November 30, 2018 - Best bottle so far. Enchantingly floral aromas with perfect development, clear definition of fruit, and earthy/herbal/spicy complexity. The palate even tops the nose with great harmony and intense flavours driven by firm, vibrant acidity. With no signs of decline, this '07 is bursting with life and could easily go for another five or more.
December 9, 2017 - Open nose, straight away. The impressions are somewhat less volatile than last bottle's, yet shines with a beautifully developed array of lilac-floral and black-cherry-berry perfumes. And there's quite a lot going on underneath - tobacco, earth, meat, garrigue, liquorice. The formerly dense extract and chewable tannins has mellowed into mature harmony, with that trademark Barral acidity still providing freshness, energy, and persistence. Should keep for another five.
July 13, 2017 - While I LOVED the complexity of this bottle on release, I now wonder if it would have just been better to enjoy this wine younger. I agree with all the statements of VA, though somehow this does manage to balance its drinkability on a knifes edge. Sharp florals (like putting your nose in a flower), high toned cardamom and spices, with a bit damp wood on the nose, similar to subtle TCA. The palate is backed by flavors of black plum, tart blackberry and tons of spices. Medium bodied, with fine, dusty tannins and higher acidity. At 10 years age, it's definitely unique and complex, though in a very polarizing way. I can't say I didn't enjoy it, though kinda wish I opened this 8 years ago for my preference. I hindsight, I recommend drinking Barral younger rather then aged.
February 7, 2017 - Deep warm-red hue with abundant fine deposit. A lilac-floral & highly volatile nose that still manages to balance on a knife's edge. Shiny black cherry/blackberry fruit underneath, with an intrigueing meaty-animal quality. Super-intense flavours with lots of chewable extract and high/lively acidity lifted by the VA. Nota bene: this is *not* heavy - which is a great part of the magic here. And these beauties only get better with age, which obviously isn't the case with many other 07s from Southern France.
April 27, 2016 - Stunning nose right out of the bottle! Positively volatile with great aroma complexity - lilacs and lavender, black cherries and blackberries, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves, tobacco, salty liquorice and meat juices. All these baking spice notes without any use of oak! Still a miracle of freshness, vitality and focused energy. Several years ahead...
November 26, 2015 - Frsh, bright, floral, acid, medium tannins. Went great with turkey.
September 14, 2015 - black fruits, tangy acids, light-medium body (acids throws me a bit). Calmed down in the glass after 1 hour.
July 5, 2015 - Nose of dark red fruits and stones. Smooth tannins, tangy acidity and medium body with plenty of fruit. Very nice now, but the development in the wine over the course of several hours suggests better things ahead for this wine.
June 6, 2015 - too bright. Too tangy for Ari to drink. Very tangy cherry and berries, medium-low tannins. ok match with a slow roasted beef rib; perhaps a better match with pork or lamb.
February 25, 2015 - Grosse déception avec cette cuvée de LéonBarral en reprise de fermentation, à l'évier !