Important Update From the Founder Read message >

Leoville Barton at Gordon's

Gordons Waltham

Tasted January 25, 2017 by chcook with 386 views

Introduction

Very nice event already covered by RockinCabs, but I made notes so thought I would add my perspectives.

I will apologize upfront that a lot of my notes are similar, but I think in retrospect that this is testimony to the consistency of the house.

Good news is, if you like one, you will like most vintages I think.

Flight 1 - The new property Mauvesin (1 note)

Red
2012 Château Mauvesin Barton France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc
Color garnet, nose is all oak and spice. swishing shows nothing but oak and acid. sipping allows some merlot fruit to peek out but this one is rough. perhaps a combination of youth and vintage, but there is work to be done here

Flight 2 - Langoa (3 notes)

Red
2001 Château Langoa Barton France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Color garnet with just browning edges. nose shows tobacco leather and plum. swishing reveals mostly tannic structure, but sipping shows great balance with the tannin integrating with the fruit. palate is mostly secondary and fully mature claret. drink I say
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2010 Château Langoa Barton France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
color inky garnet. nose has dense dark fruits laced with oak. swishing confirms the dense fruit and solid tannins that dry the med length finish. the fruit density is multiplied during sipping making this very elegant. one of the standouts of the evening for me but an infant.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2005 Château Langoa Barton France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
color dense garnet. nose has ripe plum w hints of chocolate and spice. swishing this unleashes serious tannin along w cheek coating acidity. sipping tames the structure with the intensity/density of the fruit, but this is still structurally tough because of its youth. given time I expect this will be really good
2 people found this helpful Comment

Flight 3 - Leoville #1 (3 notes)

Red
2005 Château Léoville Barton France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Color inky garnet. nose shows black cherry currant, and a hint of eucalyptus. swishing shows dense fruit and serious slightly rough tannin. this really needs time. great stuff
3 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2011 Château Léoville Barton France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
color dark garnet w purplish edges. nose has black fruit with a slight green note. swishing shows lighter structure on entry, with prominent tannin and although well balanced. nice but lacks density and despite the enthusiastic presentation would save my money for another vintage
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2004 Château Léoville Barton France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
color dark garnet not showing much age. swishing shows soft structure both acid and tannin. nose a little ripe, and sipping shows great body weight and balance. will continue to evolve favorably with time I think but very nice now. blind I would have never guessed 2004. to me the revelation of the evening.
2 people found this helpful Comment

Flight 4 - Leoville #2 (3 notes)

Red
1995 Château Léoville Barton France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
color garnet and showing some age on edges. nose has a medicinal earthy stewed vegetable quality. made me wonder about provenance. swishing reveals stern tannin and fading fruit. sipping the same. maybe not a perfect example, but if so would drink up.
1 person found this helpful Comments (1)
Red
1996 Château Léoville Barton France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
color garnet with some age at edges. nose mostly secondary, sipping shows polish but has peaked I think. I wouldn't wait
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2000 Château Léoville Barton France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
color garnet and barely showing age at edges. swishing shows lighter body with mostly tannic structure. sipping shows nice polish but this is definitely a lighter weight version of LB. just ok to me
1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 5 - Leoville #3 (3 notes)

Red
1986 Château Léoville Barton France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
color garnet and slightly browning edges. swishing this gives a blast of rough tannins (still) and the fruit seems faded. sipping allows more enjoyment, but this lacks charm I think typical of the vintage. I would wait if you have it
Red
1989 Château Léoville Barton France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
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
Red
1990 Château Léoville Barton France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
color is garnet with some age starting to show at edges. nose showing mostly secondary tobacco and plums. swishing this shows acid and tannin structure, but both are soft and impecably balanced by the remaining fruit. sipping enhances the fruit even more. this is in a beautiful drinking window but I think will hold for some time
© 2003-24 CellarTracker! LLC.

Report a Problem

Close