Les Deux Bartons

• 1994 Château Léoville Barton

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  A flub of blackcurrant leaf but fairly tight on the nose. Similar on palate initially, still quite blackcurranty bit wig a nicely mineral quality through the mid-palate. Positive finish though no great length. Elegant and smooth. ***

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• 1994 Château Langoa Barton Flawed

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Slightly more open and evolved, a touch of leather and something meaty. Oops, corked on palate.

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• 1999 Château Langoa Barton

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Blackcurrant leaf; a bit fuller and denser on he nose cf the 94 Leoville. Younger fruit on the palate too, quite a lean dry style. No flesh to the mid-palate, quite linear from attack through to finish. Moderate length. **1/2

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• 1996 Château Langoa Barton

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Lovely blackcurrant and blackcurrant leaf nose. Quite dense. Lighter and brighter on the palate, more weight through the mid-palate. Decent finish. Bright and elegant. Really quite lovely. ****

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• 1996 Château Léoville Barton

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Less obviously blackcurrant nose. Denser, slightly leaguer and seemingly more
  Open on the nose. Leaner, slightly tighter palate though. Opens up a little in the glass but needs a few years yet. Seems to have tightened a bit in the last five years. **(**)

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• 1988 Château Léoville Barton

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Quite austere nose but showing top notes of sweet silage. Quite dry. Austere even. But there's depth and length here. Not a charmer but there's a twinkle in the eye. Very satisfying. ****

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• 1989 Château Léoville Barton

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  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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• 1989 Château Langoa Barton

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Fragrant. Sweet fruited. Quite flattering and comely, if a little obvious. Very pleasant though. ***1/2

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• 1990 Château Léoville Barton Flawed

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Quite spicy, more opulent and even a touch exotic on the nose. Seems quite evolved. Opens up to quite a madeira cake nose and palate. Heat damaged I think. (**)1/2 on this showing.

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• 1998 Château Léoville Barton

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  A touch tighter on the nose than the 2000 Langoa. Leaner and a bit tighter. Dense though. A little dry on the finish. Decent enough. ***

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• 2000 Château Langoa Barton

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Dense, plush nose, amtouch of shoe polish too. Blackcurrant and mulberry fruit. Plush. Glossy even. Tannins are here but quite smooth and polished. Needs time. **(**)

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• 1988 Château Guiraud

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Pretty full gold. Really quite ripe on the nose. Sweet, quite rich, rounded. A touch of marmalade. This is really very nice indeed. Good weight without being cloying. ****

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No wow wines, but good solid claret. 'Wine for men' as Jeremy observed. 88Leoville topped it for me followed by 96 Langoa with 96 & 89 Leoville and 2000 Langoa in the wings.