. The nose was a little closed at first but after 30 minutes in the decanter the nose showed lovely spice, sandalwood, dried herbs and a soft touch of craisin, but leans heavily on the herbal side. Palate was medium bodied and showed more fruit with tones of elegant red fruit and berries, though still showing non-fruit flavors of herbs, licorice and wood. The soft and rounded tannins allowed the wine to flow smoothly and everyone enjoyed it immensely.
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12/4/2011 - rjonas wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for about an hour. Initial color was muted but as it got air, the color deepened to a rich ruby. Nose was complex but refined with background hints of smoke layered with an earthiness you'd expect from a classic Bordeaux. Very refined on the palate, not big but definitely stood up to the steaks we paired it with. Very enjoyable wine.
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11/12/2011 - nstow Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted one hour. Classic mature claret. Elegant and smooth. A feminine wine, not a blockbuster. Good balance and reasonable length. Perfect match for roast lamb. Excellent 4/5 (90-94)
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11/1/2011 - wallstreet wrote: 92 Points
fully mature Bordeaux. This bottle was in pristine condition. Cork was also in perfect condition. Wine exceeded expectations. While not the biggest or most robust from the class of 89. This wine delivered the goods and was what I consider a good value. Highly recommended.
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10/13/2011 - gautamv Likes this wine:
Maybe it was just this bottle, but it feels like this one never opened up (even after a few hours). Flat with a mild finish. I've had this before and it's been much better, but that was several years ago.
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10/11/2011 - JLG wrote:
A big, deep nose opens this wine, layered with aromas of chocolate and earth, tar, black fruits and sweet Asian spices, quite deep and complex and at the same time powerful aromas push back on the senses right from the beginning; big and sweet in the mouth on entry with a rush of black fruits; earthen and tannic still, but with balanced flavors and appealing richness; in some ways this wine seems like a younger and less developed version of the ’82 noted below; there are still evolving flavors of dry red fruits in the form of crabapple and cranberry, but there is a lot of volume to this wine at the same time; long finish, sweet and citric with spicy notes at the end. (18+)
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10/3/2011 - nskelsey wrote: 91 Points
Haven't had this for a while, but what a cracking good bottle of claret this is. Decanted for one hour. Quite dark in colour with spicy plums and damsons backed up by Barton's trademark cedar on the nose. Quite surprisingly this particular example is still full of life and, if anything, seems to have put on weight from previous bottles I have had. There's a hint of stewed prunes on the long finish. This doesn't quite have the complexity and class of the '88 and '90, but it's still an excellent example of fine old-fashioned claret. On this showing there is no rush to drink up either; still another 10 years in the bag. Estimated maturity: Now-2020+
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9/22/2011 - RayOB wrote: 95 Points
A classic St Julian - ready for drinking now
The Tannins have softened to allow a rich mellowness to come through.
Rich rich red fruit and berries
Amazing length - I can still taste it now while I write this
Yum Yum - Go out and drink it
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9/18/2011 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful and mature bouquet with some earthy impressions. In the mouth this is a feast with beautiful mature cassis, pleasant fresh acidity and soft and round tannin with still a pleasant bite. Fully mature, really lovely and complex mature Bdx and no real hurry.
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9/8/2011 - Rupert wrote: 88 Points
Langoa v Leoville (Les Deux Salons, London): Much better than the 90, but this too had a milky tone, smooth, restrained - not much excitement
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9/8/2011 - SimonG wrote:
Les Deux Bartons (Les Deux Salons): A bit richer and fleshier on the nose cf 88. Sweet, rounded and quite open on the attack and mid-palate, more classically dry on the finish. A touch of mint too. Classical and proper. Just starting to relax but some way off being ready. ***(*)
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8/28/2011 - cwjames wrote: 95 Points
Absolutely lovely and delicious with rack of lamb. Perfectly evolved, elegant with great finesse. When it it goes right, drinking aged Bordeaux is a sublime experience.
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8/28/2011 - paulcliffy wrote: 93 Points
This classic St Julien is an elegant offering, Concentrated brick red colour with brown edge. The nose is cedarbox, tobacco, red fruits and spice, very aromatic. I am delighted with the finesse and structure after 22 years. It is at its peak now and losing some of the forward red and black currant fruit driven flavours of the past. I have previously rate this 96 points 3 years ago. It still has plenty of spice and tannins so it may well keep for a few years more. I hope it does not suddenly dry out soon.I will be evaluating this wine closely from now onwards.
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7/5/2011 - Jack O'Brien wrote: 100 Points
A lot of bottle variation with the half case I had. Last bottle was the best and shared with David O'Reilly. This was, however; a perfectly aged Bordeaux. Everything you read about regarding aged French wines and how ineffable the drinking experience really is, can be summed up with this bottle.
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6/30/2011 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
Bordeaux Vertizontal (88,89,90 - Palmer/Leoville Barton/Cos/Mouton) (Roberson Wine, South Ken, London): Good amount of fruit (especially vs the 88) vibrant and alive with presence. Quite a bit of length. Not sure it will develop into smething better. Drink now. 91
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5/6/2011 - G_H wrote: 80 Points
Wanted to celebrate something, but seemed to have picked the wrong bottle. Rather light, balanced, leather, wet clothes, my grandmas closet. Not good not bad...
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4/17/2011 - Matt Scott wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for two hours, utilizing a funnel. A slightly bricking rim, with a dark garnet core. A paradox in that it's a youthful nose, yet showing a lot of secondary nuances of cedar, licorice, lavender, tobacco, hot stones and cloth. smoothed-out and somewhat evident tannins, with a nice long finish. Complexity that is tranquil and cognitive of the '89 vintage. There's still a long life ahead and the evolution of this claret has been enjoyable to follow. Not the '95, '05, '00 or my favorite - '03, however, an outstanding Barton by any means. Drink now - 2020.
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4/9/2011 - tr09 wrote: 91 Points
nice complete claret. a little oaky on the nose, but fresh and elegant with nice red fruit on the palate. quite long with medium acidity and the next taste never disappoints. at its peak now, surely, but no hurry here. decant for the deposit, no need for air.
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3/13/2011 - Urodude wrote: 92 Points
one of two wines of the night at bordeaux wine club. Other was 1989 La Fleur de Gay
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3/12/2011 - nskelsey wrote: flawed
This bottle had slight cork taint. Not enough to spoil the wine with food, but not pleasant enough to drink unaccompanied. Despite this flaw it was still possible to see what this wine would be like in untainted form. Colour is medium ruby with no sign of ageing. Quite feminine in style compared with what Barton usually offers and is well balanced although quite medium-light in structure; certainly not the weight of the '88 or '90. There is no rush to drink this up, but at this stage I can't see it adding complexity with age. If this hadn't been flawed I would have been looking at a rating in the region of 89 or 90. Estimated maturity: To 2020.
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2/26/2011 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Lovely nose. Lead, cedar, lots of leather. Screams Bordeaux. Little green with nice age showing. Nice acidity. Moderate alcohol. Middle of its life - agreed.
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2/26/2011 - psmith wrote:
Dark, fine-grained wine. Streamlined with a seamless interplay between fruit and earth tones. Medium bodied and middle aged. Very nice.
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2/7/2011 - grapist wrote: 95 Points
Decanted at Joe's, Chicago. Upon first taste, I was sure this was past its peak and a ways downhill. After just a few minutes in the glass, the funk blew off and this became most everything you could want in a mature Bordeaux. Elegant, heady, complex. Long, velvety finish. yum. Extra treat was drinking this side-by-side with a bottle of '95. Neither one hurt the steak even a little bit.
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1/22/2011 - RussK wrote: 87 Points
RUSSK WW at Sage. KenT's '89CA/BX blind tasting. Bottom tier. On the decline.
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1/17/2011 - Jack O'Brien wrote:
Losing its edge and not as nice as other bottles I have had.
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1/15/2011 - Zitan wrote: 92 Points
Charming and mid-weight. A little past peak but only a little. Fruit fading just a bit. Glad I opened in now and not in five years.
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12/31/2010 - gnosis wrote:
The worst of CT shows itself in this thread. Idiots commenting on wine. What can I say, I call them as I see them. Everything from 97 to 87. Well, I don't do points. As one guy "points" out, what is the difference between 91 and 92 points? Farce. Anyway, I say that because I am about to give some kind of score: 88-90. Even Robert Parker has taken to a range of points. This wine, pretty good, opens with air, like several hours decanted, sheds the meatiness, with very complex fruit coming through on the palate. The nose is honest with a bouquet of what you expect, dried red fruit, humid earth, some graphite, etc. The palate, this strikes softly with resolved tannins, however surprisingly lively acidity still (not overly), and nice balance of elements (hence why it has lived this long...) Better with food it struck me, than by the glass. But definitely not over 90 points. Good, aged, just because it is old, does not mean it is great. It is good, very nice and good. Yum.
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11/11/2010 - Jack O'Brien wrote: 96 Points
Very nice and still going.
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11/6/2010 - Clarke wrote: 89 Points
Judging from our bottle, this wine is finished. We should have popped this one 5 + years ago.
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11/2/2010 - Radboy wrote: 93 Points
What better way to celebrate a Giant world series victory then with an 1989 Bordeaux, the year of the earthquake series! One of the last games I was at. Great fruit with polished manly tannins. Well balanced with much complexity. A great wine to savor.
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10/24/2010 - tanglenet wrote:
Taken to an offline. Opened and not decanted. Tired, lacking fruit with some secondary notes of wood, forest and some smoke. Pretty uninteresting.
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10/7/2010 - dboxxer wrote: 93 Points
Here is a fabulously rich old style bordeaux that is still kicking - and strong for it's age. I was expecting muted tannins and bordeaux earth and whilst definitely there they are still in the background somewhat. Tannins are still strong, rich red berry fruits with hints of fresh blackberry. For me personally I thought it needed more time in the bottle. Barton's wines sometimes have the strange desire to lie dormant in the bottle for 10-15 years before mellowing and I think this might be one of them. I would leave for another 5. It's a fantastic wine though! If only I had enough to try 1 each year from now until 2020
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7/7/2010 - SimonG wrote:
Bryan's Dinner Party Offline (The Ledbury, London): Quite a full purple-ruby. Savoury character, dry tannins, good structure, needs time. The 78 alongside is a clear favourite for current enjoyment. ***(*)+?
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6/12/2010 - macker100 wrote: 90 Points
At San Antonio vertical. I did not find this wine as enthralling as others in the group. More elegant Bordeaux than I expected, with floral strawberry and barnyard notes on nose. Light cherry red fruit on palate that sometimes reminded me more of a Oregon pinot than a classic Bordeaux. The fruit was pretty, but I found this well below the more recent vintages as far as complexity and finish.
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6/11/2010 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 93 Points
San Antonio Wine Geeks - Leoville Barton Vertical (Steve's house): Decanted about 12hrs prior to tasting, excellent fill and cork. Nose was a little closed but pretty, and the only wine that I got a touch of violets from. Otherwise a little mint, tobacco and cigar box. Red fruit dominated palate, quite lush, and with fine tannins still present in the background. Lengthy finish of spice box and espresso, and a licorice/minty/eucalyptus quality. Really complete, balanced wine, possibly the most complex of the evening. Strikingly young, but so good now. Some would argue to age more, but I like it now.
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3/21/2010 - Jack O'Brien wrote: 97 Points
Near perfect Bordeaux. Unforgivingly earthy and rich in flavor and texture. Just beautiful. Drinks like a dream.
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3/16/2010 - jmht wrote: 91 Points
Tasted alongside the 1989 Vieux Chateau Certan and 89 Talbot. All were decanted.
Leoville Barton required about 2 hours decant before it showed. Initially, muted nose and palate. But once open, its most distinguishing characteristic was savory and balanced quality. Sweet cherry, herbs (lavender?), hint of cedar. Less volume than the other two wines, but far more interesting. Drink.
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3/14/2010 - rralls wrote:
Slightly corked. Muted the fruit.
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3/9/2010 - Robert T wrote:
Drunk for a celebratory lunch. Decanted 90 minutes before drinking , excellent and drunk very well Lovely bouquet and very smooth.92 points , still retained it's bouquet when remains of decanter drunk in evening.
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2/16/2010 - zarped wrote: 91 Points
belle robe sombre, nez encore puissant fruits rouge, arôme tertiaires, pointe de cuir et fruits cuits; tannins encore présent mais fondus notes de fruits rouges très murs, compotés; belle longueur, droite
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12/21/2009 - Margauxguy wrote: 89 Points
very good. A touch of iron about the edges, subdued fruit. Maybe getting a touch thin.
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11/13/2009 - Hazeo wrote: 90 Points
Given the Chateau and the vintage I was hoping for a lot more. I loved the intoxicating nose of elegent cherry and forest and spices. Wonderful.(i'd give it 94 if just for the nose). But on the palette it was disappointing ... a bit too much sugary sweetness, still seem primary and not too complex. Medium bodied but slightly lean.
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11/1/2009 - Grinner wrote: 91 Points
13th Annual Lyon 10 year Retrospective (Eugene, Oregon): Very subtle as a ringer in this tasting of '99's from all over, most couldn't come close guessng. Nose was modest and not overtly "Bordeaux". Tannins are resolved, nice fruit and good length. So smooth and lingering in this group I had a hard time pouring out/spitting.
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10/16/2009 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 91 Points
1989 revisited offline (Hambleton Hall, Rutland): The nose has meaty, fairly muscular black fruits. On the palate, it feels very young on the palate with fresh fruit and firm tannins.
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9/29/2009 - nskelsey wrote: 89 Points
Notes not taken at time but was part of a meal that included the 1990, 1989 and 1988 Barton. This wine is more feminine and lighter than the 1990 and 1988 and was a clear third place in comparison. This still has a few years ahead of it and could well add a bit more complexity with age. Hasn't got the substance of the '90 and '88, but still a very pleasant bottle.
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8/22/2009 - TheBusiness724 wrote: 92 Points
The previous bottle must have been a little off or somewhat oxidized, because this one was much better. The cork and the fill were perfect. Some appropriate bricking was obvious at first glance. Though not lacking in dark fruit (blackberry, plum), oak and cedar aromas and flavors were really the focus of this bottle. More so, maybe, than I would ultimately prefer. A toasty edge and tobacco hints provided some welcome complexity. I take back what I said about this wine not being worth the price.
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7/11/2009 - TheBusiness724 wrote: 90 Points
Similar to the previous tasting note, but the floral aromas were fainter and there was some barnyard on the nose this time. This wine is pleasant and easy to drink, but it does leave you wanting a bit more complexity and a lot more structure. For the price, it is not worth seeking out anymore.
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6/18/2009 - Jeff Leve wrote: 88 Points
Spice, cassis, tobacco and cherries on the nose. The wine finishes with roasted black and red fruit. This is an elegant style of wine for the Chateau. All the tannin is resolved, and the wine is ready for prime time drinking. Owner Lillian Barton thinks the 89 and 90 are the same level of quality, but feels the 90 needs more time before it is mature.
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5/30/2009 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
served this wine (single blind) at a selkirk manor housewarming dinner with main course of wegman's meatloaf. pat, keith and jean were in attendance. with a few hints, keith was able to zero in on the producer, since it one of his favorites. he determined approximate age but not the vintage. the wine presented in very sound condition. dark color. somewhat restrained nose. nice mouth grip. mostly plum and dark skinned fruit on the palate. keith and i agreed that although lacking some of the grace and finesse, that it offered more of compelling interest than the 1970 latour which we drank alongside. wow, what a comparison. in this case, my experience was closer to the spectator review than the majority of cellar tracker members in that i feel that this wine is just hitting its stride and will continue to develop well for a few more years. this wine represents a prellude to the quality this producer has achieved in more recent vintages along with commensurate price increases.
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5/25/2009 - Edclr wrote: 88 Points
Noting wrong with the wine, just seems to have lost fruit. Still pleasant, good with a steak. Probably past it's prime for my taste.
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4/12/2009 - TheBusiness724 wrote: 92 Points
Brought to our friends' place for dinner. Great wine - reserved, but elegant. The tannins were entirely resolved, so this lacked a little bit of structure, but it drank very smoothly and easily. Dried flowers, vanilla and dark fruit stood out on both the nose and the palate.
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4/9/2009 - SimonG wrote:
Classic claret. Nose of spice and ripe fruit and madeira-cake when decanted, settling down to sandlewood, cedar, some balckcurrant and a whiff of graphite. Quite dry and traditional, some soft tannin remaining that blurs away with food, cedar, blackcurrant, fruit-cake, long dry finish. Classic claret, very satisfying, evolves well in the glass ****
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3/27/2009 - VoteferPedro wrote: 93 Points
Decanted about 30 min
Brick hue, a bit of a brown tinged rim
Very delicate perfume and fruit, camphor, with numerous other identifiable aromas that fleeted by, different with each wiff. An amazing grapey palate with a thick back of the palate chewy jammy-ness. Complex and compelling. This seems to be mid stride and not slowing down. I kept going back to the glass, really liked it. Drink or Hold
5+13+17+8
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2/11/2009 - gout wrote: 86 Points
Compared against a 1989 Penfolds Bin 707 CS. MF red, touch of browning at edge; subdued complex nose compared to the up front penfolds. Classy though & subtle. MF on the palate, maybe just losing its fruit but still very drinkable & quite long on the finish. Drink now.
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1/15/2009 - Goldstone wrote: 92 Points
Drank over a dinner of Beef Bourginon and truffled mashed potatoesr at home with Todd and Mina on a Sunday night. Decanted for an hour beforehand and consumed over a couple of hours. Black/blood red in colour and just showing some transparency at the edges and the only visual hint of its true age was that it was slightly watery at the rim. Rather restrained nose of tar, freshly-sharpened pencils and deep, not-quite-ripe blackberries. Lovely big muscular mouthfeel with great tannic structure balanced by good acid. Some length but a bit slow to unravel in your head. Dark and brooding but lovely. Will be better in several years. Classic, classic Bordeaux at its best.....if you like, slightly austere, restrained wine. I've never fully come to understand the term "the sleeper of the vintage" but this wine probably sums up what people mean by it.
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12/28/2008 - Harry Cantrell wrote: 89 Points
Garnet orange at the rim. Mellow smooth nose of spices, some tobacco. Taste was a light mix of spices, tobacco with a hint of licorice. Good, but drink up.
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11/29/2008 - thomasito2001 wrote: 89 Points
Very good but unexciting wine. I remember enjoying it much more when it was younger (5-6 years old).
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10/9/2008 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
Rich, round cherry, spice and earth flavors. Well integrated tannins.
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10/9/2008 - MRichman wrote:
Leoville Barton vs. Leoville Poyferre (Morton's NYC): Dark with some tar. A bit stiff. Young? Under-fruited? Good but not up to the Poyferre.
B+
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8/18/2008 - bwr wrote: 92 Points
barnyard notes soften over an hour with cedar, tobacco, earthy flavors and well intergrated tannins
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8/3/2008 - AN wrote: 88 Points
Drank 2 bottles over a period of 2 weeks. The 1st one did not impress at all - although the nose was beautiful with lots of farmyard aromas, the taste was not impressive. Short aftertaste, and showing signs of corkage. The 2nd bottle performed much better. Bright garnet rim with purple middle, pronounced aromas of stony fruit and vegetal aromas. Still developing. Beautiful mid-palate with short finish though. Good claret. Since I tasted it alongside Mouton 1989, maybe that's why it couldn't show its best. :)
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7/11/2008 - pikemasterflash wrote: 91 Points
Drank with Brad and Gigi at James. Very good but nothing outstanding. Classic Bordeaux without a lot of sweetness. Maybe just a bit disappointing given the year but still a very enjoyable bottle.
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6/3/2008 - La Grappe wrote: 94 Points
This will not improve further and may even just be starting to fade a little. Nevertheless, it remains full of mature, spicy fruit: blackcurrants with a touch of spice and some discreet oak. It has great balance and length and certainly gives the 1990 a run for its money.
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4/27/2008 - vespasian wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 45 mins.
Not much fade at the rim. Bright colour- more ruby than garnet. Rich red fruits on the nose. strawberries and cassis. Quite vibrant primary fruit. Serious depth to the aromas on the nose. Much more developed on the palate. Lovely balance. Very long. Some vegetal notes and cherries. Tobacco and cedar on the finish. On this showing could go on for another 10 years easily.
On tasting again later intense blackcurrant leaf and some bell pepper developing. Powerful stuff!
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4/22/2008 - Rupert wrote: 94 Points
Leoville Barton vertical 1863 - 2005 (Institute of Directors, London): Classic cedar and pencil nose, a touch of the farmyard, mouthfilling blackcurrant and cedar, multilayered - superb
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3/17/2008 - bonustime7 wrote: 91 Points
drank at Lorna's birthday. lovely, still a bit tight needed 30 min to open up. Wow, still a long future ahead of it. Good acidity.
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3/12/2008 - wineamateur wrote: 91 Points
Jeroboam Club: Ch. Leoville Barton Vertical (Averys, Bristol): Deep plum red, hints of maturity. Sweet attractive nose, hints of cola bottles, elegant but a bit muted. Good weight and structure but lacks sweetness and plumpness in comparison with the 1990. Hefty, clay-like tannins still coat the mouth, and slightly detract from the sweet fruit revealed (at last) on the long finish. Still needs time.
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3/2/2008 - tomred wrote: 93 Points
Bright ruby red, even colour right to the rim, still quite youthful. lots of red and black berry fruit with cedar and cigar boxes on the nose. Rich black berry and plumb fruits with a sweetness in the background, good balance with soft tannin and acid. One of the better 89s I have tasted to date, I wonder Why?? Looking back at my previous notes I see I have awarded this the highest rating, Must question if this was Just a lucky Bottle??
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3/1/2008 - JPPeterson wrote: 90 Points
Peaking about now. I would think to not hold too much longer.
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1/21/2008 - davergny wrote: 89 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Dark ruby color. Shy nose, some red currants. Delicate wine. Red currants, ripe strawberry, cedar, tobacco leaves. Good finish. Fine claret.
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12/18/2007 - tomred wrote: 81 Points
while the level in the bottle was good the cork appeared moist, brick red thinning at the rim, nice berry fruit dry middle and finish, is the fruit drying out or is it due to a poor cork, certainly not up to the standard of the previous bottle I prefer the 1988
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12/4/2007 - wineismylife wrote: 90 Points
WIML90+. This is a very delicate and feminine style of wine. My first bite of food was too strong for it. I set it aside and allowed my palate to clear and then the wine showed much better sipped all on its' own. Drink over the short term maybe? Serve alone.
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11/25/2007 - 60ouvrees wrote:
Dark, young, tight, impenetrable nose. This opens up over time but remains somewhat tough and not particularly fun to taste. Have heard good things about this wine so maybe need to try another bottle.
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11/13/2007 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 81 Points
Leoville-Barton Vertical (Nook): The freak show, vastly different in personality from every other wine in the vertical, even the 2003. With its airy, diffuse band-aid scents and flavors that seemed simultaneously stewed and earthy, I would have pegged this as a Chateauneuf if you poured it to me blind. That's not a compliment from me.
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11/6/2007 - tomred wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for an hour. Mature brown colour, thining towards the rim, Warm inviting nose of plums, pencil box, leather. Flavours fill the mouth, rich warm soft fruits, blackberries, plums, silky coating the mouth, good length with just a hint of tannin at the end
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8/17/2007 - nskelsey wrote: 91 Points
Medium red with hint of brick on rim. Effusive nose of blackcurrant, lead pencils. Medium weight, hint of sweetness, plums, good structure, refined, quite light for a Leoville Barton. Medium length. Easy drinking. Very good. Ready now and should be good to 2020+
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5/26/2007 - JPPeterson wrote: 91 Points
Decant and leave for at least an hour. Good Cab fruit and balanced tannins, long finish. Maybe not yet peaked. I'll try another in 6 months.
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5/3/2007 - sdr wrote: 90 Points
To me, distinctly, albeit slightly, better than the '89 Las Cases I paired with it at the Four Seasons dinner with the Cataldos and the Liptons. (I held the minority opinion though). Classical Medoc profile of blackcurrent, blackberry and graphite. Not over extracted and not a trace of bitterness. Not the most powerful or concentrated wine, but admirable for its sense of restraint in a vessel of perfect harmony. Really good now; I doubt it will improve - but I wouldn't be surprised either.
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4/16/2007 - BIlgen wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful colour, bright red with purple hue
Great nose, wood, vanilla, black fruit
Powerful, round, soft tannines, good aftertaste, great nuance
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1/6/2007 - sdr wrote: 90 Points
A spectacularly well preserved bottle from a recent purchase from K&L. Is this is new release? An ideal "second growth" wine. Not the profound masterpiece of a great First Growth - or Leoville-las-Cases when it's on form - but smooth, rounded, perfectly proportioned and just plain delicious. The tannins are well absorbed and there's just no reason not to like this. It's clearly ready now. On the slightly negative side, the bouquet, while correct, is rather mute. The perfect wine when you want to be satisfied, but not challenged.
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12/4/2006 - Spencer wrote: 92 Points
A bit softer than I expect Barton to be, especially in a year like '89, but still well-balanced. Loaded with ripe red fruit, and still surprisingly primary. I'm not entirely sure how this is going to hold up - it seemed to lack the structure and depth of the best Bartons - but it's certainly an enjoyable wine to drink now.
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12/4/2006 - ERoss wrote: 95 Points
Leoville Barton Vertical; 12/4/2006-12/5/2006 (Spencer's): I liked this better than most in the group - what drew me in was the complexity and depth of fruit - ripe dark berries, Kirsch - with some meaty and spice notes as well. Richly endowed with plenty of tannins to hold up for the long haul.
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11/26/2006 - Rob MacKay wrote: 92 Points
Very approachable and ready to drink but still has a bit of an edge that says it can sleep for a few more years. Earth and cedar on the nose and nicely complex fruit, berry and cassis flavors. Decent finish. An excellent match with grilled lamb.
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11/6/2006 - toddjerry wrote: 91 Points
Had another bottle at Lawry's over prime rib. Dark garnet color. Again, classic Leoville Barton, cedar, leather, earth. This one still had good tannin and tasted relatively young and fresh. This drinks great now, but will still be good in another 5-10 years.
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11/4/2006 - WVWine wrote: 91 Points
Deep purple color. Fragrant smells of cedar and and berries. Smooth and elegent.
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10/11/2006 - toddjerry wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. More deep red than the 1988 Leoville Las Cases (more purple) we had next to it. Cedar, leather, but rather fleshy and supple, not as angular as the Las Cases. Drinking very well now, very smooth.
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4/15/2006 - jarvisdrinker wrote: 92 Points
Surprisingly young. A classic Bordeaux taste. Pencil shavings and cedar box, as they say. If I had more, I'd wait a few more years still. Very well balanced but just a little unrefined still. Did not get much of the "old" taste yet.
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3/31/2006 - cweiss wrote:
With nephew Erik. Generous cab-dominant flavors hav come fully together though not in danger of sliding downhill.
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3/29/2006 - Topper wrote: 88 Points
Nothing to write home about. Perfectly drinkable but not very harmonius and perhaps a bit thin. This one didn't have the barnyard characteristics others have commented on but neither did it have the compelling cedar/lead pencil aspect that is often so characteristic of good bordeaux. Tasted blind this would never have been mistaken for an excellent wine.
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2/27/2006 - Jeff Leve wrote: 86 Points
Traditionally made, rustic, austere and hard in style. Not my cup of tea.
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2/16/2006 - Eric wrote:
Leve does 1989 Bordeaux at Mélisse (Los Angeles, CA): Clearly the best wine of the flight.
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12/12/2005 - Russell Faulkner wrote:
Three Format Winston Churchill 1988 Tasting (and others...) (Snows, London): Slightly imbalanced, at first I thought a hint of brett, slightly hard on finish, some cassis and dark cherry lurking beneath, needs time.
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12/11/2005 - CSteefel wrote:
San Francisco Bay Area Leoville Barton Vertical (Moraga): Dark ruby red, almost opaque compared to the 1990. A beautifully nuanced and complex nose of tobacco and damp earth is beginning to emerge on this wine, not so powerful as in the 1982, but showing notes of violets, rock dust, and cassis. The palate is equally well balanced, delivering finesse, power, and sheer flavor intensity along with an impressive finish. The dark fruit and tannins on this wine seemed to be virtually indistinguishable. None of the tasters could remember the scoring for this wine, but it was the 2nd or 3rd favorite of the night for most. Very impressive, classically styled Claret, perhaps in the style of the 1985, but with a bit more power and extract.
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12/10/2005 - bwr wrote: 89 Points
initially barnyard notes that opened to grape and alcohol after 3hours. leather and cedar/plum taste with tannins still present.
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10/18/2005 - jfroklage wrote:
1989 Leoville Barton: The color is still quite dark, but on the palate and nose this is mature, midweight, velvety and elegantly flavored. My favorite of the three, but definitely more subtle than the others.
1990 Leoville Barton: This has opened up enough for current enjoyment, but it promises a long life with continued development. Richer and more structured than the 1989. Also with leather notes that may be evidence of some brett.
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8/24/2005 - jfroklage wrote:
1989 Pichon Baron, Pauillac, France. $40 on release, $160 currently. I only bought two, so I had been waiting on this. Decanted 1.5 hours, but tasted upon opening. Delicious both ways. The bouquet is true to its commune, but not effusive as say a St. Julien or Margaux may be. Clearly a California style as some have noted. This is a powerful Pauillac that remains elegant. Tannin is fully integrated and resolved. The color is still a dark ruby, indicating this will likely last another twenty years. The finish is persistent, midpalate is lush and layered. Flavors of current, flint, cherry. A complete wine. 92 points bouquet, 96 points palate.
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2/22/2005 - pmh wrote:
One of the vineyards starred by Wine Talker, NY Times 2002 as having unusually long life and good taste.
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2/9/2005 - Jeff W wrote:
Ruby purple. Muted nose. Intense cabernet fruit, blackcurrent and leather. Meaty and acidic - it cries out for food. Very long, with ripe tannins. Relatively approachable.
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1/16/2005 - Golfer wrote:
I was impressed by this bottle. Despite less than stellar provenance (was bought in the Caribbean some years ago) was in great condition. Classic Bordeaux on nose & palate, a little earthiness on the finish, pretty close to its peak I'd say. Wish I had a bunch more.
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9/11/2004 - MRichman wrote:
Bordeaux offline (Tout Va Bien, NYC): Very nice & smooth. Full. Minty, round.
B++
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9/6/2004 - PaulH wrote: 89 Points
Color is still deep dark red. Very few signs of aging. Nose was somewhat subued, but gained strength as it sat in the glass. On the palate, the wines seems to be lacking acidity, with insufficient fruit and to make up for the lack of structure. By the end of the meal, the wine had grown in richness and aromatics and had a long, pleasing finish with completely integrated tannins. However, it seems flabby and uncompelling. This is a fine Bordeaux, but I don't think it is ever going to be a great one. (Bottle from my cellar, taken to dinner at Jeanty at Jacks)
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7/4/2004 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Anything Goes at Café Italia: Blind Red 5 - Bordeaux nose, clearly. Old wood, tannin, pencil lead. Licorice. Medium-bodied red fruit. Pleasant. A bit soft, but nice. Chocolate. Good.
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6/30/2004 - PaulH wrote: 88 Points
Deep red brick color with very little lightening at the edge. Initially closed, after 45 minutes or so, the nose was superior with tobacco, smoke, spice and cedar. On the palate, however, it is much less impressive. It has a medium body and limited richness. The finish has mostly resolved tannins. No sense in waiting for this to get better, although it will last at least 5 to 8 more years. (From a 375 purchased off the winelist at Jardiniere).
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4/2/2004 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 94 Points
Tasted unblinded at the Vintage Wines, Ltd. wine bar. Bright disc. Medium-to-deep garnet robe with brick rim. Clean nose, showing a beautiful intense bouquet of kirsch, leather, smoke and chocolate. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with low acidity and medium sweet residual tannins. The flavors mirror the nose. Long, smooth finish.
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10/28/2003 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
A private dinner (Shampers, 4 Kingly Street, London, UK): Masculine claret, with the warmth and ripe fruit of this hot vintage, drinking beautifully (decanted), but no rush whatsoever. Now - 2025.
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2/9/2003 - Henman wrote:
N: cassis,plums,a little cedar.
P: cedar,cassis,vibrant acidity.
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1/14/2003 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 93 Points
Consumed at Decos Restaurant (San Diego). Bottle brought from my personal cellar for Ken Johnson's birthday dinner. The light was dim, but it can be said that the color was deep ruby. Clean nose, evolving over 45 minutes to show cherry, mint, leather and briary aromas. Medium-bodied on the palate, with medium supple tannins, similar flavors as for the nose, and a long, smooth finish.
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12/14/2002 - chbeaumont wrote: 95 Points
Brick red; expansive nose, ripe, intial Coonawarra style! then cedary, tobacco leaf, meaty, glorious; lovely soft mouthfeel, flshy, a little tannin; yet to peak/ superb balance. 18+
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2/9/2002 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 93 Points
Bright disc with medium ruby/red robe and reddish-orange rim. Clean nose showing intense ripe plum, cherry, cedar and cigar box. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with ample but well-integrated tannins and similar flavors as nose. The finish is long and smooth. Will likely improve but is quite beautiful now.
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11/1/2001 - PSide wrote:
Very good wine; fully approachable and drinking perfectly. Good garnet red colour, just fading a little at the rim. Nose is quite tight (cf the '90) and dense : lots of red fruit and cedar. In the mouth a glorious openness and rich fruitiness. Well balanced but nowhere near the weight of the '90.
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12/15/2000 - PhDP wrote: 90 Points
expressif, ouvert, fruité de cerise
très mûre, un peu d'alcool, savoureuse
apogée, longueur moyenne
vin "joyeux", prêt à boire
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12/11/2000 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 96 Points
Deep ruby with red rim. Light sediment at this point, but would still decant. Intense nose of cedar, currents, berries and chocolate. Similar flavors on palate, especially chocolate after 30 minutes. Full body, full but supple tannins. This wine is outstanding and will definitely further improve.
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12/12/1999 - W&FS Cellar Chair wrote: 94 Points
Best 1989 in a horizontal of my 1989 Bordeaux
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10/9/1999 - Henman wrote:
On the nose some light citrus(!) like fruit.
On the palate very silky, pleasant, harmonious. Pretty short finish.
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5/22/1999 - mdefreitas wrote: 93 Points
Pre Auction Wine Tasting w/ Aubert de Villaine (DRC) (NYC): Dark red, some bricking. Cedar, cassis, minerals, quite complex and elegant. Lovely wine.
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9/19/1998 - mdefreitas wrote: 91 Points
CT Group does 1995 Bordeaux w/ Blind Wine Mania @ Mike J: Brought by JoeC. An evolved wine with a mellowed fruit profile. Only the slightest hint of amber on the edge. Soft and friendly... some cedar and red fruits. Drinking nicely right now.
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2/8/1992 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 92 Points
Tasted at blind horizontal Bordeaux tasting at Vintage Wines, Ltd. Bright. Deep purple with violet rim. Nose shows prominent wood (oak and eucalyptus), closed but with currants and blackberries. Abundant fruit on palate. Good acidity and extract. Moderate tannins. Long, smooth finish.
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