Gorgeous text book past peak claret nose on open, a bit thin / acidic on the palette. But over the course of 2 hours over dinner the wine blossomed into a wonderful ‘66. Past peak for sure, but graceful, dried cedar box, dried fruits, medium finish. Acquired in 1970, so bottle condition / storage was not an issue. Very high shoulder fill. A testament to both this Chateau, and the often overlooked ‘66 vintage.
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Bottle filled to high shoulder. Cork came out cleanly.
On the nose, wonderful tertiary aromatics--sandalwood, cardamom, balsam, allspice.
In the glass, shows unexpected significant bricking at the rim, but with a core of deep red. Aromas of red and black cherry and lingonberry forward, picking up big, deep tertiary aromatics mid-palate--waves of sandalwood, frankincense, cardamom, allspice and pine forest--with more of the same echoing aft.
Tannins resolved, but still present, providing a minerality knitting this all together on the palate. Absolutely ethereal.
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The 1966 Léoville Barton showcases the freshness and svelte profile which typifies the vintage. Here the nose too offers a red fruit profile - red cherry and tangy redcurrant preserves - with a panoply of pine forest, cedar, cardamom, and leather. So fresh and drinkable now, those famous 1966 tannins having finally melted away.
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From a 375. Have opened a couple of these in the last 6 months, and most have been DOA. This bottle had better fill and is very intriguing. Very pale translucent rim but still some dark color at its core. Soy, faded leaves, spicy tobacco and black earth on the nose. Fully tertiary flavors on the palate, with nice crisp red fruit, soy and hints of spice. Lovely old claret.
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10/7/2023 - Old Wine Maven Likes this wine:
Gorgeous text book past peak claret nose on open, a bit thin / acidic on the palette. But over the course of 2 hours over dinner the wine blossomed into a wonderful ‘66. Past peak for sure, but graceful, dried cedar box, dried fruits, medium finish. Acquired in 1970, so bottle condition / storage was not an issue. Very high shoulder fill. A testament to both this Chateau, and the often overlooked ‘66 vintage.
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1/18/2023 - jhrabideau Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bottle filled to high shoulder. Cork came out cleanly.
On the nose, wonderful tertiary aromatics--sandalwood, cardamom, balsam, allspice.
In the glass, shows unexpected significant bricking at the rim, but with a core of deep red. Aromas of red and black cherry and lingonberry forward, picking up big, deep tertiary aromatics mid-palate--waves of sandalwood, frankincense, cardamom, allspice and pine forest--with more of the same echoing aft.
Tannins resolved, but still present, providing a minerality knitting this all together on the palate. Absolutely ethereal.
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9/11/2021 - englishman's claret wrote: 93 Points
The 1966 Léoville Barton showcases the freshness and svelte profile which typifies the vintage. Here the nose too offers a red fruit profile - red cherry and tangy redcurrant preserves - with a panoply of pine forest, cedar, cardamom, and leather. So fresh and drinkable now, those famous 1966 tannins having finally melted away.
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9/10/2021 - Burgnick wrote: flawed
In magnum. Maderized.
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4/25/2020 - jreis Likes this wine:
From a 375. Have opened a couple of these in the last 6 months, and most have been DOA. This bottle had better fill and is very intriguing. Very pale translucent rim but still some dark color at its core.
Soy, faded leaves, spicy tobacco and black earth on the nose. Fully tertiary flavors on the palate, with nice crisp red fruit, soy and hints of spice. Lovely old claret.
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