Amazing bottle. Part of a 3 bottle vertical of Leoville Barton.
Excellent on the nose right off, even better after after an hour open to air. Some sediment, but that is to be expected due to age.
Bold and acidic, with notes of leather, oak, and dark fruits. Nice, lighter color to it. An amazing drink, and excellent to compare with the other two vintages.
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A superb bottle of this that is drinking well now but with plenty left in the tank. Really ultra-smooth even for the normally rustic Barton style with deep blackberry fruit and gorgeous, supple tannins. Double-decanted 4 hours.
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34 years later … still a pretty purple in the glass with brown edges and a viscous sediment-filled body … nose of plum and sandalwood … Acidity and fruit have held up well. There’s a slight tannic bitterness at the finish; so it’s a little out of balance to my palette but then again my most recent Bordeaux experienced was a 2018 Ducru — tough act to follow!
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Three years plus since the last bottle. This wine took a long time to come around but boy is it singing now. It had great structure, fine tannins and, very curiously, the fruit had a touch of sweetness to it. In some ways, it reminded me of a fine Burgundy. Yet, all the other old Bordeaux characteristics were there as well. Consumed at the Capital Grille in Naples with a long term friend and member of the Commanderie de Bordeaux. He was wowed as well. It would have been interesting to put this wine against a 1990 Leoville las Cases and 1990 Leoville Poyferre.
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Decanted for sediment, iirc, and enjoyed over the following few hours; served double-blind. "more like a Pauillac than a St Julien", I certainly agree with that observation. This needed an hour or so of air before it was flashing its nobility and pedigree - and rightfully so - with well-earned gravitas. Love the sense of soil, earth, and to a fair degree, moment in time. The tannins were such a fine complement on this one in particular, not something I find myself saying that often at this address. It's ready, so feel free to go for it. 12,5% abv. highly recommended
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PnP, but showed best after an hour. Silky smooth, ripe black, blue, and, a still-surprising amount of, red fruits. Nice touches of pencil shavings with a touch of tobacco leaf. 20 second finish. Still at peak and will likely hold for 2+ more years. Half teaspoon of sediment.
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The third Léoville of the night started quietly and flat for the first 40 minutes. However, after some time in the decanter, it burst forth with beautiful aromas of cedar, leather, sweet red fruits, blackberry, and pencil shavings. Bright acidity, excellent length, and well-integrated tannins made this wine stand out and truly remarkable. After over two hours in the decanter, it became the WOTN for me, concluding the mini-vertical on a high note!
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Second bottle from a case, well stored. 1st bottle was corked. This one shone brilliantly. An hour decanted and then poured and drunk with fillet steak. In great shape now and I really hope the remainder of the case show this well …. But I know the odds aren’t necessarily with me.
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I brought a bottle to a Bordeaux BYOB. The wine showed beautifully from the get go. No decanting, I opened and poured. Good fruit, great balance, would have guessed it was a 2005 as it had plenty of life. All guests agreed it showed superbly and better than many higher rated wine.
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I stood this bottle up for a month to let the sediment settle. Fill was good above the neck and cork came out.nicely with ahso double prong puller. The wine has the same reticence as the previous one I opened and it took decanting, splashing back and forth for the tannin and acid to recede. Even after two days after opening this wine was unwilling to open up. But then it did and finally the dark berry fruit emerged. But it was not worth the wait of 30 plus years.
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Fill into neck. Slow Ox for 3.5 hours. Still needed more time. Got better over 90 minutes during dinner. Ripe but not overripe blackberries, black cherries, touches of slightly underripe blueberries and raspberries. Some flinty soil, tobacco leaf and Oak. Very smooth. Will save last bottle for at least few years hence as there is no rush on this wine. 1/2 teaspoon of fine sediment.
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This is the best bottle yet of my auction purchase lot. Nose is great upon opening, cool cassis streak jumping out. Palate is muddied, some funk and a wet cardboard smell that urges one to wait. Off to the decanter and one hour on nose is clean and colour has darkened. Gone are the ferrous notes I experienced on previous bottles. It is a perfectly midsized package throughout, the nose, the palate, the 12.5% ABV. Feels like one could gulp down liters of this effortlessly (not advised). It opened up as cool and got sweeter with air. Yet never as sweet or intense as would get one to think '90 vintage immediately. Therefore not a benchmark '90 and one would be hard pressed to pick the year blind. Might as well be a good classified growth in a cooler year like '88 or '96. This should be drunk now.
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Left bank bordeaux 2008 and older (BLVD): Earth, leather, bramble, a bit rustic with anise and beef blood. This seemed more full and fruity than the 1995 Lagrange and also a bit less complex.
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Wine Group Left Bank ( '08 & back) diner. Jason's btl and my WOTH. This is drinking great and so placid. Shows some tertiary notes on palate and nose but incredibly fresh too. It would be fun to own 3 of these and drink them 5 or 10yrs apart. Beautiful BDX!
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Tasting details are the the same as April. However, to reiterate, this is absolutely rocking and is the best pre millennial Barton by far, and good value for money.
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What a cool, classy, understated 1990, more like a Pauillac than a St Julien. This wine whispers it charms sotto voce with a quiet, serious bouquet of graphite, cedar, walnuts and minerals. With air, scents of tar and truffles emerge. I double decanted this about an hour before dinner and it could probably have used more air, as it deepened and opened over the 3 hours of dinner, showing strict but not austere. The palate is cool-fruited, buttoned-down, mineral-infused, with fine density and layering. There are some tannins still but they are mostly resolved at this stage, leaving a wine as silky as this chateau seems to get. I doubt this will ever show any flashier than it did last night, so enjoy now, ideally by itself with food over a long, relaxed meal and let it weave is charms. 93 pts by the end, after starting off at 91-92.
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Decanted 3 hours. Nose a little muted and a little stewed fruit showing that it was past its prime, but not by a long way. On the palate, classic, fully mature left bank stuff with some tannins still intact. I think this bottle was about 5 years past its peak but still enjoyable.
I expected a little more from this, but most likely storage conditions were not ideal. DRINK UP!
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The last bottle on a night where we tasted three decades of Saint-Julien wine (78 Gruaud Larose, 86 Ducru Beaucaillou), this 1990 Leoville Barton was a great example of the excellent vintage. The third aromatic nose of the evening, we were immediately greeted with a hefty amount of crème de cassis as well as hints of smoke and tobacco. The palette felt younger than it was as blackcurrants medlied with plums, pepper, cassis, spices and light earthiness before licorice came in on the finish. The ullage on this bottle was unbelievably good and the consensus was that 1990 Leoville Bartons have a lot of life left in them at their peak.
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What a glorious wine! Graceful and beautiful from the moment the bottle was opened. Sweet blueberries, tobacco, cedar, forest, cherries, leather, followed by a magnificently vivid and long aftertaste, ending on a note of ripe blue plums and maybe a whisper of red apples. Not even a hint of flamboyance--a quietly self-confident wine. This is really something special, and should remain so for at least another decade. [I gave this bottle more than a week standing upright for sediment to settle out. Tasted over an hour and a half from the Jancis Robinson glass.]
Typical notes of earth and some funk, mellowing out into tar,earth, dried prune, mushroom and some Smokey notes. Palate matches the nose, very round and full, integrated tannis, acidity, no rough edges. Wondeful wine.
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Fully mature, this is in its drinking plateau, and is a very enjoyable mature Bordeaux. It is probably the best pre millennial Barton, but it doesn't hit the heights of the Las Cases and Poyferre from 1990. The nose is a little muted but is aromatic with dark berry fruit and notes of cedar and bell pepper. The last year has seen the tannin lose its last rough edges, and the wine has a smooth mouthfeel and integrated finish, but still with sufficient bite. This is now wearing its age well and is still relatively good value.
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I suspect transport or storage issues marred the underlying wine here. Second bottle from a lot of leoville Barton (the other was a ‘95) that showed a somewhat stewed fruit / old over-ripe top signature that I never find in Barton. Got better with air but it never shed that signature. The underlying wine was incredibly fresh and vibrant with TONS of gas left in the tank. Cork in good shape. Didn’t get any of the cedar, tabaco and/or other aromatics I was expecting. Incredibly creamy and polished - a good bottle of this must be REALLY good. 91 for the wine underneath that annoying top-note - although this was much less tainted than the ‘95
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Drank with Danny Frenkel at home; it was his wedding gift to us. Fantastic old Bordeaux. at 30+ years it is in perfect shape. Menthol, cedar/earthy forest floor and peppery scents. Fruit was there, but starting to take a back seat. Wonderful stuff.
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Opened and decanted for 30 min prior to serving. Presenting a deep red almost pure garnet color, the 1990 Leoville Barton had a slightly funky seaside nose upon pouring which dissipated in the glass over time giving way to a rich complex nose of dark red fruits, cassis, leather, forest floor, and washed gravel. Full bodied with velvety tannins this is definitely well integrated and fully mature but with a surprising sense of freshness. A long and bone dry finish (which I love) capped off this well balanced, lovely experience.
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Low neck fill, but a perfectly sound bottle. Heavy on the classic cedar and cigar box notes. Mature, but retaining some red fruits and freshness. Definitely ready to drink, but should easily hold for a few years to a decade. Great bottle.
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Vertical with 90/95/96. This is a classy wine that evokes the image of a pipe smoking gentleman. A well-dressed character with gentle puffs of tobacco smoke accompanying a dry sense of humor and a little sweetness if you dig hard enough.
The tertiary characteristics really shine at this stage in this wine's life. While the fruits, acids and tannins are still noticeably present, they play the supporting actors to the elegant truffles, sweet tobacco smoke and gravelly earthiness.
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Décanté deux heures avant dégustation.Bouquet très engageant de cèdre,cassis,menthol,café La bouche offre encore à cet âge respectable quelques tanins à fondre (à ma grande surprise) et une structure imposante qui suppose une apogée réelle dans 5-6 ans.Le fruit est encore bien présent en bouche et la rémanence finale est de 8 caudalies.Belle quille
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30 minutes in decanter, but needed another 45. Not as good as last bottle, but still quite enjoyable. Neither the tobacco nor the fruits were as pronounced and distinctively layered as the prior bottle. Still a wonderfully smooth and complex wine.
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Garnet,nose with cedar shavings and leather,2-3 hours after decanting fruit receding but nice complexity on palate . Wonderful accompaniment to chateaubriand. At chess Club with Steve ,Emily and 4 others
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It never disappoints! Hints of red fruit are accompanied by tertiary notes such as wet leaves, sous bois, coffee, toast. Great structure in the mouth with soft (but still dusty) tannins and fresh acidity supporting mid-palate weight of remaining sweet fruit. Balanced, integrated, and quite persistent. Perhaps past its best days given the very limited fruity notes, but great experience overall. Drink.
Last of 3 bottles purchased upon release, and this was the best showing to date. The wine was decanted ~30 minutes before drinking. The tannins have softened, the wine remains deep in color, and the fruit is intact. Classic left bank Bordeaux with cedar and black currants, but no tertiary flavors/aromas yet. Very drinkable now, but I believe the wine will be even better in a few years. This bottle was definitely worthy of the Chateau's 2nd growth stature.
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From 375, slow-ox for 2 hours then decant (old wine decanter) for another 45 minutes, which was a mistake for a wine in this format and in early decline. The one in October, which was not decanted was vastly superior. Handling fault. 91.
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Greatest Hits of the 1980s and 1990s Bordeaux (Hawksmoor Guildhall): Deep red. A whisker off the 1989 for me, despite being incredibly smooth and cool like the prior vintage, I found that that this has some additional vibrancy, a bit less supple, a hint of a raspy character on the palate that works well but contributes to make a different wine - having tasted I would know which was which if you see what I mean. It is classically built, poised, and delivers a huge amount of pleasure. I can see why this Chateau is so highly regarded, and I now understand a bit more about how slowly these wines develop - as with the 1989 this felt like it had loads in the tank still. Superb, but if I had to pick one it would be the '89.
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Greatest Hits of the 1980s & 1990s Bordeaux (Hawksmoor Guildhall, London, UK): Another profound wine, this is all in the blue fruits with the slightest suggestion of camphor and a touch of underbrush structure. Palate has more multi layered blue fruits with a peppery lift. Very St Julien with a little sandalwood emerging with time. Long and complete, with some time in the glass a touch of star anise emerges. Hard to separate this and the ‘89
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Dark garnet w beginnings of a brick red edge. Dark fruit-dark cherry, blackberry, blueberry, ?mulberry too?, on the nose. Palette- blackberry , dark fruit w balanced acid/tannins.
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Into neck fill. 30 minutes in a decanter. Improved a point over next 45 minutes. Very ripe black and blue fruits, plenty of tobacco on nose and palate, some graphite and sweet vanilla Oak. Very smooth, near velvety. 20+ second finish.
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375ml, purchased EP. The cork’s condition is unbelievable, and the wine is simply glorious, with the slightest of bricking. Slow Ox for 2 hours and drank without decanting. Zalto universal. One of the best wines I have had in 2022!
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Many thanks to the recent reviewers on site who put up very helpful and accurate notes on this wine.
This St Julien maker is still in the hands of the Barton family who first set up in Bordeaux in the 1700's. They continue to make a fairly traditional, sturdy, 'claret' style and they are known for ageing very well. St Julien is my favourite Bordeaux appellation (I don't claim it is the best) there is something about the texture and structure and fruit characters of these strongly Cabernet dominant wines that just hits the mark for me. I think it is the combination of elegant, ripe but not jammy fruit and firm but usually also fine tannins.
The cork for this wine was in good condition and I decanted it about 10 hours before writing this note. I like to drink my red wine around 18 degrees Celsius and I think this wine needs this to help bring up the fruit.
For the first 6 hours, or so, this is a pleasant old Claret style, with earth, truffle, some wet gravel well to the fore. The tannins are still fine and firm, but they won't get in the way of enjoyment with cheese, or meats.
Around the 7 hour mark some old fruit characters started to emerge with more strength than I would have anticipated; I am reminded of berry compote and I am also put in mind of Juniper berry. I love this; will it be to everyone's taste? Probably not - it may be a bit too far along its life curve for some and understandably so.
It is an irony that the 1990's were ushered in by this wonderful vintage; between difficult years and 'Parkerisation' the rest of the decade was largely forgettable and would probably rank with the 1970's as one of the real stinkers for Bordeaux.
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Lovely bottle of mature Bordeaux. Very healthy cork and colour. Very subtle at first but opened up ever so nicely over the coming hours. Elegant and fully mature.
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Fully mature, this is drinking well and is a a great mature left bank Bordeaux. However, I am finding as the fruit recedes it is losing some of its charm, ( I gave this a 96 rating 3 years ago,) with residual tannin exposed end palate and on the finish. That said, it is a glorious drink.
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Perfectly mature. Really showing itself well with ample development of black fruit and sous bois, along with pencil shavings and tabacco. Excellent t with a smoked brisket during a warm summer evening.
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Drinking well at 32 and has some gas in the tank still. That said, fruit is definitely in the background. Cedar, leather, mint or menthol, with firm mushroom, and hints of cassis and plum.
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A touch of menthol and chlorine on the nose initially, but this lifts to a more classical cool restraint and then more meaty blackcurrant. Ends up very similar to the 89, just a little broader and with a little less energy. Opens up nicely. A top bottle of 90 LB, this is in line with recent previous bottles of this, it’s starting to move up a gear and match the 89. ****
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Dinner in the Medoc Room (Meritage, St. Paul): Dark red color with a 1 cm transitional margin. Splash double decanted and then slow-O'd for a good 3 hours before serving. Drank a glass over an hour with our Steak au Poive. This bottle was a fair bit more mature than some others we've had over the last few years. Strong on the tertiary character, the fruit is there, but more in the back ground, especially on the nose. There's a of cigar ash and leather, pencil and then dried violets, with the dark cherry and cassis in the background. The palate is medium bodied, with tannins that still give notice, leather, cigar wrapper and lots iron minerality giving this a more classically austere Bordeaux feel tonight. The fruit is a mix of red and darker cherry with some darker yet cassis framing it. A fun bottle and a birth year wine for a couple members of my team. 92 to 92+pts.
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48x 1990 (37x Bdx, 6x Napa, 5x others): Classic like always with fresh fruit, lots of minerality and a slightly muscular or angular structure. A true Barton. Just not enough depth and length to keep up with the best left banks in 1990 but still a good wine. I still hope that this was just not an overly expressive bottle and that the Barton 1990 has a bit more in store.
TN: Classic dark fruit, crushed rocks and minerality-driven nose. On the palate this is also very short and rather simple. Not enough substance which the good structural frame with rounded out tannins and a good freshness can not compensate for.
Decanting: Quick double decant two+ hours prior to the tasting to remove sediment. Maybe a bit more air would have helped to bring out one or the other additional nuance.
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Ruby red in color with some bricking at the edge of the glass. 12.5% ABV. Spellbinding nose of plums, leather, cedar and cigar box. Warm and supple. Noteworthy concentration of fruit from a wine that is over thirty years old. Currants, cassis, tobacco and earth on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish with super silky tannins. Just an outstanding wine from a long lived vintage. I have a single bottle left that I will revisit some time after 2025.
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A nose showing cassis, cedar, a hint of Christmas spices right out of the bottle. The palate is finer-boned, redder in its fruit profile, accented by mahogany and chestnut. With an hour in the decanter, this grows a bit larger in scale but becomes mulchy and indistinct. Neck fill with a good cork and no signs of TCA, so not entirely sure what’s up here. Very good at its debut, at least.
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Epic Napa Trip - Day 4: Drank with dinner (NY Strip steak by JG!) - This wine paired nicely with the strip steak Joe prepared. Nose showed plenty of florals, fruit, earth and leather. Palate showed more tertiary flavors of graphite, sweet tobacco, herbs and spice, with plenty of black fruit....about 55% tertiary; 45% fruit...a good combination for my palate! Nose and palate were both doing well with this bottle and, of course, it was complimented with a nice meal. In addition, it was a nice break from all the younger wines we had been drinking! 95 points and the best bottle to date!
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Terrific mature bdx open from the start. Nose more on the leather cedar profile but on the palate there is still a strong core of red cassis mixed with some mature fruit elements. Lovely cedar and subtle mint notes mixed in. Lengthy finish that’s quintessential mature bdx—cedar, mint and leather notes. Tannins mostly resolved at this point.
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Served blind. Wow! I guessed 2000 LLC, and don’t feel too bad about that. The sweet, sappy fig fruit of St. Julian, actually, not too much tertiary development. It had a richness and intensity on the nose so much that I thought it might be a first growth. This kicked way above its weight. Awesome
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3 Leovilles dinner. For me this was the winner of the evening. Beautifully balanced, complex and interesting. The nose was floral and powerful, which reflected the wine perfectly. Cedar and camphor, forest floor and cassis. An elegant, long finish. This also paired well with the lamb, but it's great strength was standing alone.
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The 1990 Léoville Barton is really enjoyable at the moment, offering cassis, malt chocolate, cedar, and pencil, mellow but fullish, balanced, so easily drinkable!
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Brownish, deep core, quite light at the rim. Tobacco, warm wood and earth, plums, blackcurrant, almost verging on kirsch, as well as minerals (crushed stone, some tar?). Sweet and full-bodied attack, plums and blackcurrant, spicy fruit on the mid palate, fine and polished tannins, good acidity, very good balance, long and spicy aftertaste with dominating tones of warm earth, tobacco and wood. A bit dry on the finish. Very good. After 4 hours the wine is rasiny and flabby. 88-89
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Showcase your palate; 10/26/2021-10/28/2021 (zoom): Thanks to the typical fedex service these days, this one arrived a day late so I did not taste with Mark and Jason. Luckily it was still cool to the touch on arrival so I was able to taste it late on the 27th. I poured half into a glass and the other 4oz into a smaller bottle. My glass on the 28th was nearly identical so these glass bottles do a great job with the preservation, surprised even for this older BDX. It even needed a bit of air. wonderful nose of tobacco, lead and dark fruit. Tannins silky smooth and everything aged so nicely. This is exactly in my preferred drinking window. Great choice Jason and our palates are certainly aligned on Bordeaux!
Zooming Discovery Mission: Love these old Bordeaux wines! These are in a prime drinking window, IMO, where there is a nice balance between the fruit and the tertiary components. Nose is floral with dark fruit and some spice and a little bramble. Palate was close behind, with a nice balance of fruit and some earth, spice and leather with hints of sweet toasty oak. Finish is medium. Nose was not quite as perfumed as last bottle, but palate had more going on. I scored this a point better overall.94 today, for me.
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Jason's first bottle.....a real beauty...such a classic BDX I was craving a great French meal to go with it! Something with a truffle cream sauce...It seems the last 5 reviewers here have pretty much nailed the properties of this one and the score. I really don't have much left to offer on this. Thanks, Jason....for making me hungry!
addendum: placed in a bottle and capped and put into the cellar for another 24 hours so the 2nd night tasting? Pretty much like the 1st night, maybe even 1 pt better so a 93 tonight. Just a classic BX!
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Po's 1990 Bordeaux Dinner (La Trompette, Chiswick): Some red and black berry fruit here, a little restrained this bottle perhaps, some cedar coming through on the palate which is harmonious but not overly long or complex.
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Po's 1990 Bordeaux dinner (La Trompette): This seemed like a step-up from the previous flights on first sniff, but actually never quite caught fire. Super-classic in style, with jewel-like red fruit, good acidity, some truffle, and still the occasional reminder of tannin. Perhaps lacked a bit of stuffing compared to its flight-mates.
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Po’s 1990 Bordeaux (La Trompette, London): This is a step up from previous bottles. Cool, slightly minty nose.relatively compact on the attack. A touch of salinity too. Opens to a nicely fragrant expansive note. Quite charming for the normally quite stolid 90 LB. ****
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Drank from 375ml bottle, PnP. Immediately fragrant on the nose, the palate was deep and dark with good complexity. Fresh if short finish. Did not hold well in the glass, faded after 30 min - but given it was a half bottle, there was not much left after 30 min!
Thought it might be corked when I first opened, but it was not, just rich and earthy, mushrooms and forest floor. Dark red and black fruits. Time to drink up though--or at least over the next decade.
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Perfectly mature with rich plum and black cherry that is complex with bell pepper, cedar and cigar ash. Tannins are suave and fully integrated. Should hold at this level for a decade+
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Fabulous bottle of this. Silky and so refined with a layered texture and great flavors of black fruits and sweet gravel. The lean style of LB matches so well with the ripe and full ‘90 vintage creating a classic aged Bordeaux experience. The finish is fresh with excellent mineral grip and superb spice and earth-driven complexity. Fully mature but on a long-term plateau. Just fabulous with Lobel’s rack of veal.
Pronounced nose intensity with notes of charred wood, cedar, oak, toast, black fruits. Medium+ acidity and medium tannin. Pristine condition, ex chateau.
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Drinking beautifully Initially the nose is closed but after 15 minutes there is black cherry and a mustiness (in a good way) like you are walking thru the cellar at the Chateau On the palate there is black raspberry and black cherry and a subtle leather accent. The wine is rich, round and balanced with no hard edges and a long finish
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Leather, cedar, cigar box, slight pyrazine, brambles, forest floor, blackberry jam. Tight, savoury, more herbaceous on the palate but still fresh. Tannins are drying but wonderfully integraged. Long. Lovely, really, really lovely.
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Remarkably bright bouquet on opening. Intense fruit and fragrance. Decanted two hours; held up easily over 4 hours. Nice depth of color with bright red edge. Relatively little funk; good precision of fruit. Tannins integrated but still present. Long, building finish. Perfect Bordeaux. No rush.
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NYE with rack of lamb. A glass had been removed from this bottle by Coravin in 2013! I didn't taste an unviolated bottle alongside, but I can't imagine it would have been much better. Color fine, quite appropriate for a 30 year-old wine, complex nose , and palate of currant, a little tobacco, mineral, with a well-balance acidity. The depth of the palate grew over several hours. Drink or hold.
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Stood it up about a week ago. Popped the cork and decanted off sediment for around 2 hours. Cork was in perfect shape. Early taste had some funk on the nose and no fruit. An hour later had some cherry/cassis but still the funk. At the two hour mark a switch was flipped. Funk was gone and the nose had an explosion of cocoa, cassis, and tobacco (seemingly out of nowhere). Great balance with the acid, tannins fully relaxed and had a nice long finish that morphed into a very subtle hint of sweetness. Not that I think there was any R.S., it's probably a trick of the mind and tongue that I find in most of the aged Bordeaux that I like.
Not a life changing wine (but close), but just a solidly well done left bank Bordeaux right in its drinking window.
An outstanding bottle. My WOTY by a safe margin. Cedar box nose on decanting. Soft sweet fruit and rich leather on the palate. Tannins are mostly resolved and, to borrow a phrase, suave. I’m not sure what more you’d ask for from a wine. I’m obviously not a professional critic, not an awarder of points as a rule, but for my own personal tastes this is at the peak of wine experiences. There is room for company to be sure. Not sure that, for me at least, there is a higher plateau than this bottle on this night.
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Léoville Barton's 1990 shows a beautiful nose of cassis and tobacco. Sexy and supple with soft tannins and good concentration to the dark fruited and floral flavors. You can see the ripeness of this vintage but more than anything the freshness and vibrancy even at age 30. Very good and should continue to drink well for another decade.
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A remarkably good 30-year old bottle. Amazingly it still showed a fair amount of fruit on both nose and palate (Far more than the same vintage of Lynch Bages we had the same evening, and less sediment, too.) Fully mature classic Bodeaux, soft tannins, long finish. A testament to good grapes and skilled winemaking.
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Disappointing. Perhaps I should have read the recent CT reviews and given more of a decant as advised by others, but with only an hours the wine exhibited aromas dominant tertiary aromas gamey aromas of leather and earth. I found the animal nature of the aromas to be a bit much if inoffensive. Palate was balanced and silky and finish very good, so I hope I find the fruit and more subtle aromas others found after a long decant.
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opened 2 hours ahead of consumption. 30 minutes after opening a tertiary nose of leather and earth. but another 2 hours brought our a younger and more vibrant version of this favourite St Julien. Stood tall, classy and elegant!
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Decanted for sediment about 30 minutes before drinking. Actually seemed more mature upon first trying than it actually was - any gamey quality seemed to blow off, leaving a vital wine dominated by graphite and spice. So balanced and drinkable, this seemed to disappear far too quickly.
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Based neck. Bottle breathed 4+ hrs and decanted for 1+ hrs. Most tannin softened. Red fruits, tobacco and earth. Medium length. Approachable now, but can last another 5-7 yrs.
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Cork and bottle in pristine shape. This is lean and a bit austere with lots of acidity. Nice nose with typical secondary development. Figs and blueberries with some licorice on the finish. Wine is slowly gaining weight in the glass. Tannins are very fine grained in the background.
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Dobbeldekantert tilbake i flaske. Mørk rubinrød med et svakt granatrødt modningsskjær i kanten. Åpen, ren og nydelig kompleks Bordeaux fra første slurk. Masse moden mørk frukt av cassis og litt bjørnebær. Deilige og kraftige sekundær- og tertiær-aroma som gammel sigarkasse, våt tobakk, mørk grafitt og jordlig lærtoner med skogbunn. Tanniner er pent nedslipt med deilig frisk balanse. Magisk avslutning som varer og varer! 1990-årgangen leverer! Topp match til Txogitxu Côte de Boeuf!
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Beau bouchon, taché sur 1 cm : pas de coulure Belle couleur pourpre, nette et franche
Un vin surprenant... Au débouché, nez de "backyard", comme disent nos amis anglo-saxons. Marque de réduction, sans doute : c'est plutôt bon signe. En bouche, fraîcheur (acidité) ; griotte, fumé, terre, herbe. Des tannins bien présents comme j'aime, sans aucun excès. Grande longueur
Plus tard, notes de graphite, de venaison, et d'autres encore... ce vin est beaucoup plus riche en bouche qu'au nez. Il met du temps à s'ouvrir et révèle au fil du temps des facettes légèrement différentes, tout en gardant sa signature propre et une part de mystère.
Grâce à son acidité, ne fait pas son âge et peut encore attendre ; je ne sais s'il gagnera beaucoup. Mais c'est une belle réussite en termes de longévité.
À décanter, je ne puis que le confirmer.
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Almost 18 months since my last bottle, and the wine is still in good spot. Perhaps it was not quite up to its last outing, but variance is to expected at this age. This does benefit from extended time in the decanter. The nose is deep and ripe with fruit. It displays secondary and tertiary notes on the palate with excellent depth and balance, but I found the finish a little green and over harsh on this time out.
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Most 90s I’ve had have still had too much structure, but this was in a very nice place. Lots of graphite on the nose, fruit that’s turning secondary but still prominent, but tannins in a happy place. A bit greener than I’d expect for a 90 Pauillac, but very nice. An underrated property.
Triple header against the '88 Ducru Beaucaillou and '89 Lagrange. This one had the slight edge over the DB in my opinion, with the Lagrange coming in 3rd. Beautiful color, no signs at all of aging. Very complex nose that evolved from vegetal and fruity at first, then showed some serious notes of black tea leaves and figs. The tea and figs were very pronounced but in a good way. On the palate, a bit of spice, medium in body/weight, and a very fresh finish, youthful but mature at the same time. The wine is in an excellent place. Rating: between excellent and outstanding.
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Leoville Barton always seems to take some time to come around, and this 1990 is now banging on all cylinders. Rich, velvety fruit that still has some fine grit. Plenty of wet tobacco and cedar interspersed with the plum fruit. Great pairing with the decadent steak.
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Mitt vinlager kommer for det meste fra Italia, men noen sidesprang forekommer selvfølgelig.
30 år gammel Bordeaux, må innrømme at forventningene var relativt høye.
Korken var litt gjenstridig og brakk i to, men med litt fin hånd og spes. verktøy kom resten hel opp. Vinen rett over på dekanter og deretter i glasset og «festen» kunne begynne.
Farge medium rød med lysere mursteins toner mot kanten.
Nesen i glasset. Vinen «pip åpen» fra første stund. Utrolig kompleks og sterk duft. Mørke bær,Balsamico, tobakk og blyant spon, ++++. Ble sittende med nesen i glasset en liten evighet før den første smaken.
Kraftpakke i munnen, overraskende frisk frukt etter 30 år,mørke bær,lær tobakk og et snev av sigarrøyk. Polerte glatte tanniner i en relativt lang ettersmak.Utrolig kompleks og elegant smaksprofil.
Bare å bøye seg i støvet . Dette var nydelig !!
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7th of 12, opened an hour, perfect level, cork third travelled, mature but with plenty of vigour, initially fruit flavours dominant, ash flavours in last glass, complex but slightly odd and not up with better bottles......this bottle F (17.5), normally F+ and occasionally VF in this top vintage!
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Superb bottle of wine. Everything you would expect with an abundance of cassis, tobacco leaf and forest floor. Feels perfectly balanced, no rough edges anywhere. Lovely. Very long finish. Sommelier also enjoyed this wine immensely!
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Wines were filtered into jars for transport at around 3:00, transferred from jars to glass around 6:30, and tasted starting at around 7:00. The wines featured for this tasting were:
- 2012 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses (starter wine) - 1985 Grand Puy Lacoste - 1990 Leoville Barton - 1995 Lynch Bages - 1995 Pichon Lalande - 1997 Latour - 2001 Suduiraut Sauternes (dessert)
All wines were excellent, with the exception of the 85 Grand Puy Lacoste, which was slightly corked (unnoticeable to me in the beginning, but quite apparent hours later). My score and ranking are based on initial impressions as I believe that realistically shows the character of the wine (maybe a better bottle would score even higher).
Groups ratings: WOTN - 1997 Latour; 2nd - 1990 Leoville Barton , and 3rd 1995 Pichon Lalande. My ratings: WOTN - 1997 Latour; 2nd - 1995 Pichon Lalande, 3rd - 1990 Leoville Barton and 1985 Grand Puy Lacoste, 5th - 1995 Lynch Bages.
--Leoville Barton: IMO, this wine had the best nose of the lineup...a floral bouquet with violets and perfumed apple blossom, with hints of sweet cedar and a twinge of anise. The palate was more one dimensional, with gobs of red and black fruit, with just enough acidity to keep the fruit lively. Finish was medium. This was a very enjoyable wine, and one I could see sitting on porch and sipping away! Still has some life left....would not be in a hurry to drink, but certainly would not shy away from drinking now either....this wine is in a good place! A solid 93 points.
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1989 / 1990 Bordeaux Dinner (Jade Palace, Forum Galleria, Singapore): Delicious. This had a lovely nose of cassis, loamy earth and savoury tobacco spice, maybe even a drift of florals. A really deep and lovely bouquet. The palate was perhaps a couple of steps behind, but still delicious in its own right, with juicy orangey acidity and fine tannins forming a lovely backdrop for pure transparent flavours of cassis and black plums. So juicy and succulent, and absolutely perfectly balanced. Good finish too, with a lovely trail of gentle fruit and tobacco spice. Such a good wine - balanced, pure, yummy, yet understated. This was a classic Barton, drinking beautifully now, but this was another wine still with its best years still ahead of it.
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Virtual Bordeaux Tasting (Home): Dark red color with a 1 cm transitional margin. Filtered into jars and sealed about 4:30pm, poured into glasses at 6:30pm and drank a glass plus over 3 plus hours. Love the nose, cigar wrapper, deeply earthy, a mix of black and red fruits, florals. The palate is leaner, more medium bodied, dark red cherry fruits, cassis, leather, medium grained tannins. I really enjoyed this, but I will say not to the level that I have most other bottles for whatever reason. I think an actual decant might have helped, but although it got better over the evening the palate never caught up to the nose. My #3 WOTN and group #2.
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97. 3 hour decant. Aromatic bouquet of dried roses and dried blackcherry. Seductive palate of cherry cobbler with layers of silkiness on the finish. Fantastic mature Bordeaux with plenty of life remaining.
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Double decanted (modest sediment) then slow O’d in bottle for 7 hours. On opening seemed too acidic and no stuffing left and thought it might be over the hill. Nope. After 7 hours the wine was sublime. Delicate fruit (cherries and other red fruit), light tannins, hint of vanilla - really a fantastic old claret. Went great with a NY strip steak on Father’s Day. This wine is ready to drink and not over the hill. Still have a few more.
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drunk alongside the 1996, the two wines were unexpectedly similar - full of character and certainly mature with the 1996 surprisingly so - these are lovely wines
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Drinking remarkably at 30. My previous bottle was at 25, and just looking at my note I have to say this had a little less power than 5 years ago. Still good finesse and structure. But I have to take a point away for what appears to be moving off the peak of the maturity curve. Will I wait 5 years for my last bottle? I don’t know. Feels like it might be pushing my luck.
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Wine was near perfect. Full bodied, wonderful cedar box and roses nose. Deep color. Some soft tannins remaining. Can hold. We are amazed at the consistency and longevity of the wines from L.B. And so reasonable among wines of this quality. Decanted for 2-3 hours.
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Beautiful nose of dark red fruits and nutty gravel. On the palate, this is clearly less flamboyant than many other ‘90’s with a stricter profile and a silky but less opulent texture. The layers of dark red and black fruits float over the tongue with a superb intensity and still mouth-watering acidity with a classic red spice St. Julien flavor. The finish is loaded with complex notes of graphite minerals and charred gravel. This particular bottle is drinking younger than the last few I’ve had and it needed a full three hours in a wide-open decanter to fully come together. 94+
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Not an ideal bottle, and a contrast to the others bottles served around the room as best I could tell. Dense plum and black cherry notes, a bit flat, lacking acidity. Not scored.
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Dinner with the wine group (Millbrae, CA): Superb nose with high intensity, mature fruit, forest floor, superb; palate is medium bodied, elegant alcohol, integrated tannins, capsicum, still some remaining fruit; finish is medium-long. Absolutely amazing and classic Bordeaux. 95
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Lots of coffee and chocolate going on here - I was guessing right bank. Tasted over two days, and this was more balanced on day 2, ripe, yes, but very well structured, vertical and classic. Mature, tannins completely integrated,m but no signs of fatigue whatsoever. From IB. #X-pensiveWinos
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Red and dark fruit, a touch of tartness, still pretty fresh, good complexity and ample acidity. Thinner and less ripe than I expected, but a very nice bottle nevertheless.
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I'm not sure if this bottle was a good example so I will not rate it. The condition was pristine, with a good level and perfect cork. On opening, it was quite fresh but clearly didn't need decanting. A couple of hours later, the aromas were not promising - flat, old and tired, like the taste. It did however improve, revealing forest fruits on the nose, a much better searing middle section of black cherry and a reasonable finish, but this was a lot better a few years ago and on the basis of this bottle, it needs drinking quite quickly. Certainly not worth the current price.
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Bouchon probablement insuffisant : coulure généralisée. Peu de liquide perdu mais vin plat, sans profondeur. Pas de longueur en bouche ; un peu acide, sans excès. Décevant.
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clear, M garnet Clean, M intensity cherry, plum, black currant, cassis violet, eucalyptus, Liquorice Toast, cedar charred wood and Earth
Dry, Fruit has started to fade, but more than balanced by its complexity Same as nose but showing stronger earthiness Tannin M-, Acidity M+ Body M Finish M+
Ripe fruit with silky tannin, classical proportioned and rustic. The wine is getting fragile, and should be drunk up (375). Better when slightly warmer 20-21C
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This was the first bottle i drank of a case I bought through Southwick Court Fine Wines in the UK. This wine was every bit as good as what was promised. it was perfectly balanced and surprisingly complex. Although the wine has years to go, not sure it will climb any further and now is a great time to indulge. it was an amazing showing.
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Abundant, slightly stewed cassis and dark cherry fruit on the nose, along with tobacco leaf, cedar, and lead pencil. Palate still shows ripe, luscious dark fruit. Very sweet and ripe for Leoville Barton in this warm vintage. Slightly spicy tobacco, along with some graphite. Finish is long and seductive. Very drinkable now but with plenty of life ahead. Still some, but not much, tannin to resolve, and plenty of acidity to keep the wine alive.
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Superb older Bordeaux nose of grilled nuts and graphite minerals. This is a bottle in great condition and the wine is quite full and intense with rich black fruits and extraordinary graphite flavors. Deep and concentrated with still powerful and smooth tannins. Amazing how long this Château’s wines last and this is every bit as profound as the Las Cases in ‘90. Decanted 2 hours. 95+
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This claret is now fully mature. Classic nose of cedar and blackcurrant The wine is gentle yet perfectly balanced with mature black fruits and some mineral notes. This is a lovely old claret and is simply delicious with a lovely lingering finish and fully resolved tannins. Drinking perfectly now and although there is no rush I can’t see this getting to a better place than it is right now. Bravo! I purchased this from a wine shop in France in 1995 for £15 just wish I had some more
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Heidi's Redux Group (The Kenwood, Mpls, MN): Very dark red color. PNP, drank a glass over 90 minutes. Another killer nose from this wine; a perfume of cigar box, pencil lead, dried woodsy earth, violets and dark fruits. The palate is full bodied, round tannins, cassis, dark cherry, earth, cigar, pencil, dried wood, and a long finish. Always one of my favorite LB's this has been so consistent. Drank next to a pretty phenomenal bottle of '91 Mondavi and it would be so easy to overlook just how good this is. Love this wine, and at a mere 29 years old, it has the structure to give so much more. I wouldn't exactly call it youthful, but it has so much more to give. 94+ to 95pts.
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Jimmy's btl and served along side the 91 Mondavi Reserve. PnP and slow ox about 45 minutes prior to drinking. This too was elegant, resolved, tertiary and showing less ripe then the perfectly ripe Mondavi with; cedar, red fruit, tobacco, mineral and also tea and herbs. Every time I poured this the nose exploded in my face with cigar box, pencil and fading fruit aromas. Stand alone this may have been WOTN on many evenings but tonight it played second fiddle to the nearly perfect 91 Mondavi Reserve. Thanks Jimmy! Proof you don't need to own btls from release and that there are killer, ready to drink, ubber values in secondary BDX market if, your not chasing La Mission HB and the like.
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Graphite and pencil shavings on the nose. Beautiful complex mature Bordeaux flavors. Plenty of black fruit, acidity and vibrancy left. Silky soft tannins.
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A 'lost cellar' wine, this remains a lovely bottle of Barton which opened beautifully with a deep crimson colour and some bricking at the edge . There is a beguiling nose of blackcurrant, crushed raspberry, blackberry leaf and cedar. The palate was rich and ripe with a spherical impression of lovely black fruits leading into a cedar and mineral finish balanced by persistent fine tannins. This is in a perfect place and shows the strength of the 1990 vintage.
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The 1990 Barton is a gorgeously concentrated claret with well-rounded tannins, a strong note of blackcurrant plus all the usual aromas and flavours one has come to expect from this classic estate - hints of chocolate, tobacco, cedar and spice. All in all a complete wine with no signs of ageing. Thirty years behind it and surely at least another twenty ahead.
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Midwinter, 2019 (Pokai Parera, Ekatahuna, New Zealand): Tasted next to the Dominus 1991, this came across as leaner, slightly mineral, and perhaps a little watery on the finish. At full maturity, or possibly slightly past its peak, this wine ha s a vivid graphite and cedar personality. Cinnamon and clove spiciness is an exotic aspect of its nature, perhaps derived from the graphite notes. I like the aged and mineral nature of this wine, as it relies on its fruit and balance more than flashy oak handling.
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Finally after a few over jammy bottles I stumbled on a very good bottle. Ruby color with bricking throughout pointing to the evolution of the wine. Decanted and aerated for 90 minutes and drank over another 90 minutes. The wine clearly needed more air. At first the nose was dominated by dust and leather with dark fruits struggling to emerge. With time, the nose became spicier, the dust dissipated, the leather softened to reveal dark fruits, cassis, iron and crushed stones. On the palate quite dry with great minerality and cassis mid palate, tannins soft but very present and a very long spicy finish. Not the most complex and requires 3 hours in decanter but a very enjoyable wine at the price point.
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decanted for an hour and then placed back in the bottle and reopened about 30 minutes prior to serving
deepish red color with brick throughout, cedar and cherries on the nose, white chalk, roasted plums, on the palate this feels slightly fresher and more cuddly than a bottle opened a couple of weeks ago but at first also a bit rougher on the back end, bright and vibrant cassis and cherries, with time the finish smoothed out nicely, herb and cedar notes grow with time as does a wonderful flavor of ripe plums, where the 82 Figeac and 01 Jamet were more complex and elegant this evening- the Leoville-Barton was the more friendly and engaging as well as slightly rustic in comparison, three different personalities for three great wines, as with the last bottle this is ready to go and one to drink up within a decade to enjoy it at its best.
****+, now to 2030.
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The very first Bordeaux I ever purchased on my own. Back in 1995 when Dad opened a bottle of 1976 Lafite to share with me, that same evening we popped over to the local wine store while letting the Lafite breathe. For Houston friends- that local wine store happened to be the old Richard's on Gessner that Jackson Hicks used to run before Charlie and Tony took over- and one of their two best locations for Bordeaux back then. That night, with my recently acquired 3rd Edition of Parker's Bordeaux book in hand to guide me, I picked up a few bottles of 1990 Leoville-Barton on sale for $29.25 each. The stash has been augmented since more than once and at long last this beauty is fully mature.
maturing red color with a bit of bricking at the rim, lovely aged cassis nose, cherries, some pepper notes, sweet aged oak tones, calm and serene, slightly sweet, 2 hours after double decanting enjoyed an additional 2 hours with dinner; smooth cassis notes and rounded cherry tones, roasted plum notes, fine depth of ripe and mature fruit with some game nuances, remains of oak well integrated and contributing to the light pepper and spice notes, brilliantly balanced, good fine finish with ripe cherry notes on the tail end, very much a 1990 with its slightly roasted fruit notes- attractive and exciting and just within the bounds that allow the wine to remain stately and worthy of a fine rich cut of beef, in a beautiful place and fully mature with time in hand but somehow instinctively I am inclined to finish off my remaining bottles over the next decade, it should hold beyond that- but I do think this is at its full peak now.
****+, now to 2030.
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Some 1990 1st growths etc (Chez Herb Wollowick): About 12 years since I last tasted this and described it as big, brooding but with a bright future. This bottle confirmed, the future has arrived. In many respects, I consider this classic Médoc. Managed well in the lofty company it kept this night.
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Decanted for half an hour and consumed over the following hour. This was a pleasant surprise. Clearly mature old school claret with a nose of earth, gravel, library, and a faint bit of animal which disappeared with more aeration. This was solid at first but gained some fruit sweetness with more time and ended up a truly sublime example of mature claret at a moderate alcohol level making it a great lunch wine.
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Surprisingly delicate for the estate, the nose is opulent with ripe cherry and floral wafts. Once it settles in the glass, it is beautifully smooth on the palate, and is fully mature with secondary and tertiary notes. The tannin has sweetened, but still retains enough bite to give an excellent balance. The finish is not overly lengthy, but pushing 30 seconds, and is exquisitely balanced. Sufficient time in the decanter and glass is all transforming for the wine. I gave this 4 hours of aeration, but would recommend twice that time. For myself this is only surpassed by the exceptional 2003 from the estate. 96+
This is drinking absolute lovely right now. Great balance, very smooth, precise and feminine. Ripe red fruits, overripe cherries, some leather. Classic early 90s Barton. Nice aging notes. No need to decant. Drink now or within the next 5 years.
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Still at the top of its game. Cassis, red currant. Tobacco. Medium to full bodied with ample tannins for its age. Classic Bordeaux that’s holding up very well.
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Encouraged by our last experience we opened another bottle, expecting consistency. We were very pleasantly surprised. This bottle appeared to be further evolved, and it seemed to us that it had followed a path quite different from the last bottle consumed. The cork was in excellent condition. This wine did show some garnet color on inspection. The fruit and the tannin both seemed elevated at first tasting compared to before, but we did not realize initially what a treat we were in for. We had roast lamb with roast vegetables and potatoes. Decanted a full three hours this time, and the wine actually improved to near-perfection at five hours by which time it had been finished over some Port Salut cheese. The tannins were intense but soft, and coated with that Marasca cherry fruit that had been noted previously. This time the Marasca flavor was much more pronounced, but this was no fruit-bomb. The tannins, so rich, coated the mouth so as to create the sort of extraordinary experience that one can hope for with a top-quality aged Bordeaux at its peak. Was this the best bottle of wine from Leoville Barton we have had? Yes. We can only hope that of the three bottles remaining there will be another such success. We are not sure why this bottle was so significantly different compared to the previous one. Considering the ethereal heights that this bottle hit, however, we now intend to consume the remaining bottles within two to three years. That is, the next bottle will be opened in some months and we will see where we go from there.
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Consumed the eighth bottle of a case with veal, noodles, and asparagus. I can confirm that this wine is at its peak, and that it should stay there for at least several more years. Previous bottles have shown some garnet around the edges, but this one was pure dark ruby. Decanted for 2 1/2 hours, and it actually improved over the next hour after that as we drank it with our meal--but no further improvement from there. Upon opening it seemed a bit tart and acidic, but this resolved completely by mealtime. Beautifully integrated fruit and tannin, just what we look for in a mature Bordeaux. Perhaps some suggestion of red fruits on the palate, strawberry, raspberry, red plum, and Marasca cherry. One of the strengths of this wine is its finish, which with this bottle went on for "only" 45 seconds. According to my notes previous bottles exhibited a finish that lasted up to two minutes. Have to agree also with prior notes that provenance is crucial. My case was obtained as a future, and since delivery kept at 55 to 58 degrees at all times in my wine storage.
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Fully mature, at its peak. Dark ruby color, minimal bricking, nose of red cherry, pencil lead, cardamom, vanilla, star anise and earth. Did not decant, took 1 hr to open up fully. Tannins are fully integrated, but still alive. Palate is very balanced, medium body, good acidity, smooth and silky, mostly cherry on the palate with licorice and spices mixed in. Finish is medium to long. Drink now, won't get better but will stay at peak for 2-3 years.
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tried after one hour of decant - slow to open. initial pruny ripe fruit aromas turned into more classic cassis, light minerals, smoke and mature oak. Two hours in the bouquet was marvelous. On the palate this was sublime, with balanced richness and not much tannins. Clearly at or slightly past peak - enjoy now with a healthy decant!!
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Medium ruby, cork failed at a restaurant. Server was going to do it his way rather than use an ah-so as I requested. All was saved. Decanted and opened up within 30 minutes. Full bodied, balanced, tannins mostly resolved. Elegant drink and nose. Everything I want from a mature Bordeaux. I would enjoy now.
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Incredible nose of fully mature Bordeaux. This is drinking in its prime and while it will plateau for many more years, it won’t get any better. Drink up.
I called 1995 Leoville Las Cases because it screams of St. Julien, but was down the road a bit and 5 years off the target.
A great wine!
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Pnp, wotn for me, showing beautiful mature red fruit, leather, entire group called older Bordeaux, most felt mid 90's to possibly 2000. Really at a good spot and showing younger than expected.
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Lovely wine. At a perfect plateau today. Opened up very nicely with food and some time in decanter. Secondary flavors but still very fresh and full of black ripe fruit. Round and voluptuous. So smooth, like liquid candy.
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27 years waiting. Sediment on its downside. Not decanted. Served at room temp @ 68 degrees F. The color barely but perceptibly betrays its age with a ring of light. Tobacco wafts from the glass with the suggestion of mocha. It has a very delicate palate comprised primarily of cherries and an aftertaste of anise. Light body. Long finish. Superb. At the summit. Downside time risk merits consumption in the near future.
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1990 Bordeaux (Piccolino, Exchange Square, London): Nose is quite earthy, lacking a touch of purity. Palate is better with gently spicy black fruits, although it is a touch pinched on the finish. Perfectly drinkable, indeed enjoyable, but not the best bottle of this.
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This has really hit its stride, and is firing on all cylinders. The nose is rich with blackcurrent and blackberry. On the palate the fruit is combined with cigar box and a robust but resolved tannin. The wine is multi-layed on the palate, and has excellent depth with the finish now much improved from a year ago. A couple of hours in the decanter is appropriate to fully enjoy the wine. This is now at its peak, and can be consumed without guilt, but with a structure to last for a decade plus. 95+
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Really started to come into its own after a 3 hour decant. Beautiful juicy dark fruit that is still very much alive. The tannins are ultra fine and give the wine beautiful structure. Some nice secondary notes on the medium finish. A very enjoyable wine.
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I've been drinking through a case at the rate of around a bottle a year since 2008. Some of the bottles have been very good; more recently a few have been tired. This one was very much alive and vibrant and ticked all the boxes of good mature bordeaux. A pleasant surprise.
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A lovely bottle of Barton, this wine opened beautifully with a deep crimson colour with some bricking at the edge and an immediate nose of blackcurrant, crushed raspberry, blackberry leaf and cedar. The palate was rich and ripe with a ball of lovely black fruits leading into a cedar and mineral finish balanced by some persistent fine tannin. This bottle was in perfect shape and showed the strengths of the 1990 vintage.
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Fri Night Blinds (château du Chevlin): WOTN for reds for entire group. Tasted double blind, brick red with a light brick rim, very resolved tannin, pure finesse at this point and in a perfect spot with a little air, pepper, ash, tobacco, leather, good acid and maybe a touch of VA. Fully mature and ready to go.
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Has developed well. That said it took a few hours of air to really open up. Nice florals, dried berry fruits. A deep and meaty aroma, cedar, old leather. Great structure ... velvety tannins, round and rich. Medium acidity. Good complexity with cedar, leather, tobacco, dried berry fruits, cassis. Long finish. Very typical of great aged Bordeaux. A pleasure to drink.
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Decanted for two hours, yet still seemed a bit closed and reticent. That being said, there was classic LB blackcurrant with cedar and mineral backbone and plenty of tannic structure. Given where the fruit was, the structure was really the star. This did start to open up over the evening, but I suspect this is one that really needs a lot of air rather than time in the cellar. Beautifully austere in that perfumed way St Julien and Barton do so well.
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I opened this for my father, who is 86, and who only started drinking at 80 ("because why the hell not?"). I had him taste it and he said "it's wine," but he looked disappointed. I told him we had to let it decant an hour because it wasn't ready yet. He is an engineer and he tends to believe that my talk about exposing wine to air is liberal arts major frewfraw unsupported by science. So we let it sit an hour while we ate appetizers. Then out came the beef stew, and we had this to accompany it. Magnificent. I recognize in this the same nice development as the '89 Pichon Baron, but with better length and complexity. This can still go a while, but it's probably on its way to being archetypal Bordeaux, just what you're looking for with an aged claret. Very happy with this.
Has reached its perfect drinking plateau, with some fragrant cassis, and leather overtones, while tannins have softened out beautifully. I dont think it will change a lot in the next 5 -10 years, or even longer.
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There is nothing like matured Bordeaux during Christmas. Tasted the 1990 up against the 1996. The 1990 was the definite winner of these two Leoville-Barton vintages, such an incredible well matured and delicious wine.
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Bill's: clearly Bordeaux but slightly poopy, enough to suggest it might be Ste. Estephe. Good on the palate with the herbs etc Coop mentions, but the acidity was a tad high and out of balance for the fruit for a Bdx this age. There's usually a silkiness to the texture of mature Bordeaux, and this didn't have it.
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Light medium red. Medium intense nose, cedar box, cassis, olives, thyme and meat. More savory then ripe. Delicious earthy herbal red fruit flavours and a very dry finsh.
Not ripe or fruit driven, instead a very savory delicious medium weight Claret.
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Gorgeous and archetypal left bank Bordeaux. Bottle age complications, intense graphite, ripe blackcurrant and dark plums, expensive leather and high toned spice notes. This is in full maturity, but is showing no signs of decline. Final bottle, but bottles in this condition will certainly last 40 years in a cool cellar.
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Same Btl as R&Rler. Ok, so there was fire pit wine after all, that followed the Glen Ellen Star dinner and what an outstanding cap on the last night of our trip. This was our coolest temp night by the pit and it was great to sip this in such a relaxing setting. This btl and the fire pit were our fitting reward for once more making it back up a narrow, 3 mile+ long, essentially one lane, white knuckle road climbing to an elevation of 1800 ft from the valley floor. Still dark almost opaque ruby. I love Leoville Barton and wish I had personally secured more old vintages years ago. This was a pleasure to just smell with its smokey cigar box and forest floor aromas. Yes, there's still a bit structure but totally in keeping with the producer and keeping the wine fresh and vibrant. Want to know what great BDX is? Seek this producer out but avoid drinking them before age 15. Loved this wine and especially by our roaring fire pit with nearby silhouetted mountains and a bright moon above.
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Napa/Sonoma Trip With Some Exceptional Gems; 11/1/2017-11/5/2017 (1800ft Up Cavedale Road, Glen Ellen, CA): Very dark red color. Open for about an hour before pouring, drank 2 glasses over 3 hours. We drank this after getting back up the mountain to the house on what turned out to be a very cold evening. We sat around the fire pit and it was 37F without the wind chill. I left the bottle inside most of the time and repoured to warm it up along with some hand warming of the glass. Despite the extra chill this evolved and was a very nice drink. Classic old school Bordeaux in a style that seems to last forever and from a vintage that is drinking well yet shows incredible potential longevity. There's still plenty of structure here with tannins that are somewhat youthful but certainly refined. As I said, the nose is classic with earth and funk out front, loads of pencil lead, leather, black cherry and cassis on top of dried spice box. The palate is fuller bodied but has a feminine grace to it, cherry, darker fruits of berry and cassis, soil infused and earthy, pencil, cigar and a long finish.
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Vinen er mørkere rød på farge med tegn til modning med lysere orange/brun kant.
Vinen har på nese en tiltalende krydret rød frukt med en behagelig underliggende lakristone. Også litt tørket frukt.
På paletten har vinen begynt å få modne toner med noe stall og moden frukt, men har absolutt fortsatt friske solbærfrukter, skogbunn og et lett mintpreg. Vinen har fortsatt bra fylde med tydelige tanniner og syre.
Vinen viser fortsatt evne mange års lagring fortsatt. jeg synes vinen mangler litt kompleksitet og trenger fortsatt noe tid for å integrere tanninene, men dette er sjarmør dette. www.botti.no
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Decanted 1 hour; but it needed more. After about 2 hours it really started to open up and become beautiful. Good showing for a 27 year old wine. Lacked some the intensity of the 1990 Figeac but had more body.
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Brought by Fletcher to dinner at 67 PM. No formal note but this was rich, touch of fruit-cake, some smoke and undergrowth, underlying dark fruit, soft tannins, rich on the palate, balanced acidity, decent length. Unusually for this chateau this was completely ready to go, lovely.
Now entering its prime drinking window, the wine has evolved significantly over the last year. While still packed full of blackcurrant and blackberry, with a background of leather, its previous delicacy has evolved into a wine with a profound depth. The finish is still a little on the short side but for myself the best drinking Leoville Barton at present along with the 2003, and with a structure that will keep it here for many years and should continue to evolve. Decanting is recommended for a couple of hours.
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This is the fourth bottle from a case I bought a couple of years ago. Similar experience. Dark red fruits, pencil shavings on the nose but very tart and jammy. Disappointing. 8 more bottles let's see how this goes.
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Decanted 40 mins. Paling throughout the wine now with very pale rim. Rich, medium intense nose of old leather, sweet spice and tobacco with clear, but fine, ripe cassis. Real classic. Palate is medium weight with fine tannin and light, but clearly present, acidity giving a good balance to the wine. Light, ripe blackcurrants clearly come through. This is a fully mature and delicious old claret providing wonderful drinking now, but will only diminish from here. This is my final bottle of the case and it has been a wonderful wine.
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I can only suggest that comments about tired etc are arising from bottles with less than ideal storage. This one is still just starting to reach respectable maturity. The tannins are resolving. Still big berry fruit, mostly black but some rasp too. Dark plums. Lots of woodland notes. Some tarry notes too. Great concentration. Good acidity and long. Bit stinky on opening but an hour or so resolved this. This is one to last.
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Bordeaux Wimps, Benoît Chamoux table (La Trompette, London): A slightly subdued nose cf the 94 initially. Quite jammy with a touch of Madeira cake or even jam. Lacks some focus and persistence on the attack, but fills out on the mid-palate and develops with some air. Not the best bottle of this, but still a good drink. solid ***1/2 to bare **** with the benefit of doubt.
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Decanted 30 mins. Medium intense nose of ripe blackberries, roses, earthy leather funkiness. A little iodine perhaps. Palate medium+ intensity with ripe, fine tannins and a good zip of acid to provide excellent balance. Showing light ripe blackberry fruits with good chewy leather notes and a little forest floor. A very attractive wine absolutely in its drinking window but perhaps coming to the end of it. Drink now.
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Ripe and round nose. Plummy with some blackberry. Not corked but some unpleasant damp cellar in addition to the brett. Palate is thin and weak, neither good fruit nor structure. Can't really point out a specific technical flaw, it's just not very interesting or engaging. Quite disappointing as many of the '80s vintages Barton are classic and really good drinking.
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Expressive nose of blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco, earth, leather.
Decanted for 1.5 hours, but tannins are still very high and almost violent. High level of acidity and blackcurrant flavour is still going strong.
After another 3 hours of aeration, tannins are mostly resolved. Complex and expressive notes of blackcurrant, cherry, plum, cedar, tobacco, smoke. Long lingering finish.
No signs of aging.
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Leoville Barton at Gordon's (Gordons Waltham): 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
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Leoville Barton Tasting Seminar - (1986 - 2011) (Gordon's Wines - Waltham, MA): Nose: Blackberry, Cassis, Truffles, Sage and Cigar box. A bit of bottle funk on this initally, but it cleaned itself up. Palate: Nice fresh blackberry, dark cherries, herbs, green pepper and cedar. Finish: Lengthy and full of dark berry, eucalyptus and tomato leaf.
Very enjoyable, but I was looking for more power from the 90 vintage. I don't suspect this was decanted, and I think it would have benefited greatly from more air. I'll have to revisit this based on the reputation.
Fully mature and a little over the hill. Some bricking, deep garnet core. Pleasant nose with dried fruit, earth, tobacco, leather. Decent fruit, tertiary flavors, a hint of eucalyptus or sage, some brambles and pepper, resolved tannins and sweet finish, but lacking the structure to really carry the wine. Consequently, it was enjoyable, but somewhat unbalanced. Probably would have been great five years ago. Drink up now. (Consistent with previously tasting 7/2016)
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1990 CHATEAU LEOVILLE BARTON ST. JULIEN- a good bottle with nice balance, light and easy on the palate, mild to medium weight and tobacco and cedar infused blackberry notes to please; loved it.
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At peak, fully mature, this is a definitive sample of a mature Bordeaux. Not spectacular, but good. I have to say I was expecting more from a vintage like 1990.
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En deux mots, ce vin m'a semblé fatigué... Les notes d'acidité dominent. Je l'avais trouvé excellent il y a 3 ou 4 ans, mais là - il a pris un coup de vieux. Joyeux noël quand même.
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Bottle direct from Chateau 2 years ago; perfect condition; blackberry; balanced and perfectly structured; still tannic and youthful; full bodied; sweet long finish.
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Lots of Bordeaux funk on the nose which quickly blows off with air. Initially very restrained but comes alive with airing and splashing back and forth a few times. Elegant with black fruit but only a very slight few second finish. Still very good the 2nd night open. Good but not great compared to other 90 Bordeaux I have tasted.
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HDH Bordeaux Auction; 11/4/2016-11/5/2016 (Chicago, IL): Well, this is about as Bordelais as it comes. There was quite a bit of stink on this but air did this a lot of good, blowing that stuff off and leaving a very classic wine. Very much on the red spectrum of Bordeaux, this is a very light example of the vintage. Lots of secondary characteristics here, with a bit of dried fruit and cedar.
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A surprisingly delicate wine, with pure black current aromas and hints of vanilla and cassis on the palate. The taninns are resolved but light and soft. The wine is fully mature and is a delight to drink. Everything is harmonious if just lacking a little depth.
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Bordeaux 1990 & 2000 tasting (at my home): dark translucent red-brown elegant dark fruits tertiary nose with leather and tobacco notes, fine oak-vanilla hint med-full bodied, integrated soft firm tannins, excellent acidity level, well balanced, excellent harmony, well structured, old mahogany wood, elegant complexity, fine chocolate and tobacco flavours, excellent finish and long aftertaste. can further age 5-10 years.
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Decanted 60 mins. Mature nose with clear blackcurrant. tobacco leaf, light leather, violets, aniseed. Palate is medium intensity with light acid and low, fine tannins. Brambles, roses; has good depth & poise. Good balance and fully mature. Classic claret. Drinking now-2018.
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Lovely and mature classic bordeaux. Decanted for 90 minutes then drank over another 90 minutes. Open nose of cassis, graphite, saddle leather. Medium to full bodied on the palate with dark fruits and graphite dominating, excellent structure and backbone, and tannins almost fully resolved with a long gratifying finish.
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6th of 12 (+6 mags), decanted an hour, perfect cork and level, previous notes since 04 fine or better, now entering plateau of maturity,, brown tinge on rim, cassis tending to mulberry, tertiary aromas developing, and fruit just beginning to lose former energy, flavours nevertheless elegant, persistent and attractive and very much what I look for in fine claret, no rush but no particular reason to keep as near its best I suspect now. Just shaded off my top previous mark on loosening grip! F+ (18).
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3 hours decant. Some noticeable bricking around the edges, medium garnet colour - looking about its age. The nose is drop dead gorgeous: Cuban cigar, spice box, some pleasant barnyard in the background- unmistakenly Bdx at its best, you know it's on. On the palate a bit brusque acidity, less balanced than other 1990s, the fruit is a bit more in the background, picking up some saddle leather, faint anise. This is a fabulous wine for sure. Folks that have been reading my other tasting notes will know that 1990 is my favourite Bdx vintage for drinking now, I just love it and it has gotten what I look for. This wine is in this vein. While a great effort my recent experiences tell me it ranks behind the incredible Lagrange (which is cheaper) and the next door neighbour Las Cases (which is double the price). Less mature then Lagrange but more mature then Las Cases I would say. It has got 2 decades of life in it ensured by the ample acidity. My fear is just that the fruit is not supple enough to catapult this wine to higher scores. Hmmm - selling for 1250 pound per case in bond it is one to consider nevertheless (if I take Lagrange 1990 as benchmark only no wine will be good value, so I rest my case on this). Tough to find a wine of this pedigree, bottle age, further age worthiness, status (second growth after all). I will see how it develops the next two days to make up my mind. I keep you posted. I own a lot of vintages of Leoville Barton but my fundamental problem is that this house is sort of the eternal promise dangling in front of your nose, critics love it, merchants love it... Given that 1990 is known to be an accessible year it should teach us to either buy the back vintages or leave our hands off it - if we want to enjoy them in our lifetime that is. cheers.
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Spectacular is an adjective you rarely see alongside Leoville-Barton but this wine is the complete symbiosis of impeccable, restrained, traditional winemaking and an exuberant vintage. It has a fabulous nose of cedar, graphite, tobacco, herbs and spices leading into a refined palate with cassis-infused fruits, minerals and earth, underpinned by fine silky tannins and bright acidity. Perfectly pitched this wine has a restraint and equilibrium that the more exuberant Leoville-Lascases 1990 lacks. While both are thrilling the Barton is the better wine. It doesn't have a hair out of place.
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Nice and clean to the eye. Colour holding very well at 26yo, shinny though not suggesting it's particularly deep or layered. Taste of understated dry vegetables.
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Always (after the 12th bottle meanwhile tasted) a wine for the winner of the evening. Ripe (clearly more than the 1990 Lagrange, also 94 points). Drink it now, but don`t worry, he will be good for several years.
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This is a great bottle. Lots of juicy red fruit, forrest floor, hint of vanilla and toast. Very balanced, good fruit concentration and lively acidity. Elegant and femminine, very well rounded. Long, long, long. In a good drinking phase now.
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Delicious after an hour in the decanter. Deep ruby color, nose of raspberries, black currants, leather, mocha and spice. Elegant on the palate, rich mid palate and a nice finish. What 1990 is all about!
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Dark developed and brooding black currants , plums and lovely morello cherries nicely married wih dark cocoa, dark leathery barnyard and pencil shavings. A good point for bordeaux.
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A bit mixed feelings, showing very good for its age with a firm core and of course ripeness, but a bit too firm in showing the elements; for me the not-so-subtle Léoville-Barton style.
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Still a youthful purple with only faint lightening at the rim. Glorious nose of dark fruit, cedar, fresh tobacco and a hint of smoke straight upon opening. Full-bodied with velvety tannins. Lush swathes of dark fruit on the mid-palate with a cedar-tinged finish. Great structure. Much less evolved than the '82 Leoville Barton drunk alongside. Really enjoyed! This will improve further and go for years in the cellar.
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Double decanted and stood in bottle for 4hrs. This wine is the epitome of a mature left bank bordeaux. Wonderfully expressive on the nose, perfect balance and still possessing a youthful vigor and intensity. Medium plus finish. A benchmark St Julien which is drinking at peak but will hold for many years to come.
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Deep ruby red color with slight bricking at the rims. Typical mature St Julien claret with a nose of cassis, cranberries, slight cedar, some raspberries. Medium bodied and a long finish this wine did not need more that 30 minutes in the decanter to strutt it's stuff. Very nice indeed but a class below Ducru 1990 and two notches below Leoville Lascases.
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Bottle in pristine condition with very little ullage. Color a medium ruby with brick rim. Cedar and pencil lead nose, bright attack with medium body, dark fruits with soft integrated tannins. Very long. Delicious wine.
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First wine to be drunk in a 1990 bordeaux horizontal dinner. Opened and decanted for 30 min. Lovely nose of rose petals blackcurrant and berries. Medium to full bodied, fruity with hints of chocolate, tobacco, and a well integrated silky tannins. Superbly long finish!!
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Decanted 45 mins. Only light paling to rim. Medium intense nose with plenty of cedar, tobacco box, leather, sweet spice and ripe blackberries. Palate ripe and round - excellent balance of medium acid, fine tannins and wonderful light blackberries. A supple with secondary notes of light spices. Absolutely excellent and drinking beautifully now and to 2023.
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Opened and decanted three hours before. Fine ruby red, well balanced fruit and tar. No sign of thinning in this bottle. Very enjoyable and strong enough to cope with young pheasant.
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Best bottle so far from a case. The wine was in perfect balance with a medium body & understated harmony with the tannins well integrated & good length. An absolute pleasure to drink
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Much better this time. Needs 2 hours in decanter. Still tannins but good sweet fruit underneath. Very solid and well performing 1990. Way above its pedigree. Classic left bank notes, with some cloves and plums thrown on top. Medium body, quite fresh, medium finish. Great with food! Had it with Tournedos Rossini, which craves a substantial wine!
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This wine needed some serious air time. Then, it finally opens up, with some beautiful, sweet fruit, matchstick and leather, nice acidic backbone, good structure and length. It's still a little austere, but I think this is a Bdx that will drink well for decades. 92+
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Sweet spot. Dark ruby with minimal sediment, the nose being an exotic mix of cherry, berry and spice with a thrilling super-long palate coating finish. Tannins are mellow and in the back seat now.
If a date, this was the 29 year old homecoming queen beauty who never quite found success upon her several attempts to move to the big city so is content to remain FwB on a regular basis.
Years of pleasure ahead for properly stored bottles
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Took this to a friend's retrospect 1990 tasting. A short double decant about 3 hr prior to consumption. Every once in a while you get lucky, and this was one of the finest older bottles of LB i can recall. The aromatics exploded out of the gate with a signature Black Cherry & spice. The flavors were big and powerful and the mouth feel plush and a broad long finish. In an evening of a few disappointments this held it's own. This bottle would have been easily good for another 3-5 if not longer.
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First things - the score is for today and will get higher. I can only suggest that comments about tired etc are arising from bottles with less than ideal storage. This one is just starting to reach respectable maturity. The tannins are resolving. Lots of berry fruit, mostly black but some rasp too. Lots of woodland notes. Great concentration. Good acidity and long.
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Rich black fruit assail the nose as the wine was being decanted one hour before drinking. Brick red colour. Black fruit and hedgerows in the mouth together with leather and tabaco some tannin on the finish. good balance and length. Good now and over the next few years
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Deep garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose is quite developed with spicy black fruit, tobacco and hints of earth. Complex and quite rich. Medium bodied, blackcurrant, tobacco, very fine, almost resolved tannins, decent acidity, long harmonious finish. Lovely.
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Brick maroon color. Nose of cassis, black currant, cedar, forest floor, damp earth. Still lively on the tongue with good acidity balancing filed off tannins, and layers of blackberry, currant, sweet grip, and leathery notes to savor. Moderately long finish. Very good.
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Drinking very well right now. Bold ruby color. Only needed an hour of air to open up nicely. Lots of black currant, cedar, mushroom, and leather. Very smooth on the palate. Tannins round and integrating well. Prominent acidic backbone. Perhaps one of the most impressive things about this wine is the long, complex finish. No heat at all on the finish. Overall, a beautifully balanced wine that should continue to drink well for several years.
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Peaking, great berries and floral notes. Virtually no tannins. Silk smooth. Would scored higher if it had the layers and depth of top bordeauxs, but still really good. Wife loved it. Slightly better second day.
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1990 Bordeaux tasting in 2015 - round #1 (The Traklin - new location): double decanting for sediments removal 2 hours prior to drinking lively red-ruby colour, with almost no age signs classic Pauillac tertiary leathery aromas with oak-vanilla notes on the nose & palate, med-full bodied, firm tannins, good acidity level, well balance and excellent harmony, still holds fruitiness, present oak-vanilla, solid, mainstream, subtle spicy & veggie flavours, long enjoyable finish.
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Coravin tasting transparent light red with amber rim elegant & complex aroma of dark dry forest fruit with notes of old clean leather, earthy-veggie, fungi, and light spice med-full bodied, fine round soft integrated tannins, excellent balance & harmony, very good complexity, high acidity level, fine spicy-dry fruity flavours, long quality delicate finish. A great joy!
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From jéroboam. From the big bottle still a bold wine with a bouquet of herbs, raisins and some overripeness. On the palate a lot of power left, Cabernet sweetness, leather, round tannins. About two litres were left in the bottle and this was great for lunch the next day!
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You would never guess the age of this wine from the color -- purple all the way to the rim. Decanted 6 hours before tasting. The nose gives some indication of bottle age, with a beguilingly complex aroma of perfume, rich leather and coconut. Cedar and currant on the palate. Tannins tend towards the silky and integrated side of the spectrum. The finish is a bit abbreviated.
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This is a very youthful 25 year old wine. From first our into the decanter this wine expressed energy, and not old tired and musty leftovers. In the glass, very light bricking on the rim. Black cherry, cedar and kirsch. Nice mineral ity on the finish. Nothing says this is going downhill fast. But it certainly seems to be entering prime drinking. Hope there is little bottle variation in my remaining two bottles as this is delicious.
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Still dark but brick rim, heavy sediment in the bottle. Cedar and blackcurrant nose. Smooth and mouth filling. Sweet fruit finish, some dryness emerging. Lovely.
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Second Sunday Group: Douro reds (Frank's): The color belies its age. Opens with a strong note of brett, with black currant jam, cherry, sous bois and leather underneath. Medium-bodied with some tannin to shed, and flavors of currants and tobacco with a bretty streak here as well, which is a shame because there's such a nice core of fruit & other complexities underneath. Others fawned over this, but I think the brettanomyces dominates and was not as impressed.
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At first, I thought it was just OK. My second glass about 2 hours later, was awesome. Velvet mouthfeel with a bit of chocolate. I wouldn't wait much longer with this one, but let it breathe for a while before you pour it.
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Decanted 45 minutes before pouring. Beautiful deep garnet coloration with less brick edging than expected for this age. More deep purple coloration than expected. Somewhat sweet, floral aroma with cedar and cassis notes. Not as prominent or as complex as I expected, but not disappointing. On the palate, instant tobacco and cassis overtones, with cedar undertones while still remaining balanced on the tongue. Fruit was mouth filling but not overpowering. Decent length- 30 seconds + Acidity was perfect- zero hints of flabbiness. Overall, a well balanced wine begging one to take larger sips than decorum demands. I'd love to open a magnum of this wine. To be safe I'll drink my two remaining bottles by 2017- I wouldn't wish to risk any more acidity reduction- it's drinking beautifully right now.
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I was psyched to try this and not disappointed. It sounds incredulous to say a wine needs 20yrs plus but many BDX do and this one was great at age 24. Loved the black raspberry / dark cherry flavors and minerality. 24yrs have tamed what was likely a tannic beast early on and yet this still is on the upswing. Very fresh, elegant and intellectual. Thanks R&R!
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A Tour Through France Tuesday at Tilia (Tilia, Mpls): Very dark red/purple color, no bricking. PNP with 2 hours of slow-O only. Drank 2 glasses over 2 hours. Wow, this was a pristine bottle that was firing on all cylinders right out of the gate. A fantastic nose, beautifully floral, perfumed, saddle leather, horse barn, dark raspberry, black cherry, cassis. The palate is vibrant, lively ripe fruit that is very fresh, bright red berry, cherry pie, cassis, full bodied, feminine, very elegant, very flavorful, leather, and a long, long finish. The tannins are velvety and enticing. Great wine, perfectly balanced, you'd never believe it was 24 years old. Drinking great and it has a very long future. My and group WOTN.
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Bright and quite intense blackcurrant nose. A touch of spice too. Sweet, quite broad entry with ripe blackcurrant fruit. Nicely padded. Cedar and mineral on the classical back end bringing everything in to line nicely. Quite long. ****
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Btl decanted 2 hrs, typical St Julien nose of cedar, pencil, tabacco and leather. Ample acidity in mouth yeilding a balance with the fruit, while tannin is resolved, there is a mild lack of concentration. Still a lovely wine, drink up.
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Medium red-garnet color. Aromas slow to develop; with two hours, gives medium intensity, slightly green cabernet, of olives, thyme, cherry and cassis, leather. Medium tannin and medium acidity; stiff at age 24. Reserved in the mouth, tight. Finish is the best part, the sensation of the structure really helps the olive-y and leather-y flavors persist. Good match to prime rib sandwich with cheese-potato-herbed croquettes. Bottle #5 of six.
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KR66 got this right Good cork and still fairly deep ruby Not sure it was the right pairing with great pan Asian food at Soba and alban reva also on table but very solid showing
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Decanted for Two hours before drinking with roast lamb. Will decant for less an an hour in future! Deep brown some light fadeing at the rim, Powerfull creamy nose sweet black fruits, chocolate, cedar, tabaco. with soft harmonious tannins. All these flavours come through as one in a mature wine. Noticable fading after three/four hours. will reduce the time from decanting to drinking for future bottles.
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4th of 6 magnums, perfect fill, 120 mins decant - see July 2013 for detailed note, but still very classy, attractive old style claret and clearly better than a nice, if not quite ready, magnum of 2001 on same night. At least fine plus (18/20).
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OJH Party (Racquet Club Chicago): Dark fruit and coffee on the nose. Round, plush and wonderfully balanced in the mouth. I don't know what it is, but I always get this burnt rubber note with LB and this was no exception.
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Brooding - dark cedary fruit, classically St Julien; smooth, roasted coffee aromas. Lovely balance, with plenty of ripe blackcurrant fruit to this wine, and showing immense youth - assembled party put this as a 2004/2005. Alas, on the evening, trumped by Chambolle 1er Cru 1999 from de Vogue!
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Spectacular wine. Based on other notes, I have to wonder if the storage of this wine somehow impacted the wine's showing at this time. This wine was stored in perfect conditions from release until 10 years ago. Our friends bought the wine and have had the wine in their kitchen at 72 degrees on it's side for 10 years. Due to it's improper storage, I thought the wine would be over the hill and faded. The cork crumbled but was dry. I was quite surprised how good the wine was. Deep dark fruit with smoke, tar, bordeaux earth with a seamless mature profile and a long aftertaste. Absolutely loved this wine.
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Slowly drinking though a case but may have to speed up as the fruit is fading and the structure remains but can't sustain it. A nice peppery aspect comes though now.
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Just little signs of age, still pretty dark. On the nose smoky, slightly creamy, dark fruit, hints of cocoa, mineral. Great purity of fruit. Round and rather youthful, again lovely fruit character on the palate, complex and intense. Gentle tannins, really well balanced and persistent. Very long. Good future. 94-95+
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Soft and supple. This is in a great place and probably can go another ten years - but why wait. A great wine from a great year. Primarily blueberry and raisin with a hint of oil cured Greek olives and the slightest note of smoked beef brisket. Of course there is the gravelly backdrop and long finish.
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(Blind) Klar, mørk rød med hint av oransje i kanten. Frisk, tiltalende og floral nese med mørke bær, solbær og blyantspiss. Forførende og nydelig nese. Dyp, saftig, ren og fokusert frukt. Saftig, spiss syre. Milde, finkornede tanniner i utgang. Flott lengde.
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1990 Bordeaux Horizontal: Blind. Slightly exotic and fine-grained nose; dark berries, smoke, a bit on the extracted side, very convincing, powerful and structured.
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Textbook "vin de garde" even now at 24 yrs old, plenty of stuffing and fruit left but for me missing aromatic development and nuance (aka X-factor). Extremely competent rather than fabulous.
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Sampled via Coravin, initial nose seemed old, palate mostly tannin and metallic component. Over a couple of hours in glass the metallic note disappeared, and the last swallow (just before I left for dinner with another wine I'd opened and decanted instead) suggested that it might actually be opening up after all.
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Opened 2 bots at Jade Palace in Singapore among pleasant company. Oh this is very good indeed. Dark purple, beautiful rich creamy bouquet of cassis, minerals, tar, violets, cedar -- a lot of stuff going on here. Dense and chewy on the palate, brimming with juicy black fruit but very integrated, pure and balanced without a hair out of place. Compared to the clear impression of ripeness one finds in some 1990 wines, this is somewhat more restrained in that respect. The tannins aren't at all harsh but are still quite prominent, which together with the robust fruit gives the impression of a wine ten years younger. What can you say, another beautiful classic textbook lesson in impeccable winemaking
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This was remarkably young. After decanting for three hours it was giving almost nothing on the nose other than a bit of green pepper. On the palate it tasted like a wine that was 5-7 years old....not 24! After a bit of time in the glass it began to show deep cassis and currant flavors with a bit of cigar box/cedar -- but still nothing to indicate a quarter century in the bottle (forest floor, leather, tobacco, etc). Those things never came.....but I really liked it regardless. As for this bottle, it was just entering its drinking window and would have gone for a very, very long time. I realize that bottle variation is more prevalent in wines this old.....but I am hoping the rest of my quality BDX from 1990 drinks just like this because, if so, I will be enjoying it for a long time to come!
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Tasted through 9 different bottles this year. Pretty sure this wine is still improving, my scores have increased from 90 to 92 mark in the case of the one tried last night. A superb wine, just a little too much pencil shavings for me. Drunk last night alongside the superb '93 L'Apparita (95) which could have helped its case.
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Servi en bouteille. Robe tirant vers l'acajou, limpide. Nez intense encore sur les arômes tertiaires, le cigare éteint, la réglisse, le sous-bois. En bouche, c'est tout à fait en place, les tannins sont encore là pour tenir le milieu de bouche et la finale, c'est épicé et le fruit est bien évolué, il peut bien attendre encore mais que c'est intéressant de le goûter aujourd'hui !
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While the quality is apparent, despite a 2 hour decant this did not really blossom. Great freshness, balance, powdery tannins, and decent concentration. While enjoyable now, this will really benefit from 5 more years of aging.
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Ordered by the glass (tasting pour) at the Wine View Bar at Helsinki airport. The wine was medium brick coloured. It offered a very complex, sweet and savoury nose that kept changing whenever I swirled the wine in the glass, with intense floral notes, dried dark fruit, prune, juniper berry, exotic spices, leather, tobacco and some chocolate. On the palate the wine was medium-bodied, sweet, lush and velvety, with prune, juniper berry, leather, lots of tobacco and a mild spiciness, paired with medium-plus acidity, chewy tannins and very good length of the chewy finish; the aftertaste even re-emerged after some time. To me this 1990 Léoville Barton was somewhat controversial. The nose was absolutely incredible and the wine was as velvety on the palate as you would expect from a well-aged Bordeaux, but then it somehow lacked balance and I would even call it a bit austere with view to its chewy tannin and noticeable acidity. I reserve scoring until I get the chance to try a full bottle.
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Dark purple, no signs of aging. Nice nose; carries cedar, forest pine, a bit of stone. Mouth bellyflops, however, with some pruney, immobile flavor, topping off with a tannic bite. Doesn't seem to blow off, so time/decanting is unlikely to help. May be a dud bottle. 87 points.
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Esoteric Wine Dinner (Absinthe, Boat Quay): Glowingly delicious. This was one of the two non-esoteric, thus off-theme bottles, but it was so good that no one complained. WOTN for most on the table. It had such a lovely Left-bank Bordeaux nose, strewn with tobacco, dried earth and exotic spice aromas mingling amidst clean cassis scents and some gentle floral accents. Wow. Really appealing. The palate was absolutely wonderful too. Pure cassis notes were cossetted by soft, silky tannins, bright acidity from the attack, giving the wine a lovely sense of definition and balance. It then glided into a slightly chewier mid-palate, where the dark fruit was met with earth, meat, and some minerally undertones, before moving into asavoury ending, where gentle notes of tobacco, spice and earth nestled amongst some plummy notes. Mouthfilling, delicious and wonderfully integrated - this was glowing. On the evidence of this bottle, it is wonderful now and will continue to be at least for the next 5 years and beyond.
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From 750ml. Level HF. Served at the St Geran in Mauritius. No decant required. Colour was dark red, faint brown at edge, bright. Nose was dominated by cassis, with some secondary Bordeaux notes including cedar, animal notes, raspberry. A whiff of iodine was an unusual addition. The palate is very fruit driven, again mostly cassis but there is some red fruit, and aged bordeaux sandalwood and leather. There is good of acidity to keep the wine fresh and the tannins are powdery and finely integrated now. The wine is balanced but not exceptionally so and the finish is a good length.
This is a lovely Leoville-Barton, and a good example of the sumptuous 1990 vintage. There is plenty of structure and power, wrapped up in black fruit and some of that hallmark St Julien freshness. This is perfectly ready now and drinking well. I predict this wine will comfortably live for another 10-15 years for sure, but the fruit will recede and would not show this wine at its best in my opinion. This is very different from the more classic 1988 Barton, which is still gently improving. For this reason, enjoy the 1990 now.
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Third from 6 magnums, med deep garnet, some lightening on rim, attractive classy nose, black fruit driven though some graphite and cedar, med/full on palate, long, laid back, beautifull fine grained tannins if very slightly dusty, good grip and balance, mature. Fine plus (18/20).
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Needed a lot of air (decanted 30 minutes before dinner, and the 1/4 bottle that remained after an hour dinner was still improving). Really wish I had another case or so.
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Medium garnet. This is a complicated wine to review. Many thoughts, so am leaving out the usual descriptions. The wine develops with air but needs a lot (!) of air. It is overall a little stiff and unyielding in every way: nose, mouth-feel, flavors, finish, after-taste. But gradually, slowly it does release a very strong, very classic left bank cabernet character, at least in terms of a pre-1990 styling. Be patient with it in every way imaginable: in the cellar, on the table, in your glass. Bottle #4 of six.
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First things - the score is for today and will get higher. I can only suggest that comments about tired etc are arising from bottles with less than ideal storage. This one is just a fair bit away from respectable maturity. The tannins still need taming. Lots of berry fruit, mostly black but some rasp too. Lots of woodland notes. Great concentration. Good acidity and long. This wine will still live long and prosper!
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This is the 6th one consumed from a case purchased as futures. This is the second one that was tired and past prime. I think there is not much hope for the others.
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Brick reddish brown in color with some age showing near the edges. Nose is extraordinary with lots of dark fruits, black currants, blackberry and plum. Also quite floral, showing violets and roses. As it sat in the classes developed increasingly sweet smells of molasses and stewed fruits. Lather and tobacco. Really special nose. On the palate, rather mellow, with fruit somewhat subdued with age but still ripe. Quite acidity but balanced with soft, smooth and extremely subtle tannins that have fully integrated with the rest of the wine. Fresh Black fruits with crisp and refreshing acidity despite the age. Medium alcohol. Long lingering finish of black berry and cassis. Almost like tasting the end of an early season blackberry off the vine with the lingering acidity and seeds biting your cheeks and tongue. Great wine. Drinking really well right now, but has time before it begins to decline.
Drank at the Oxford Cambridge club February 2013.
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This wine was good enough, but did not move me as I hoped it might. I decanted about 1/2 the bottle for 1-2 hours before dinner and then recanted to head for the restaurant. The wine was just a little flat and never really sang. Bad night? Bad bottle hard to say. I've enjoyed prior bottles more, but likely from different provenance. I think this bottle might have been winebid. 5 to go and hopefully they will yield more pleasure
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Austere and light leather nose; slight blackberry-cherry; round and beefy on the palate but still expressing a more tannic and acidic aspect; light semi-smooth finish.
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Returning to Wine & View Bar; 1/23/2013-2/1/2013 (Vaanta Airport - Helsinki): Brownish colour still with a dark core, Port Tawny-like Little closed for nose but in a few minutes showed its origins Delicious meaty aromas followed by owed apple and a well integrated wood and smoked complexity without end. Positively what a oldie. Wow! Palate give you a good acidity to run many years yet St. Julien at best in a few drops. Perfect mate for a Parmesan cheese tapa
Color amarronado con un corazón oscuro , muy al estilo de los Tawnnies de Oporto. Un poco cerrado al principio pero en minutos mostró sus orígenes. Deliciosos aromas cárnicos seguidos de manzana al horno y de una buen integrada madera y de una ahumada complejidad sin fin. Favorecedora de una anciana como esta. ¡Tremenda! En boca muestra una buena acidez para continuar todavía durante años. St. Julien en lo mejor en unas pocas gotas. El perfecto acompañante para una tapa de parmesano.
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12.5% ABV. Decanted for about an hour. Could probably have used considerably more as it's still coming alive as I write. Garnet with a hair's width of bricking. Lovely but restrained St Julien black fruit and woodland nose. Hints of tea and chocolate. Classical but never boring. Balanced and appealing; real depth of character. Lip smacking acidity. Really, really long and beautiful finish which gets better with every sip.
This one really grows on you. This note started as a 92!
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Opened two bottles. Decanted 30 mins before serving. Not disappointed in the slightest. Good balance. Much better than 1990 Gruaud Larose opened the following day which seemed harsh and underdeveloped by comparison.
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91 pts isn't "poo-pooing" this wine, obviously! That said, it paled quite a bit for me in comparison with 85 Lynch Bages....
Pouring strategy: borrowed from a few folks below. Stood upright for a couple hours, then opened (fr 750ml) and let stand. Poured an ounce and let relax. Popped back in the fridge for 20 min to resume cellar temperature, then decanted immediately before dinner (and did the same w/the LB, except that was served first with dinner). 30 mins later served from decanter. It was quite good but not excellent to my preferred tastes. Nose is fruity and even a little floral. On the palate, a very round, soft wine - no real sign of any tannins (and again, especially in contrast to 85 LB). All in all, quite good if a bit unremarkable. If I had it to do all over again, I would simply sip for hours from PnP'ing 750s. I don't believe there is an immediate rush to open this....
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Disappointing. Rather thin, particularly for a wine from the ripe 1990 vintage. Some cedar and dark fruit, but not a ton, and a little weedy. Still quite tannic and somewhat sour. I don't think this will ever come into balance.
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very youthful in appearance, slight bricking on the rim. initially mustiness on the nose blew off. tannins gained intensity with air as the palate tightened up. this isn't giving up much now - let it sleep another 5-10, at least.
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Britannia group (Hix Mayfair): Very young colour still depp red with some purple. Lovely nose, very 1990 with fine weave of tannins and depth of fruit. Typical LB structure but wrapped in the fruit. St Julien elegance and persistence. Cracking wine which will improve t for a decade or more.
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Moderate depth of color... ruby with hints of bricking at rim that is looking its stated age. Aromatically this wine sings with plenty of fruit (as much red raspberry as black currant for me), plenty of varied and subtle baking spices, a distinctive pencil/cedar aroma, plenty of earthy/tertiary tea like aromas. On the palate the wine feels like a very traditional Bordeaux with high acidity, a firmish midpalate, still noticeable moderately ripe tannins that have quite a bit of grip, low to moderate alcohol. Wine has fantastic balance, length, intensity, and complexity. Has loads of finesse, a fine but classically firm texture, classic expression of place. The wine still has the depth of fruit and unresolved tannins to improve with age and will obviously continue to go strong for a few decades. Stylistically this is much more classic (especially on the palate) and as such I think you will see those who like a more classically textured Bordeaux rate this higher. For me personally, this is an "outstanding" bordering on "extraordinary" wine when one compares it to other "great" vintage Bordeaux, especially when you consider its style.
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this is without doubt a fantastic wine with a full intense flavour and some lovely cedary notes. however it has to be said that it has never been quite as good as expected and nowhere near the 82 or the even more impressive 85. quite simply it just does not have those extra layers of complexity that you would like and expect. it is stuck in that no mans land between fruit bomb and complex traditional claret.
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Seems younger than both Lynch Bages and Lagrange 1990. More structure but also less open nose. Classic though with all the left bank characteristics, just less so than i.e. Lynch Bages. Medium bodied with good maturity and no overripeness as some 1990. Very balanced with smooth tannins and fairly long finish. Will last for many years!
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Awesome wine. Really good. Lovely aromatics. Plenty of structure. Tannins and acids in balance. Lovely cassis, minerality, cedar. WOTN. vs. 1988 Leoville Barton, 1990 Les Forts de Latour and 1990 Pichon Baron.
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Despite having been kept in passive conditions since purchase off the shelf in the early 90s, this was showing very well, with ripe blueberry and cassis, some Juicyfruits gum, cedarwood, and a fungal undertone. Not as impressive as a bottle from an LB vertial in 2008, but still a lovely wine.
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Beautiful wine, had it several times and always great. Typical Cabernet nose with dark fruits, earth, pencil and mineral notes. Very attractive and powerful on the palate, great elegance and long lingering with new notes evolving. Fruits, minerals, 'cream' and herbs.
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Killer Bordeaux Tasting (Kevin's House (Minneapolis)): Showing well but still plenty left in the tank. Firm tannins, gravel, funk, violets and menthol. Medium to long finish and balanced. Wonderful wine and another decade plus of enjoyment on this one. It received 2 hours of decanting prior to consuming.
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Big Bordeaux III - Kickin' Ass & Takin' Names: Stunning Wines from 1986, 1990, 1996 + 2002 Cristal (Rocknroller's (Kevin's)): Very dark red with no signs of bricking. Slow ox for 4 hours, then decanted for 2 hours before serving. The nose starts off very floral, blueberry, raspberry, a hint of raisin, and develops further to show creme de cassis, black cherry, lots of earth, light smoke, cedar. The palate shows a mix of black and red fruits - black cherry, raspberry, cassis, medium/full body, elegant and rich. Tart acids, a little meat flavor late, long finish. Fine tannins, amazingly young. 94+pts.
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750, good cork. Mature disc, ruby robe. What an emphatically classical nose - loads of cedar & pencil, svelte red fruits, a touch of tobacco. Simply put, archetypical. The palate is classic Barton, too, in a way that reminds me of the '88. Tannic, good acid, a little lean, similar in quality to the nose but more charcoal here. A milk chocolate finish. This is lovely - a true Englishman's Claret. This was beautiful right out of the gate, but after 45 minutes (closed decanter) this does put on weight. Changes a bit - more sweet tobacco on both the nose and palate. Less austere on the palate.
I love this style. I can see why modernists are maybe a little underwhelmed. Less of the 1990 richness than other wines of the vintage, but certainly very Barton in character during the first hour.
4+ to 5-
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Bought recently from jj buckley, decanted for 2 hrs, drank over 4. A bordeaux lovers delight. Wonderfully balanced black currant fruit, acidity, sweet tannins, and secondaries. Although drinking well, this should survive at least another decade I would think. 12.5% etoh
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In a great place right now, with a core of fresh dark fruited and cassis flavours framed by developing cedar, earth, graphite and floral elements. Complex, powerful and nuanced, drinking very well now but the fruit, density and fine grained tannic structure suggests there's plenty of time still ahead.
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I decanted this several hours in advance, but it took a good eight to actually open up. The colour is still very dark, with only a trace of brick at the edges. Good nose of lead pencil, blackcurrants and plums, with a little redcurrant as the evening drew on.
The first taste was not good: still massively tannic, quite bitter, like drinking coffee dregs. Then a second wave, much more amenable, a silky, seamless sensation of dusky plums, blackcurrants and black cherries, followed by a finish that alternated between bitterness and an increasing sweetness as the clock turned, with notes of red cherry. Going back to the wine during the evening, we were struck by the purity of the silky middle section, which is of 1st Growth standard and which grew progressively longer and broader, sinking down to the bottom of the palate and giving a wonderful sensation of satisfying power. This is the heart of the wine, which will increasingly spread to the top of the palate as the wine matures further
Léoville-Barton is never a demonstrative wine, there are no artefacts or fireworks, it's a line of Grenadier Guards rather than a squadron of Polish Lancers. For me this is the best L-B ever, streets ahead of the 82, which simply doesn't have the same power.
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Dinner at Matt and Francesca’s (Vancouver, BC): Slow-O’d for 5 hours then decanted for sediment and served immediately. Beautiful, complex and classic mid-aged Bordeaux nose with notes of that wonderful Bordeaux funk, plums, black currants, cedar and coffee grinds. As it sat in the glass the nose continued to change and evolve offering other aromas of bell pepper, Cajun spices, graphite and tobacco. In the mouth this was smooth and mellow without being soft with solid acidity and fine, almost chalky, tannins. Finish is fairly long. I really love traditionally styled Bordeaux and this was no exception. This offers tremendous pleasure right now but should continue to age gracefully for at least another decade. Outstanding.
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The Long Awaited Wine & Dine (Vancouver, BC): Opened and let breathe for 5 hours, decanted for sediment and served immediately. First impression, fantastic nose that proved difficult to put my glass down. Lead pencil shavings and black currants at the forefront on the nose, followed by soaked coffee grounds, black plums, barnyard funk, fresh mint, and some black pepper spice. A bit of bell pepper and an interesting note of almost Cajun-like spice developed as it sat in the glass, yet it did not detract from the palate whatsoever. Pure silk on the palate, showing more of that graphite-lead pencil, along with black cherries, dark plums, saddle leather, asphalt, and an integrated note of mint. Medium+ acidity, with plenty of dusty tannins still remaining. Medium+ finish, ending with notes of graphite and red cherries. A truly wonderful bottle of Bordeaux that appeared youthful and to be just starting to enter it's drinking window, with a long life ahead. Fantastic.
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Decanted through an aerator. Rapidly delivered full flavour. Still red, but dull. Excellent initial fruit, blackcurrant and cedar, but thinning on finish. Drink up
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Hard to believe this is 21 years old. Needed hours to open up, then wow! Full of fresh fruit - cherries. Smooth and balanced all across the palate. The tannins are very much in control. Thought there would be more action on the nose - but on the tongue, this baby dances.
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Cork sound, only coloured first quarter. Sediment well settled. Surprisingly dark, core black, edge still red with trace of brick. Initially mute and stark, but opening out after two hours. Classic cedar and tobacco nose, vanilla and fruit on palate. Plenty of body, good for at least another five years. Beautifully structured. Finish is like a vanilla cream with blackcurrant coypus, but superb tobacco leaf aftertaste. Worth the wait. Best decant next time.
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Don’t know what to think. Yoghurt in the bouquet, oxidized impressions and chocolate on the palate. Still juicy and drinkable, but this must be an off bottle. No score.
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Les Deux Bartons (Les Deux Salons): 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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TN: A few wines at Paul's baconpalooza (Paul's): This bottle showed poorly. Also served double blind, it was disjointed and a bit harsh with the tannins and acidity seemingly at odds with each other. This wine normally shows a good amount of black fruit, but I found the fruit in short supply here. A little bit of tobacco, but a too strong bitter green note dominated the wine and while I've never noticed any woodiness in this wine previously, this bottle showed a good deal. A C+, but I don't think this is a representative bottle, though it's not corked or cooked.
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Excellent, smooth tannins, well integrated and long finish. I was getting a lot of oak, tobacco and dark fruit, but ultimately a wine that did not show complexity.
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1990s Bordeaux Retrospect: Alcohol :: 12.5% Opened for 2hrs. Dark ruby core with bright rim. Very fresh and intense, still pretty young compared to the first bottle that display layers of wood, meat, sweet dark fruits with savory scents along with strong note of earth and spices, very complex. More mint and perfume black currant note appeared with time. Very powerful, mouth coating and palate staining intensity yet remained beautifully balance, expansive and fresh. The wine is getting smoother and more polished in the glass. The succulence, lush sweet dark fruits and chewy tannin form the unctuous texture that complex with dark chocolate and coffee note. This fabulous Barton delivered remarkable length and persistent on the sweet, juicy finish, with underlying sense of elegance. This is as delicious as the Las Cases but today, the Las Cas is the winner for the overall completeness. I’m splitting hair here. While this can be drunk now, this need at least another 5-7yrs to hit the full maturity and while it does, this should stand shoulder to shoulder to the Las Cases. Buy - Yes.
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Gorgeous wine. Very plummy fruit - merlot to the fore tonight, lovely cedar, fresh fennel, farmyard, and textbook blackcurrants. I would even go so far as to say a hint of lead pencil. A wonderful left bank nose. Certainly mature - but an extremely involving nose. In the mouth, medium body at most with a strong tannic structure. The cabernet drives the flavours .This wine has a great food-friendly proportion about it. This wine has moderate intensity and length. Not a heavenly wine but certainly a brilliant example of a 1990 that is ready now but will hold for another decade, at least. Most enjoyable.
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Dense with sweet mature fruit, iron and a long, dark, burnt finish. Roasted oak and strong dark fruit. Largely dark character. Lively acid. Ready to drink now and for years to come. B+
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Georgeous wine that had the whole package. Started a but tight on a pop and pour. Nice cigar box component with red mature cherries. Wellintegrated oak. At peak for my tastes.
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This nights is getting better and better. When I had the '89 of Léoville served blind I had a similar experience as with this 1990. It comes across much more like a Californian Bordeaux blend than an actual Bordeaux. It does have all the elegance that you could wish for, but at the same time it exhibits a concentration and density you would normally associate with a now world wine. Incredible complex - mature, yet youthful. Fabulous wine.
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cork came out so easy i was a little nervous at first. But wine looked, smelled, tasted fantastic. still very dark in color, nose came alive after decanting. smooth cherry, cassis, with leather and something, maybe a little chocolate. went great with the onion, sage, sausage and bacon risotto I made.
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Nach ca. 6 Stunden Belüftung überwiegend Sekundäraromen mit Zedern, Tabak, Pfeffer und einer salzigen Mineralität, ein wenig reduzierte rote Frucht. Am Gaumen dann eingekochte rote Beeren, Pflaume, mehr Tabak, Leder, Röstaromen und auch hier jede Menge feinste Mineralität, die einen den nahen Atlantik schmecken lässt. Etwas Frucht im Abgang, die dann von der Säure überlagert wird. Ein guter Wein, aber mit 85 Euro (Auktion) zu teuer. Zumindest aus dieser Flasche schon etwas über seinen Zenith, ich sehe aber im Gegensatz zu der Mehrheit hier auch für kühler gelagerte Flaschen keine große Zukunft mehr voraus. Wer noch welche hat, besser jetzt trinken.
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Leave it to Dee to bust out some mature Bordeaux that she always says is over the hill, and that she is always so nervous about opening. LOL! You gotta love her, and as always, she was again proved wrong here! Decanted for sediment, showing a gorgeous dark color in the decanter. Gorgeous nose of dark currants, cassis, cherry, tobacco, and spice. There was just a bit of bret on the nose, but this blew off with a few minutes of swirling in the glass. On the palate, this was some great classically aged Bordeaux. I wish I had a cellar full of stuff like this, as it is drinking so well. Very nice, mature palate with a bit of prune, plum, blackberry, and black cherry. Nice lingering finish made this an absolute joy to drink, and this was definitely up there as a wine of the night contender. Very nice after drinking a bunch of new world pinot noir tonight. 93 points! Cheers!
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This one was officially called iffy, although it may just have been an excuse to get the rather excellent reserve Pontet Canet 1994 drafted in as well! Certainly not corked and was actualy rather nice, but there was just a tiny hint of something not as it should be. Perhaps a little mustiness lurking up the back somewhere. Odd really, as it's like looking at your perfct partner but today they've got a big spot on their nose! Not enough to drive you away but not quite perfect...
Having said that I enjoyed it, despite the slight wobble
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The fill was well into the neck, and the cork was sound; popped and poured, and then evaluated over the next six hours. A much more advanced color than I was expecting, with some amber at the rim. Pretty straight-forward; lacking in terms of complexity, texture and grip. This wine is either going through an awkward stage, or is cracking up and on the downslope.
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Great. Deep dark inky color. Decanted for about an hour. Smooth tannins and deep, viscous cherry and berry flavors with earth, tar and cassis. Long finish. Just a terrific mature Bordeaux at its peak with many years ahead of it. No sigh of age. Drank with '89 Beaucastel, and although very different styles, this was my preference. Just a delicious bottle of wine.
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Opens with a white pepper note, followed by red currants, green tobacco and spice; has a pruny/raisiny undertone. Dark fruit flavors on the palate; but also a pruny quality. Guessed older Zin.
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Drunk alongside 90 Troplong Mondot and 90 Forts de Latour. Decanted 1hour before serving. Colour was rich red with no hint of brown. Brightest colour of the trio. On the nose, plenty of St Julien freshness, spices and a trace of mint. Taste was complete, rich fruit and still plenty of tannin on the end. Lovely wine but lacking a little complexity and finish because it was not completely evolved. This one is a keeper it will last another 10 years at least. Classic claret with a great future still ahead. My WOTN but nobody else agreed! Perhaps it's because I love LB wines so much.
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Misc Bordeaux 1990 tasting - Martin: Nose: warm/boiled fruit with some cabbage and to much alcohol. Palate: burnt sugar and boiled plums. Sadly defective!!
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Bordeaux 1990 - 20 years later (Martins office): Dark color with a browning hue. Sweet cherry, marzipan, tobacco, turpentine and cabbage on the nose. Juicy blackcurrant and red berries on the attack, turning into fruit tobacco and a touch of burned sugar as it fades over the mid palate and finish.
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Lots of earth tones on this nose. Tons of dried shrooms,rich leather,tobacco,cigar box,door county cherries,and herbs. Wow-balance and depth. Cherries,tobacco,leather,dark berries,lead,lots of youth yet. Elegant and deep.
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Keith's Birthday Dinner (Lula Cafe - Chicago, IL): A serious claret. Compared to the other wines of the night, this had a more distinct roasted mushroom component that I really enjoyed. In addition to the boomers, this had an attractive earthiness that I really enjoyed.
Celebrating my 30th birthday with 1990 Bordeaux (Lula Cafe, Chicago IL): nose: This was lovely and refined, very english in a way with well balanced tones of leather, cassis, bits of barnyard, dark red cherries, cedar, and a good bit of pipe tobacco. Excellent depth and quintessentially bordeaux, this did get a bit lost in the company of everything else and being the last of the reds. A real lovely nose that needs attention
taste: elegant and smooth medium/full feel with good supporting tannins and refined tones of leather, cassis, dark red cherries, cedar, tobacco and bits of spice box. Still seems a slight bit young, but has a real smooth and refined feel to it with excellent balance
overall: This came off as very english. A beautifully refined wine and is what claret is about. Well balanced, this is a classic bordeaux for bordeaux lovers with great depth on both the nose and palate. This is a bottle that would be fun to track all night
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classic restrained Barton, this is solid wine, but needs time as i found the tannins/acids the highest on this, not as deep as the others, but very pure lad pencil and black fruit
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The fill was well into the neck, and the cork was pristine; this bottle looked like it had just come off the line! So the expectations were high. A youthful appearance, with no signs of age on the rim. Classic (but restrained) St Julien bouquet, with scents of ripe dark fruits, cedar and earth. Good concentration, with a firm structure and hefty tannins. Not the opulence or velvetyness that I usually associate with the top 1990 Medocs, but I think it will evolve for years to come. At least I hope so, as there is a half case sitting in the cellar!
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Superb example of a classic. Deep ruby color, faint funk at opening, big nose and long, satisfying finish... Decanted for 1 hour and consumed over the next two hours... Exquisite...
Vinfolio purchase, held two years. No decant. Mature color; integrated, balanced, long, and beautiful. Medium-full, roasted mushrooms, leather, and tobacco. Elegant texture. Great bottle. 12.5%. Open and enjoy now. And if you can, roast and salt bone marrow and spread on toast to enjoy with this classically aged Bordeaux. Just do it, you'll be happy.
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Wine dinner with Chateau Leoville Barton & Langoa Barton during ProWein 2010 (Dusseldorf): A rather fresh bouquet of rhubarb mingling with cherry, cassis and leather. The palate was fine, smooth, with melted tannins, but less energy than that of the 1996 and far less foreboding power than the Leoville 2000 or 2005. The finish was shorter than I would have expected. I recall liking the 1989 much more when tasted back in 2006, but have not tried that vintage since then. For the 1990 in March 2010, a disappointment, given the vintage's reputation.
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Tasted blind. Big VA stink on the nose. Good attack of red currant & then the tannin kick in with a distinct Bordeaux herbaceousness. A little light & getting very tired.
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Opens with a weedy vegetable quality - think stewed asparagus just beginning to rot -- but luckily that blew off. However, lurking underneath was a dominant wet straw/horse blanket tone - brett. There's a bit of red fruit on the palate, but also the horse blanket quality. Flawed.
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Bemused by the Caymus SS 2005 we embarked on something a little more classical for round 2 (and yes ok not fair comparing a 2005 with a 1990 so I won't. Well not much). 1 hour decant.
Not showing much age at all tbh - the merest hint of bricking. Beautiful evolved nose and the kicker is the fact that the core acidity so missing in the Caymus is laid bare here. Round, expressive and earthy. Classic aromas of cedar and graphite (actually I'm not sure it is cedar and graphite, but someone coined the phrase for these things and as it's now part of the canon who am I to argue?). Complex, deep, classical and compelling nose.
Attack is drying before a starburst of elegant and refined fruit with a little touch of nutmeg-attacked -by-a-nail-file. Sorry I'm going back to the Caymus SS 2005 again. That's a bouncer outside a trendy club, the L-B is a gentleman assassin. The balance here is impeccable, and it's still flashing that supporting acidity. Layered, complex finish. A beauty. I think wine Spectator heralded the 2003 as "the greates L-B ever". Guess again.
Now and over the next 10-15. Enjoy it, this is special.
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The bottle and cork are in perfect shape. The nose is relatively faint but shows some wet earth and black fruit. The palate is softer than I expected. The highlight of the wine, however, is the velvet like mouthfeel. Based on prior experiences with this wine, this bottle is not the best example. The mouthfeel, however, made it enjoyable.
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Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of roses, berries, cherries and a bit of cigar box. Flavors of black berries and black cherries. Medium acidity and tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold.
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Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of tobacco, smoke, pencil shavings, a bit of Kirsch, berries and light pepper notes. Later some a note of sandalwood. Solid flavors of black berries, black cherries and plums. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink or hold.
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Fruit forward nose, cherry and leather. Very well balanced, medium sweetness with a taste of raisins and leather. Tannins still a little strong, but drinking nicely. Will get better. Delicous, very well balanced, much more forward than the bottle we ha
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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 has it all, but is still very much in it's youth. Everything about it is balanced and in harmony and has one hell of a life ahead of it. Twenty years old and barely out of the starting blocks. I last tried this wine 18 months ago and it hasn't budged an inch. If anything it is more restrained. This has an impressively long life ahead of it. Wonderful wine making.
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A 2 hour decant for this beauty, and with no apologies the cliches are coming out in abundance. This example is a little bretty but this doesn't detract in the slightest from this extremely classy wine. A real archetype of fine mature claret - delicate but meaty nose with plenty of secondary notes of pencil-lead, earth and cigar box. This wine has balance other wines can only dream of. Sensitive, elegant and lean as a prize fighter this is a great claret by any stretch. Fruit bomb lovers need not apply, but if you want a true glimpse of that elusive beast "terroir" then look no further. Drinking beautifully now. To 2015+?
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Dark color with no sign of bricking. Nose of cedar, black currants and asian spices. On palate it has a silky entry with sweet tannins, not fully integrated but not harsh at all, cedar and black fruits. good weight and full bodied with a long finish. 93 pts, W+A suggested that I hold the last bottle for another 5 years.
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Lovely bouquet, offering much more fruit than 1985 Mouton tasted the same evening. Full bodied, robust, well balanced. I did notice a hint of mustiness on the palate, and a minimal rough edge, which may resolve with more cellaring, or perhaps simply with longer decanting.
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nose if graphite, cedar, pyrazene and such pure dak berry fruit. Palate has gorgeous black currants, cedar, cassis, wet leaf, earth and is so seemless, weightless and elegant. Finish is long and complex....quintessential bordeaux!
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Crimson color in the glass. Nose of graphite, forest floor, with some green notes. More graphite and earthy notes on the palate along with some beautiful cherry, cigar box and plum flavors. Medium tannins, silky mouthfeel and long lingering finish. Gorgeous aged bordeaux.
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Rainy London BBQ- decanted for 4-5 hours before dinner. dark color still smelling of mostly dark cherries, some earth. lush and round in the mouth, medium weigt wine. very youthful, not really showing its age at all. silky tannins, long finish, it went really well with the thick T-Bones and enjoyed it very much, almost didn't notice the rain
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Side by side 1990 Leoville Barton and Cos At 1 hour Barton very closed, darker in color, nice bright fruits and green on the nose Cos more approachable, smoky, but in need of more time At 90 minutes Both ready to approach, 2 hours probably op
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taste: excellent medium/full feel with good tannins in support, but still present with rich tones of black currants, dark cherries, leather, cigar wrappers and some cedar box tones
overall: this grew very well in the glass over the course of about 45 minutes. It most likely would've shown better if decanted for a bit and then poured as this was another random blind wine
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Another stunning bottle of this wine. Still very young, but immensely enjoyable. I think I'll let my remaining bottles sleep another five to ten years.
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Opened two bottles with rack of lamb. Bottles consistent, only slight hints of aging and great example of a mature Bordeaux from a decent vintage, earthy, leathery, tobacco - rewarded patience and opened beautifully over a couple of hours, certainly worth decanting.
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this wine caught me completely by surprise - quite an even colour still with only a hint of brown - bouquet of coffee and chocolate and then a lovely subtle wine of sweet berries and fully intergrated tannins - delicious! - I would guess at its best - drink now or in the short term (2 to 3 years)
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Poured from a 375ml. Initial nose was musty, dank, unpleasant. This blew off quickly in the glass. First taste right out of the bottle seemed all over the place. Smoothed out after an hour in the decanter and glass when the beautiful blue and dark berry fruits emerged, although not as present as I was expecting. Overall an outstanding, lively, smooth wine - but it took a while. Definitely decant, at least 1-2 hours - you will be rewarded. The acid test for me is by the time the 1/2 bottle was finished, I wanted more ! Very nice, long finish.
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Very characteristic of a fine aging Bordeaux. Earthy tobacco and cassis on nose, slow to open up. Lively, even a bit pungent, on the palate. Medium-bodied, forest floor, ripe dark fruit with an edge that was appealing; wonderful persistence through finish. This wine has further development ahead, but was a great pairing with the rib-eye.
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Russian dinner. My first taste of 6 bought as futures, and starting to develop into a nice classic Bordeaux. Plenty of structure, dark fruit still needs some coaxing, startng to develop some nice secondary bouquet.
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I "discovered" a case of this last year hidden behind other things in the cellar. Made a vow to open one a year from 2008 on. This was the second one and, just like the first, seems to be a beautiful, fully mature, slightly soft, classic bordeaux that would be an education for anyone trying to see how a fine but not overly powerful bordeaux from a very good year can develop. Mostly secondary earth and leather flavors with a slight sharpness to the tannins that lend definition to the wine. A nice match for a less powerful meat dish such as a pork roast but might be overpowered by that sirloin. This is not blockbuster, just delicious.
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Refined earth, white pepper, licorice and tobacco on the nose. Beautifully balanced grape flavors on the palate – like perfect grape jam. Elegantly and opulently textured with a precision from start to finish. My WOTN, #6 for the group. Much better than the last bottle I had!
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Rich purple color, but a little smell of funk. Taste initially seemed ok (but not great), but died in the glass quickly. Maybe corked or badly handled over its nearly 20 years?
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Had for thanksgiving, reviewing late. Really stunning. As I recall, the nose was all Brussels sprouts and broccoli and this huge green pepper, this blast of vegetables mixed with some very nice fruits, and the palate was very thought-provoking and complex. Didn't particularly go well with the turkey only because it was so much more than the meal, which was itself quite lavish. A delight and I'm glad our friend shared with us.
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Beautiful bouquet of earthy aromas (forest floor, cedar, leather, dried tobacco). Less thrilling on the palate. Medium-bodied,this wine is losing some of its weight. The mid-palate was elegant and nuanced with dried herbs and still some cassis and tobacco, but all more subtle than other recent bottles. I don't know if this was bottle variance or signalling a rapid entry into another phase of maturity. Ruby color extended to rim. Fine finish, but not extensive.
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This bottle was perfect! Great nose of oak and fruit, dark purple with no brown on edges, and the palate was long, really smooth and full of fruit. I think Parker's score of 92 is low. Note this was a half bottle.
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Light brownish red color which is surprisingly old consider the vintage. Clean classic nose of mineral, red fruits, tobacco, mints, and herbs. This medium wine has passed it's prime. After 1-2 hours the fruits started to catch up a little but not quite as much as it should. High acidity with fine smooth tannin. Aftertaste stays for quite a while. Drink it nowww
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Still quite fresh, with plenty of vigour. Attractive, mature fruit, elegant and long. The fruit started to turn slightly bitter after and hour or so, but this is still a wine with some years to go.
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Asian spices, limestone, tobacco, smoky black cherry and blackberry fruit with a pronounced green pepper note. Very elegant on the palate, with smoothly integrated tannins and elegant structure but not a ton of fruit.
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Remarkably vibrant. Purple color. No brown. A little barnyard out of the gate quickly blew off to reveal lovely balance and great blackberry fruit flavors. Can't see it getting a lot better.
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The colour is now mahogany with a touch of brown; fully evolved nose and palate, with ripe blackcurrant fruit and a herby element. This has been better and is perhaps just starting to decline, although it will should hold on for a few years yet.
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Ruby in color. Medium rim variation. Slow legs. Black currant (cassis), Red Currant. Full bodied. Silky texture. Short finish. A beautiful wine, needed 2 hours of air to come into its own. does not match the 82
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Quite enjoyable and drinking very well at this point. Very dark color and the aromas suggested dark fruit, a touch of leather, and a little cedar. The palate was classic and the finish was quite integrated. I really liked the complexity of this wine and how it all meshed together. I may have to hunt for a few more of these.
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Drank with CJ and GK at Pinot right after polishing off a bottle of 1970 Bejor. Inital nose of barnyard funk quickly wore off with an hour of decanting. The dark fruits jumped from the glass with strong aromas of milk chocolate and wet earth. On Palate it held pure with dark fruit, milk choc with a exceptionally long finish, over 40 sec, with hints of black pepper. Very nice wine indeed. The main thing lacking was the freshness and vigor of the fruit one would expect from a fine vintage such as the 1990 but still a very fine bottle of claret indeed.
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Enjoyed at dinner with friends, from the cellar of gk. Decanted for about an hour before serving. Gorgeous nose full of dark fruits with a strong background of earth and smoke. Wonderful balance on the palate with a nice complexity of flavors, young tannins and a super long finish. The fruit was not thin, but it was lacking a little punch on the palate that would have really put this wine over the top for me. Still has the structure to age gracefully for another 5 to 10 years.
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Purple (dark), classic Bordeaux nose but not as expressive as I would have hoped. Saddle leather, dark fruit, some lead, ceder, etc. Very good taste of blackberry, mocha and spice, though fruit not up to the 1994 Quilceda Creek. Probably being a bit harsh on the score, but was expecting more.
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Maybe unfair to rate, since I had a head cold, but this seemed awfully simple yet sound. I would expect more from a second growth in a great vintage at age eighteen.
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Tasted March 12, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of dried herbs, wet stones, white pepper and thistle. Flavors of plums, black berries, Bing cherries, black currants and bitters on the finish. Medium to vibrant acidity, firm tannins, full body. Drink now with a decant or continue to hold.
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Jeroboam Club: Ch. Leoville Barton Vertical (Averys, Bristol): Deep plum colour, hints of maturity. Sweet cassis on the nose, malty, quite high-toned, lots of red fruits. Full-flavoured in the mouth, round and mouthfilling, red fruits again, with a gorgeous milk-chocolatey mid-palate, and a long elegant finish. A point.
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Deep red; glorious nose of tobacco, cedar, spice and blackcurrant. I could have spent all night smelling this. Rich, powerful wine with classic fruit flavours of cherries, blackberries and blackcurrants. Beautifuly balanced and crafted this wine is still very youthful, but just about ready and has a long life ahead of it. A fabulous effort. Estimated maturity 2008-2025+
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Decanted this wine for three hours and it needed every second. A lovely nose -the highlight being some wonderfullly sweet tobacco scents. Nice body and texture but still a big bunch of tannins on the finish. This wasn't bothersome to me because the wine is so masculine it works if one anticipates it. If I had a few more bottles, I'd let them rest a while longer. I taste enough fruit here to give the tannins more time to resolve. Significantly better showing than the bottle I had exactly a year ago this month. Would love to revisit but not at current pricing.
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Dinner at Chris Palm's: Off bottle, although I didn't think this was nearly as bad as Siggy did (although he was probably more coherent than me at this point in the tasting).
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Still somewhat reserved, but a better than expected showing from this bottle. Its all there, and likely will improve somewhat - will never be a mindblower, but is and will be a solid drink.
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Tasting Group Dinner - Bordeaux at Heidi's (Heidi's, Minneapolis): Second time I've tasted this. Seemed a touch closed down compared with the previous bottle. Nicely ripe dark berry fruit, black truffle, coffee, cedar, and lead pencil. Well-balanced with nice supporting minerality, and ripe fine tannins on the finish. Still young.
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Wednesdays at Heidi's: Double decanted about two hours before serving. Dark red/black color. The nose is a stern and brooding blend of dark fruit, cedar and mineral. The main thing you notice while tasting is the structure. This is extremly concentrated but compact on the palate. The taste is mainly blue/black fruit with a ton of minerality and some carmel. Great texture, although much rougher than the Cheval Blanc. The finish is tannic, concentrated, and lingering. This is a beautiful wine that needs additional cellar age.
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Red ruby colour with brick rim it's very complex on the nose,black mature fruits,cedar,pencil lead,meaty,this a burly wine. It improve in the glass considerably during the tasting.On the entry, silky tannins, full body with a long finish.Awesome 93 points
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Primary characteristics of licorice, cigar smoke and an edgy minerality. Shockingly youthful and tight. Medium bodied with the tightness restraining the finish. After a couple of hours it developed a pronounced rose petal note and showed a little sweet currant fruit and leather. Needs another 10 years but will the fruit last?
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I splash decanted and poured. At first it was very tight and a touch thin. After about 2 hours of air, it greatly improved. The palate really opened and became silky smooth. The seamlessness and weight of the mouth feel was tremendous.
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WIML92-93. I thought this wine was just a hair behind the 1990 Lynch Bages we had at the same tasting but we'll give it the extra point at 93. Solid wine. Recommended. Hold.
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i believe that this wine was still young and will get better. i found it very closed and am offering a 90 rating on what i suspect is lurking beneath the surface.
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Lovely polished classical Bordeaux; more developed than the heartier '89; smooth and silky. Smells and tastes like blackberry pie and it's so ripe it seems almost sweet. Soft tannins and ready now. Delicious for sure, but lacks the concentration and length to be rated outstanding.
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Fabulous! One of the best Bordeaux's I have had for months. Imported from France to LA, California. Purchased on auction in Sydney Australia. Clearly it travels well!
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At Wd50 with alex and crew. pretty darn good. still has some life, wish I had some more. I don't think it will get any better, but should drink well for next 10 years
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Dinner with Craig, Chris, and Steve (Chez Moi): Dark red/black color. The nose is a stern and brooding blend of dark fruit, ceder, and an undelineated smoke/tobacco/earth. Primordial, but promising. The main thing you notice while tasting is the structure. This is extremly concentrated but compact on the palate. The taste is mainly blue/black fruit with a ton of minerality. The finish is tannic, concentrated, and lingering. Too bad the 1982 was corked, as it would have been very enlightening to try these side-by-side. I gave this 95 points, but I suspect it has the potential to exceed this given enough time. Buy up.
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Steaks a la Manlin w/ The Dalluges and Friends (Dave's House): Single decanted about 3 hours. Classic Left Bank nose of cedar, lead pencil, and tobacco. The palate shows rich, slightly sweet, smoky blackberry fruit, forest floor, and licorice. Excellent length and balance. Probably just at the beginning of its optimal drinking window. Delicious.
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Bordeaux on the Hudson (Peter Pratt's Inn): This wine has opened quite a bit in the last few months, but it still a massive wall-of-wine. A reserved nose of currant and tobacco that opened up to some licorice and leather with some violent swirling. The midpalate has firmed up quite a bit and there is some compact spicy fruit and earth that hints at what awaits when this hits its stride. The finish is clipped off by the tannins, but was of a reasonable length. It would be interesting to sit with this a whole night and see the layers of the onion peel away, but that was not going to be at a big tasting. I still have very high hopes for this to be a great wine and glad that I have a couple sleeping soundly.
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Nice deep ruby color with slimmest clear rim; nose of tobacco, plums, minerality and hint of smoke; soft texture on entry but some astringency of tannin takes hold with large load of dark fruits weighing heavily throughout. Long, lingering fruit finish. Seeems "only half way there" in development. Quintessential red bordeaux, speaks well of this as best vintage between '82 and 2000.
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This bottle was kept at warmer than ideal temps from release. The aromas literally filled the room after the glasses were poured for Christmas dinner. The taste was classic leoville.
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The poorest so far from the case. Suprising lack of integration of the tannin, lots of tobacco making it more like the 1985 than the other 1990s we've had from this box. Cedar, plenty of red fruit, a little flint, chocolate in the middle. Very good but other bottles have been better.
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Wow - was this a pleasant surprise. This blew away the '82 and '85, my favorite vintages of Barton. Incredibly deep, seamless, balanced. This had the great texture and mouthfeel that I find in most top '90s, and a finish that seemed to go on forever. This is already a complex and complete wine, bit it may even have some room for further improvement, and should age beautifully. Perhaps (one can only hope) the '03 will be similar to this in 15 years.
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Leoville Barton Vertical; 12/4/2006-12/5/2006 (Spencer's): My wine of the night. Luscious black raspberry, Asian spices (allspice?), and very subtle oak meld into a seamless, solid, and exceptionally well balanced package. Plenty of mid-palate depth and fine yet assertive tannic backbone. A real treat.
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Opened and decanted. Fully open by the time I tried it at two hours. Rich ruby-purple with no signs of browning on the edges. Complex berries, cedar and an earthy layer on the nose. No old barnyard. Rich silky smooth taste, with a taste profile predicted by the nose. Rich and well balanced, finishing with just enough soft tannin to give it some grip. We had this with dinner (pork roast) and it paired beautifully. Since the wine was too "strong" for my grown children, I got about half the bottle to myself. I even had about two ounces left for dessert...pumpkin pie. It was a surprising good pairing. I've added a point for the great experience.
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Sweet 16 Party for our Bordeaux (Triomphe): A nice wine, but a little angular at this stage. The nose was pretty reserved, albeit not unpleasant, with currant and tobacco notes. There wasn't a tremendous amount of weight to this and it felt a bit thin on the midpalate, although all the elements of a fine wine were there. The prevalent tannins lead me to suspect that this one isn't quite ready to show its stuff. It was not unimpressive, but I think patience will be rewarded with more power and finesse than we saw tonight.
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Sydney 1st Growth Bordeaux/Grand Cru Burgundy Dinner (Marque Restaurant): Showing an intense, surprisingly open/forward nose of tobacco, earth and flint. The palate delivers a rush of flavour across the length of the wine. I thought it had the structure to age further, but I quite liked drinking it at this stage of its life.
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Well done! I don't know if it was the mood I was in or what ,but this Wine roocked.Lot's of fruit great mid pallet and 40sec finish.This Wine is dark in color and brings out lots of intrest to the nose and pallet......
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San Francisco Bay Area Leoville Barton Vertical (Moraga): Medium ruby red. Tasted against the 1989, this wine showed a more aggressive, tannic mid-palate and a more subdued nose, both suggesting this wine needs some more time in the bottle. Perhaps most similar in style to the 1982, but lacking just a bit of the sheer power and grip on the mid-palate and finish that that wine shows and showing a little less finesse at this stage.. Could be quite impressive in 5-10 years, but right now showing a little below its perennial competitor, the 1989...
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1990 Leoville Barton: This has opened up enough for current enjoyment, but it promises a long life with continued d1990 Leoville Barton - 93+ points, consumed by my wife and I over 2 1/4 hours Color is ruby red, with just the slightest hint of bricking at the edge. The nose is immediately open for business and very complex -- notes of currants, tobacco, saddle leather, and a slight smoky air about it. No veggie notes present in the nose. Nose continues to build during the evening, with consistent aromas. The wine takes about 45 minutes to open up on the palate, with initial notes of smoky currants, berries, and leather leading to slight notes of toffee and licorice later on. Interestingly, the acid profile remains prominent, supplying nice balance to the '90's power, with a 30 second finish. I think the wine still somewhat young, perhaps getting to its peak in another 5 years. That said, it's very nice tonight. A 95 nose and a 92+ palate, and one of the best LB's I've tasted.evelopment. Richer and more structured than the 1989. Also with leather notes that may be evidence of some brett.
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A Hot Streak: Dauvissat, Poyferre, Barton, Mortet, Grivot, Clos des Papes; 7/24/2005-8/3/2005: This was from a half bottle and was perfectly mature. Barton is so cool, always makes cracking wine and keeps it real on the price front. I'm not sure if a 750 would be as mature as this is at it apogee. Classic Barton nose of cedarwood, cassis and St Julien dirt. The palate is smooth with just a hint of ripe tannin that has all but smoothed out, rich 1990 blackcurrant fruit that's sunny without being baked. It shows excellent complexity and depth, with some nice earthy notes, hints of bitter choclate, pencil lead and simply packed full of meaty goodness. This is a great half bottle of wine.
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Dark garnet in color, this delicious wine offers aromas of cedar, cherries and the slightest bit of funk, just enough to make it interesting and fun. Though tannic, there is plenty of fruit to back it up. Finish is long and while it has the stuffing to go another decade (best guess), this is drinking very well. I did not decant, a la Hudak. What a super wine with some age on it. Thanks again Bruce Maddox!!
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Decanted for 5 hours; we drank this with prime dry-aged lobels strip steaks and fries... color was purple with ever so slight bricking on the edge; right out of the bottle and into decanter it almost had a peanut butter like odor but this went away rather quickly. Nose of berry, cherry and smoke; medium bodied with very nice structure but the tannins are resolving nicely adding to some maturity- this is at the beginning of its "ready to drink" stage. classic bordeaux palate with sweet tannins and a beautiful finish with cherry, berries, and cassis; I could've finished the whole bottle by myself! this was a great QPR in 1993 (i think it was like $30/bottle- now over $100 but a good value)
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1990 Leoville Barton Yummy and good. Here is a very nice 1990. Good cassis fruit with oak and earth in a typical St Julien profile. nice and tannic in the mouth. Nicely balanced and fun to drink!! This wine would garner more points from me, I suspect, were I to sit with it by itself all night long. BTW- this wine is hardly ready to fall apart but it is at its peak- no need to hold on to it for the sake of just holding on to it. 92+ points
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From a half bottle. Decanted for over two hours. Bright garnet with slight fading on the edge. The exotic nose of tobacco, forest floor, leather and a hint of eucalyptus is really captivating. When first opened the tannins really stood out, now they are smooth, sweet and fully integrated. Full bodied with nice structure. Concentrated flavors of dried cherries and minerals on the palate with long smooth finish that lasts for over 40 seconds. This wine is finally entering maturity and is much more approachable than the last time I had it a year and a half ago (also from ½ bottle). This half bottle appears to have entered maturity and should hold for another 5-8 years. I would think that for 750’s you could add another 3-5 years before maturity.
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Dinner at Abood's. (Michel's.): This wine has really started to show nicely the past couple of years. While still youthful, it is fully out of its dumb stage. Classy, textbook Bordeaux that shows focused cassis flavors and aromas, with earth and herb notes and tobacco joining the party later in the evening. No hurry to drink it, but I like where it is now. Solid A-.
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Linden vertical. Lovely ruby-purple, slightly faded. Intense, ripe blackcurrent and cedar. Delicious, but still quite austere (and greeen?). Piquant acidity and lots of sweet tannin. Opens out with air, but it may still be too young to approach. When are you meant to drink Leoville Barton!
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A relatively subdued nose of tobacco and cassis, but growing slightly stronger with time in the glass. In the mouth, a fuller but softer feel than the almost painful Sociando, but lacking somewhat the structure to provide a long finish. Some debate arose at the table as to whether this was a wine that had not fully opened up (i.e., that it would be considerably better in a few years), or whether perhaps it was one that really lacked the stuffing to improve much more than marginally.
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Dinner at Lampreia with Amy & Justin. Oh wow, this is gorgeous and just barely approachable. The palate shows dominant notes of lead pencil with tobacco, dark fruit and a beautiful earthiness. OMG, on the palate this shows mountains of sweet, black fruit yet is brooding, tannic, massive and masculine. This is just so deep and powerful and with a few hours this became much more approachable. This has so much time ahead it is scary, but if you don't mind some structure it is awesome right now. Delicious!!!
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Setting: Offline Appearance: bright, almost opaque garnet core Nose: sweet oak and vanilla on the nose, with cherry and mineral notes Palate: palate is dry, medium + body and a long finish, this is a chewy, tannic wine with black berries, sour cherry and mineral components
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A magnificent wine, with a strong red colour to the rim and a nose packed full with jammy rich black cherry fruit, vanilla and spicy tones. Eventually opened up in the mouth to give a succulent perfectly structured drink. Magnificent, but clearly not yet fully mature.
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I am amazed by the vanilla and cassis nose and the sweet ripe plum and cassis liquor palate of this wine. I have never had a less than stellar bottle of Leoville Barton. This wine explodes in the mouth with sweet, long, and ripe fruit, and a very long finish. Good tannin structure, but very balanced and harmonious. I love 1990 Bordeaux. 95+
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CT Group does Bordeaux vs Cal Cabs @ Jeff S: Tight and young. Still needs more time, but the massive tannins cannot hide the sweet fruit and chocolately notes. Put this baby away and pleasure will await...
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4/20/2024 - bpaq Likes this wine: 95 Points
Amazing bottle. Part of a 3 bottle vertical of Leoville Barton.
Excellent on the nose right off, even better after after an hour open to air. Some sediment, but that is to be expected due to age.
Bold and acidic, with notes of leather, oak, and dark fruits. Nice, lighter color to it. An amazing drink, and excellent to compare with the other two vintages.
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4/4/2024 - dream Likes this wine: 94 Points
A superb bottle of this that is drinking well now but with plenty left in the tank. Really ultra-smooth even for the normally rustic Barton style with deep blackberry fruit and gorgeous, supple tannins. Double-decanted 4 hours.
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4/3/2024 - kendrickbaker Likes this wine: 91 Points
34 years later … still a pretty purple in the glass with brown edges and a viscous sediment-filled body … nose of plum and sandalwood … Acidity and fruit have held up well. There’s a slight tannic bitterness at the finish; so it’s a little out of balance to my palette but then again my most recent Bordeaux experienced was a 2018 Ducru — tough act to follow!
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2/19/2024 - Moonie Likes this wine: 96 Points
Three years plus since the last bottle. This wine took a long time to come around but boy is it singing now. It had great structure, fine tannins and, very curiously, the fruit had a touch of sweetness to it. In some ways, it reminded me of a fine Burgundy. Yet, all the other old Bordeaux characteristics were there as well. Consumed at the Capital Grille in Naples with a long term friend and member of the Commanderie de Bordeaux. He was wowed as well. It would have been interesting to put this wine against a 1990 Leoville las Cases and 1990 Leoville Poyferre.
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2/2/2024 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Decanted for sediment, iirc, and enjoyed over the following few hours; served double-blind. "more like a Pauillac than a St Julien", I certainly agree with that observation. This needed an hour or so of air before it was flashing its nobility and pedigree - and rightfully so - with well-earned gravitas. Love the sense of soil, earth, and to a fair degree, moment in time. The tannins were such a fine complement on this one in particular, not something I find myself saying that often at this address. It's ready, so feel free to go for it. 12,5% abv. highly recommended
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1/20/2024 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP, but showed best after an hour. Silky smooth, ripe black, blue, and, a still-surprising amount of, red fruits. Nice touches of pencil shavings with a touch of tobacco leaf. 20 second finish. Still at peak and will likely hold for 2+ more years. Half teaspoon of sediment.
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1/19/2024 - Carson.McEvoy Likes this wine: 94 Points
The third Léoville of the night started quietly and flat for the first 40 minutes. However, after some time in the decanter, it burst forth with beautiful aromas of cedar, leather, sweet red fruits, blackberry, and pencil shavings. Bright acidity, excellent length, and well-integrated tannins made this wine stand out and truly remarkable. After over two hours in the decanter, it became the WOTN for me, concluding the mini-vertical on a high note!
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12/27/2023 - AlanM68 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Second bottle from a case, well stored. 1st bottle was corked. This one shone brilliantly. An hour decanted and then poured and drunk with fillet steak. In great shape now and I really hope the remainder of the case show this well …. But I know the odds aren’t necessarily with me.
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11/29/2023 - Boda Likes this wine: 94 Points
I brought a bottle to a Bordeaux BYOB. The wine showed beautifully from the get go. No decanting, I opened and poured. Good fruit, great balance, would have guessed it was a 2005 as it had plenty of life.
All guests agreed it showed superbly and better than many higher rated wine.
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11/12/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine: 88 Points
I stood this bottle up for a month to let the sediment settle. Fill was good above the neck and cork came out.nicely with ahso double prong puller. The wine has the same reticence as the previous one I opened and it took decanting, splashing back and forth for the tannin and acid to recede. Even after two days after opening this wine was unwilling to open up. But then it did and finally the dark berry fruit emerged. But it was not worth the wait of 30 plus years.
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11/11/2023 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fill into neck. Slow Ox for 3.5 hours. Still needed more time. Got better over 90 minutes during dinner. Ripe but not overripe blackberries, black cherries, touches of slightly underripe blueberries and raspberries. Some flinty soil, tobacco leaf and Oak. Very smooth. Will save last bottle for at least few years hence as there is no rush on this wine. 1/2 teaspoon of fine sediment.
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10/18/2023 - palfr2 wrote:
This is the best bottle yet of my auction purchase lot. Nose is great upon opening, cool cassis streak jumping out. Palate is muddied, some funk and a wet cardboard smell that urges one to wait. Off to the decanter and one hour on nose is clean and colour has darkened. Gone are the ferrous notes I experienced on previous bottles. It is a perfectly midsized package throughout, the nose, the palate, the 12.5% ABV. Feels like one could gulp down liters of this effortlessly (not advised). It opened up as cool and got sweeter with air. Yet never as sweet or intense as would get one to think '90 vintage immediately. Therefore not a benchmark '90 and one would be hard pressed to pick the year blind. Might as well be a good classified growth in a cooler year like '88 or '96. This should be drunk now.
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10/16/2023 - galewskj wrote: 93 Points
Left bank bordeaux 2008 and older (BLVD): Earth, leather, bramble, a bit rustic with anise and beef blood. This seemed more full and fruity than the 1995 Lagrange and also a bit less complex.
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10/15/2023 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Bordeaux 2008 and Older (BLVD Kitchen & Bar, Wayzata, MN): Dark red color, 5mm transiiton. Drank a glass over an hour plus. One hour double decant. Tobacco, cassis, tart raspberry, pencil, dried wood, soft tannins, resolved. Lovely.
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10/15/2023 - chablis28 wrote: 96 Points
Wine Group Left Bank ( '08 & back) diner. Jason's btl and my WOTH. This is drinking great and so placid. Shows some tertiary notes on palate and nose but incredibly fresh too. It would be fun to own 3 of these and drink them 5 or 10yrs apart. Beautiful BDX!
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10/8/2023 - djhammond Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasting details are the the same as April. However, to reiterate, this is absolutely rocking and is the best pre millennial Barton by far, and good value for money.
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10/6/2023 - hargy Likes this wine: 91 Points
lovely, but quite a gentle wine now - I would inclined to drink any remaining bottles soon
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9/14/2023 - blanquito wrote:
What a cool, classy, understated 1990, more like a Pauillac than a St Julien. This wine whispers it charms sotto voce with a quiet, serious bouquet of graphite, cedar, walnuts and minerals. With air, scents of tar and truffles emerge. I double decanted this about an hour before dinner and it could probably have used more air, as it deepened and opened over the 3 hours of dinner, showing strict but not austere. The palate is cool-fruited, buttoned-down, mineral-infused, with fine density and layering. There are some tannins still but they are mostly resolved at this stage, leaving a wine as silky as this chateau seems to get. I doubt this will ever show any flashier than it did last night, so enjoy now, ideally by itself with food over a long, relaxed meal and let it weave is charms. 93 pts by the end, after starting off at 91-92.
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9/2/2023 - Oliverl1 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 3 hours. Nose a little muted and a little stewed fruit showing that it was past its prime, but not by a long way. On the palate, classic, fully mature left bank stuff with some tannins still intact. I think this bottle was about 5 years past its peak but still enjoyable.
I expected a little more from this, but most likely storage conditions were not ideal. DRINK UP!
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8/3/2023 - ankitmehra Likes this wine: 94 Points
The last bottle on a night where we tasted three decades of Saint-Julien wine (78 Gruaud Larose, 86 Ducru Beaucaillou), this 1990 Leoville Barton was a great example of the excellent vintage. The third aromatic nose of the evening, we were immediately greeted with a hefty amount of crème de cassis as well as hints of smoke and tobacco. The palette felt younger than it was as blackcurrants medlied with plums, pepper, cassis, spices and light earthiness before licorice came in on the finish. The ullage on this bottle was unbelievably good and the consensus was that 1990 Leoville Bartons have a lot of life left in them at their peak.
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6/27/2023 - SpenceP wrote: 95 Points
What a glorious wine! Graceful and beautiful from the moment the bottle was opened. Sweet blueberries, tobacco, cedar, forest, cherries, leather, followed by a magnificently vivid and long aftertaste, ending on a note of ripe blue plums and maybe a whisper of red apples. Not even a hint of flamboyance--a quietly self-confident wine. This is really something special, and should remain so for at least another decade. [I gave this bottle more than a week standing upright for sediment to settle out. Tasted over an hour and a half from the Jancis Robinson glass.]
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6/10/2023 - The Wine Monkeys Likes this wine: 93 Points
Typical notes of earth and some funk, mellowing out into tar,earth, dried prune, mushroom and some Smokey notes. Palate matches the nose, very round and full, integrated tannis, acidity, no rough edges. Wondeful wine.
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4/27/2023 - djhammond Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fully mature, this is in its drinking plateau, and is a very enjoyable mature Bordeaux. It is probably the best pre millennial Barton, but it doesn't hit the heights of the Las Cases and Poyferre from 1990. The nose is a little muted but is aromatic with dark berry fruit and notes of cedar and bell pepper. The last year has seen the tannin lose its last rough edges, and the wine has a smooth mouthfeel and integrated finish, but still with sufficient bite. This is now wearing its age well and is still relatively good value.
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3/26/2023 - Rani Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasted blind. Lovely balance here of power and elegance. Black currant and very fine tannins, delicious.
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3/26/2023 - Andyrodriguez87 wrote: 91 Points
I suspect transport or storage issues marred the underlying wine here. Second bottle from a lot of leoville Barton (the other was a ‘95) that showed a somewhat stewed fruit / old over-ripe top signature that I never find in Barton. Got better with air but it never shed that signature. The underlying wine was incredibly fresh and vibrant with TONS of gas left in the tank. Cork in good shape. Didn’t get any of the cedar, tabaco and/or other aromatics I was expecting. Incredibly creamy and polished - a good bottle of this must be REALLY good. 91 for the wine underneath that annoying top-note - although this was much less tainted than the ‘95
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3/25/2023 - jesseminc@gmail.com wrote:
Drank with Danny Frenkel at home; it was his wedding gift to us. Fantastic old Bordeaux. at 30+ years it is in perfect shape. Menthol, cedar/earthy forest floor and peppery scents. Fruit was there, but starting to take a back seat. Wonderful stuff.
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3/17/2023 - JSLevine05 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opened and decanted for 30 min prior to serving. Presenting a deep red almost pure garnet color, the 1990 Leoville Barton had a slightly funky seaside nose upon pouring which dissipated in the glass over time giving way to a rich complex nose of dark red fruits, cassis, leather, forest floor, and washed gravel. Full bodied with velvety tannins this is definitely well integrated and fully mature but with a surprising sense of freshness. A long and bone dry finish (which I love) capped off this well balanced, lovely experience.
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3/13/2023 - mcktuck wrote: 95 Points
Low neck fill, but a perfectly sound bottle. Heavy on the classic cedar and cigar box notes. Mature, but retaining some red fruits and freshness. Definitely ready to drink, but should easily hold for a few years to a decade. Great bottle.
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3/7/2023 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 95 Points
Inky, dark and fresh. Perfectly mature, deep and rich fruit, just drinking great.
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2/21/2023 - Vinumming & Ahhing Likes this wine: 92 Points
Simon Beatty's Memorial Dinner - Table 2 - Richebourg (Noizé, London): Quink ink and blue fruits on the nose here, incredibly youthful. A little almond paste sweetness with some cigar box. Chapeau.
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2/20/2023 - SH Wu wrote: 94 Points
Vertical with 90/95/96. This is a classy wine that evokes the image of a pipe smoking gentleman. A well-dressed character with gentle puffs of tobacco smoke accompanying a dry sense of humor and a little sweetness if you dig hard enough.
The tertiary characteristics really shine at this stage in this wine's life. While the fruits, acids and tannins are still noticeably present, they play the supporting actors to the elegant truffles, sweet tobacco smoke and gravelly earthiness.
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2/10/2023 - Dionysos55 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Décanté deux heures avant dégustation.Bouquet très engageant de cèdre,cassis,menthol,café La bouche offre encore à cet âge respectable quelques tanins à fondre (à ma grande surprise) et une structure imposante qui suppose une apogée réelle dans 5-6 ans.Le fruit est encore bien présent en bouche et la rémanence finale est de 8 caudalies.Belle quille
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1/14/2023 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 92 Points
30 minutes in decanter, but needed another 45. Not as good as last bottle, but still quite enjoyable. Neither the tobacco nor the fruits were as pronounced and distinctively layered as the prior bottle. Still a wonderfully smooth and complex wine.
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1/2/2023 - mowtod Likes this wine: 88 Points
Garnet,nose with cedar shavings and leather,2-3 hours after decanting fruit receding but nice complexity on palate . Wonderful accompaniment to chateaubriand. At chess Club with Steve ,Emily and 4 others
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12/28/2022 - CHINACAT wrote: 91 Points
Ripe red fruit and lean, with some mineral and herbal notes, but a bit acidic and austere. Lacking some fruit and generosity, but quite enjoyable.
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12/25/2022 - Andrea1975 Likes this wine: 93 Points
It never disappoints! Hints of red fruit are accompanied by tertiary notes such as wet leaves, sous bois, coffee, toast. Great structure in the mouth with soft (but still dusty) tannins and fresh acidity supporting mid-palate weight of remaining sweet fruit. Balanced, integrated, and quite persistent. Perhaps past its best days given the very limited fruity notes, but great experience overall. Drink.
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12/25/2022 - no oak Likes this wine: 94 Points
Last of 3 bottles purchased upon release, and this was the best showing to date. The wine was decanted ~30 minutes before drinking. The tannins have softened, the wine remains deep in color, and the fruit is intact. Classic left bank Bordeaux with cedar and black currants, but no tertiary flavors/aromas yet. Very drinkable now, but I believe the wine will be even better in a few years. This bottle was definitely worthy of the Chateau's 2nd growth stature.
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12/6/2022 - Song103 wrote: flawed
From 375, slow-ox for 2 hours then decant (old wine decanter) for another 45 minutes, which was a mistake for a wine in this format and in early decline. The one in October, which was not decanted was vastly superior. Handling fault. 91.
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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. A whisker off the 1989 for me, despite being incredibly smooth and cool like the prior vintage, I found that that this has some additional vibrancy, a bit less supple, a hint of a raspy character on the palate that works well but contributes to make a different wine - having tasted I would know which was which if you see what I mean. It is classically built, poised, and delivers a huge amount of pleasure. I can see why this Chateau is so highly regarded, and I now understand a bit more about how slowly these wines develop - as with the 1989 this felt like it had loads in the tank still. Superb, but if I had to pick one it would be the '89.
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12/5/2022 - Vinumming & Ahhing Likes this wine: 94 Points
Greatest Hits of the 1980s & 1990s Bordeaux (Hawksmoor Guildhall, London, UK): Another profound wine, this is all in the blue fruits with the slightest suggestion of camphor and a touch of underbrush structure. Palate has more multi layered blue fruits with a peppery lift. Very St Julien with a little sandalwood emerging with time. Long and complete, with some time in the glass a touch of star anise emerges. Hard to separate this and the ‘89
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11/11/2022 - red stained teeth 2 wrote:
Dark garnet w beginnings of a brick red edge. Dark fruit-dark cherry, blackberry, blueberry, ?mulberry too?, on the nose. Palette- blackberry , dark fruit w balanced acid/tannins.
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11/2/2022 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Into neck fill. 30 minutes in a decanter. Improved a point over next 45 minutes. Very ripe black and blue fruits, plenty of tobacco on nose and palate, some graphite and sweet vanilla Oak. Very smooth, near velvety. 20+ second finish.
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10/13/2022 - Song103 Likes this wine: 95 Points
375ml, purchased EP. The cork’s condition is unbelievable, and the wine is simply glorious, with the slightest of bricking. Slow Ox for 2 hours and drank without decanting. Zalto universal. One of the best wines I have had in 2022!
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10/8/2022 - Rote Kappelle Likes this wine: 92 Points
Many thanks to the recent reviewers on site who put up very helpful and accurate notes on this wine.
This St Julien maker is still in the hands of the Barton family who first set up in Bordeaux in the 1700's. They continue to make a fairly traditional, sturdy, 'claret' style and they are known for ageing very well. St Julien is my favourite Bordeaux appellation (I don't claim it is the best) there is something about the texture and structure and fruit characters of these strongly Cabernet dominant wines that just hits the mark for me. I think it is the combination of elegant, ripe but not jammy fruit and firm but usually also fine tannins.
The cork for this wine was in good condition and I decanted it about 10 hours before writing this note. I like to drink my red wine around 18 degrees Celsius and I think this wine needs this to help bring up the fruit.
For the first 6 hours, or so, this is a pleasant old Claret style, with earth, truffle, some wet gravel well to the fore. The tannins are still fine and firm, but they won't get in the way of enjoyment with cheese, or meats.
Around the 7 hour mark some old fruit characters started to emerge with more strength than I would have anticipated; I am reminded of berry compote and I am also put in mind of Juniper berry. I love this; will it be to everyone's taste? Probably not - it may be a bit too far along its life curve for some and understandably so.
It is an irony that the 1990's were ushered in by this wonderful vintage; between difficult years and 'Parkerisation' the rest of the decade was largely forgettable and would probably rank with the 1970's as one of the real stinkers for Bordeaux.
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8/27/2022 - KristianT Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lovely bottle of mature Bordeaux. Very healthy cork and colour. Very subtle at first but opened up ever so nicely over the coming hours. Elegant and fully mature.
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8/14/2022 - djhammond Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fully mature, this is drinking well and is a a great mature left bank Bordeaux. However, I am finding as the fruit recedes it is losing some of its charm, ( I gave this a 96 rating 3 years ago,) with residual tannin exposed end palate and on the finish. That said, it is a glorious drink.
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7/2/2022 - novie1234 wrote: 94 Points
Perfectly mature. Really showing itself well with ample development of black fruit and sous bois, along with pencil shavings and tabacco. Excellent t with a smoked brisket during a warm summer evening.
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6/6/2022 - brianngibson wrote: 92 Points
Drinking well at 32 and has some gas in the tank still. That said, fruit is definitely in the background. Cedar, leather, mint or menthol, with firm mushroom, and hints of cassis and plum.
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5/13/2022 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points
A touch of menthol and chlorine on the nose initially, but this lifts to a more classical cool restraint and then more meaty blackcurrant. Ends up very similar to the 89, just a little broader and with a little less energy. Opens up nicely. A top bottle of 90 LB, this is in line with recent previous bottles of this, it’s starting to move up a gear and match the 89. ****
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5/7/2022 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Dinner in the Medoc Room (Meritage, St. Paul): Dark red color with a 1 cm transitional margin. Splash double decanted and then slow-O'd for a good 3 hours before serving. Drank a glass over an hour with our Steak au Poive. This bottle was a fair bit more mature than some others we've had over the last few years. Strong on the tertiary character, the fruit is there, but more in the back ground, especially on the nose. There's a of cigar ash and leather, pencil and then dried violets, with the dark cherry and cassis in the background. The palate is medium bodied, with tannins that still give notice, leather, cigar wrapper and lots iron minerality giving this a more classically austere Bordeaux feel tonight. The fruit is a mix of red and darker cherry with some darker yet cassis framing it. A fun bottle and a birth year wine for a couple members of my team. 92 to 92+pts.
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4/24/2022 - Cailles wrote: 90 Points
48x 1990 (37x Bdx, 6x Napa, 5x others): Classic like always with fresh fruit, lots of minerality and a slightly muscular or angular structure. A true Barton. Just not enough depth and length to keep up with the best left banks in 1990 but still a good wine. I still hope that this was just not an overly expressive bottle and that the Barton 1990 has a bit more in store.
TN: Classic dark fruit, crushed rocks and minerality-driven nose. On the palate this is also very short and rather simple. Not enough substance which the good structural frame with rounded out tannins and a good freshness can not compensate for.
Decanting: Quick double decant two+ hours prior to the tasting to remove sediment. Maybe a bit more air would have helped to bring out one or the other additional nuance.
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1/31/2022 - tomlee wrote: 96 Points
Ruby red in color with some bricking at the edge of the glass. 12.5% ABV. Spellbinding nose of plums, leather, cedar and cigar box. Warm and supple. Noteworthy concentration of fruit from a wine that is over thirty years old. Currants, cassis, tobacco and earth on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish with super silky tannins. Just an outstanding wine from a long lived vintage. I have a single bottle left that I will revisit some time after 2025.
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12/19/2021 - englishman's claret wrote: 93 Points
A nose showing cassis, cedar, a hint of Christmas spices right out of the bottle. The palate is finer-boned, redder in its fruit profile, accented by mahogany and chestnut. With an hour in the decanter, this grows a bit larger in scale but becomes mulchy and indistinct. Neck fill with a good cork and no signs of TCA, so not entirely sure what’s up here. Very good at its debut, at least.
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12/8/2021 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Epic Napa Trip - Day 4: Drank with dinner (NY Strip steak by JG!) - This wine paired nicely with the strip steak Joe prepared. Nose showed plenty of florals, fruit, earth and leather. Palate showed more tertiary flavors of graphite, sweet tobacco, herbs and spice, with plenty of black fruit....about 55% tertiary; 45% fruit...a good combination for my palate! Nose and palate were both doing well with this bottle and, of course, it was complimented with a nice meal. In addition, it was a nice break from all the younger wines we had been drinking! 95 points and the best bottle to date!
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12/8/2021 - galewskj wrote: 95 Points
Napa trip day 4 (Napa): Pop and pour. Earth, leather, bramble, a bit rustic with anise and beef blood.
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12/5/2021 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Terrific mature bdx open from the start. Nose more on the leather cedar profile but on the palate there is still a strong core of red cassis mixed with some mature fruit elements. Lovely cedar and subtle mint notes mixed in. Lengthy finish that’s quintessential mature bdx—cedar, mint and leather notes. Tannins mostly resolved at this point.
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11/19/2021 - jviz wrote: 97 Points
Served blind. Wow! I guessed 2000 LLC, and don’t feel too bad about that. The sweet, sappy fig fruit of St. Julian, actually, not too much tertiary development. It had a richness and intensity on the nose so much that I thought it might be a first growth. This kicked way above its weight. Awesome
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11/8/2021 - PDavisMarble wrote: 94 Points
3 Leovilles dinner. For me this was the winner of the evening. Beautifully balanced, complex and interesting. The nose was floral and powerful, which reflected the wine perfectly. Cedar and camphor, forest floor and cassis. An elegant, long finish. This also paired well with the lamb, but it's great strength was standing alone.
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11/8/2021 - englishman's claret wrote: 94 Points
The 1990 Léoville Barton is really enjoyable at the moment, offering cassis, malt chocolate, cedar, and pencil, mellow but fullish, balanced, so easily drinkable!
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11/5/2021 - dagij Likes this wine: 88 Points
Brownish, deep core, quite light at the rim. Tobacco, warm wood and earth, plums, blackcurrant, almost verging on kirsch, as well as minerals (crushed stone, some tar?). Sweet and full-bodied attack, plums and blackcurrant, spicy fruit on the mid palate, fine and polished tannins, good acidity, very good balance, long and spicy aftertaste with dominating tones of warm earth, tobacco and wood. A bit dry on the finish. Very good. After 4 hours the wine is rasiny and flabby. 88-89
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11/5/2021 - Tom Henriksveen Likes this wine: 93 Points
Probably peaking now, good solid claret.
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10/27/2021 - Decanting Queen wrote: 95 Points
Showcase your palate; 10/26/2021-10/28/2021 (zoom): Thanks to the typical fedex service these days, this one arrived a day late so I did not taste with Mark and Jason. Luckily it was still cool to the touch on arrival so I was able to taste it late on the 27th. I poured half into a glass and the other 4oz into a smaller bottle. My glass on the 28th was nearly identical so these glass bottles do a great job with the preservation, surprised even for this older BDX. It even needed a bit of air.
wonderful nose of tobacco, lead and dark fruit. Tannins silky smooth and everything aged so nicely. This is exactly in my preferred drinking window.
Great choice Jason and our palates are certainly aligned on Bordeaux!
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10/26/2021 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Zooming Discovery Mission: Love these old Bordeaux wines! These are in a prime drinking window, IMO, where there is a nice balance between the fruit and the tertiary components. Nose is floral with dark fruit and some spice and a little bramble. Palate was close behind, with a nice balance of fruit and some earth, spice and leather with hints of sweet toasty oak. Finish is medium. Nose was not quite as perfumed as last bottle, but palate had more going on. I scored this a point better overall.94 today, for me.
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10/26/2021 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 92 Points
Jason's first bottle.....a real beauty...such a classic BDX I was craving a great French meal to go with it! Something with a truffle cream sauce...It seems the last 5 reviewers here have pretty much nailed the properties of this one and the score. I really don't have much left to offer on this. Thanks, Jason....for making me hungry!
addendum: placed in a bottle and capped and put into the cellar for another 24 hours so the 2nd night tasting? Pretty much like the 1st night, maybe even 1 pt better so a 93 tonight. Just a classic BX!
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10/14/2021 - Paul D wrote: 91 Points
Po's 1990 Bordeaux Dinner (La Trompette, Chiswick): Some red and black berry fruit here, a little restrained this bottle perhaps, some cedar coming through on the palate which is harmonious but not overly long or complex.
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10/14/2021 - NickA Likes this wine: 93 Points
Po's 1990 Bordeaux dinner (La Trompette): This seemed like a step-up from the previous flights on first sniff, but actually never quite caught fire. Super-classic in style, with jewel-like red fruit, good acidity, some truffle, and still the occasional reminder of tannin. Perhaps lacked a bit of stuffing compared to its flight-mates.
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10/14/2021 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points
Po’s 1990 Bordeaux (La Trompette, London): This is a step up from previous bottles. Cool, slightly minty nose.relatively compact on the attack. A touch of salinity too. Opens to a nicely fragrant expansive note. Quite charming for the normally quite stolid 90 LB. ****
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10/13/2021 - iainlo@gmail.com Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank from 375ml bottle, PnP. Immediately fragrant on the nose, the palate was deep and dark with good complexity. Fresh if short finish. Did not hold well in the glass, faded after 30 min - but given it was a half bottle, there was not much left after 30 min!
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10/10/2021 - cnichelson Likes this wine: 92 Points
Thought it might be corked when I first opened, but it was not, just rich and earthy, mushrooms and forest floor. Dark red and black fruits. Time to drink up though--or at least over the next decade.
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9/18/2021 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
Perfectly mature with rich plum and black cherry that is complex with bell pepper, cedar and cigar ash. Tannins are suave and fully integrated. Should hold at this level for a decade+
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8/16/2021 - dream Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fabulous bottle of this. Silky and so refined with a layered texture and great flavors of black fruits and sweet gravel. The lean style of LB matches so well with the ripe and full ‘90 vintage creating a classic aged Bordeaux experience. The finish is fresh with excellent mineral grip and superb spice and earth-driven complexity. Fully mature but on a long-term plateau. Just fabulous with Lobel’s rack of veal.
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4/28/2021 - Yagil wrote: 93 Points
Yagil's Wine Friends monthly (at Ety & Hanan Shahaf, Lehavim): Outstanding. Requires 1-2 of aeration, at least.
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4/23/2021 - Sean Tay wrote: 94 Points
Pronounced nose intensity with notes of charred wood, cedar, oak, toast, black fruits. Medium+ acidity and medium tannin. Pristine condition, ex chateau.
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4/16/2021 - Levantine wrote:
Similar as last note- impressive
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3/31/2021 - Ruby99 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking beautifully
Initially the nose is closed but after 15 minutes there is black cherry and a mustiness (in a good way) like you are walking thru the cellar at the Chateau
On the palate there is black raspberry and black cherry and a subtle leather accent. The wine is rich, round and balanced with no hard edges and a long finish
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3/30/2021 - chatters Likes this wine:
Leather, cedar, cigar box, slight pyrazine, brambles, forest floor, blackberry jam. Tight, savoury, more herbaceous on the palate but still fresh. Tannins are drying but wonderfully integraged. Long. Lovely, really, really lovely.
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3/27/2021 - aChave Likes this wine: 95 Points
Remarkably bright bouquet on opening. Intense fruit and fragrance. Decanted two hours; held up easily over 4 hours. Nice depth of color with bright red edge. Relatively little funk; good precision of fruit. Tannins integrated but still present. Long, building finish. Perfect Bordeaux. No rush.
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1/2/2021 - cweiss wrote:
NYE with rack of lamb. A glass had been removed from this bottle by Coravin in 2013! I didn't taste an unviolated bottle alongside, but I can't imagine it would have been much better. Color fine, quite appropriate for a 30 year-old wine, complex nose , and palate of currant, a little tobacco, mineral, with a well-balance acidity. The depth of the palate grew over several hours. Drink or hold.
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12/30/2020 - Kweiss7 Does not like this wine:
Past it’s time. Undrinkable
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12/27/2020 - CurtaVino Likes this wine: 95 Points
Stood it up about a week ago. Popped the cork and decanted off sediment for around 2 hours. Cork was in perfect shape. Early taste had some funk on the nose and no fruit. An hour later had some cherry/cassis but still the funk. At the two hour mark a switch was flipped. Funk was gone and the nose had an explosion of cocoa, cassis, and tobacco (seemingly out of nowhere). Great balance with the acid, tannins fully relaxed and had a nice long finish that morphed into a very subtle hint of sweetness. Not that I think there was any R.S., it's probably a trick of the mind and tongue that I find in most of the aged Bordeaux that I like.
Not a life changing wine (but close), but just a solidly well done left bank Bordeaux right in its drinking window.
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12/25/2020 - bhouk wrote:
An outstanding bottle. My WOTY by a safe margin. Cedar box nose on decanting. Soft sweet fruit and rich leather on the palate. Tannins are mostly resolved and, to borrow a phrase, suave. I’m not sure what more you’d ask for from a wine. I’m obviously not a professional critic, not an awarder of points as a rule, but for my own personal tastes this is at the peak of wine experiences. There is room for company to be sure. Not sure that, for me at least, there is a higher plateau than this bottle on this night.
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12/23/2020 - rlove wrote: 93 Points
Léoville Barton's 1990 shows a beautiful nose of cassis and tobacco. Sexy and supple with soft tannins and good concentration to the dark fruited and floral flavors. You can see the ripeness of this vintage but more than anything the freshness and vibrancy even at age 30. Very good and should continue to drink well for another decade.
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12/17/2020 - pyrat40 Likes this wine: 95 Points
A remarkably good 30-year old bottle. Amazingly it still showed a fair amount of fruit on both nose and palate (Far more than the same vintage of Lynch Bages we had the same evening, and less sediment, too.) Fully mature classic Bodeaux, soft tannins, long finish. A testament to good grapes and skilled winemaking.
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12/11/2020 - Fruitsrouges wrote: 90 Points
Disappointing. Perhaps I should have read the recent CT reviews and given more of a decant as advised by others, but with only an hours the wine exhibited aromas dominant tertiary aromas gamey aromas of leather and earth. I found the animal nature of the aromas to be a bit much if inoffensive. Palate was balanced and silky and finish very good, so I hope I find the fruit and more subtle aromas others found after a long decant.
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11/29/2020 - Levantine wrote:
opened 2 hours ahead of consumption. 30 minutes after opening a tertiary nose of leather and earth. but another 2 hours brought our a younger and more vibrant version of this favourite St Julien. Stood tall, classy and elegant!
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11/14/2020 - NickA Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for sediment about 30 minutes before drinking. Actually seemed more mature upon first trying than it actually was - any gamey quality seemed to blow off, leaving a vital wine dominated by graphite and spice. So balanced and drinkable, this seemed to disappear far too quickly.
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11/7/2020 - d'Auvenay Likes this wine: 93 Points
Based neck. Bottle breathed 4+ hrs and decanted for 1+ hrs. Most tannin softened. Red fruits, tobacco and earth. Medium length. Approachable now, but can last another 5-7 yrs.
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11/1/2020 - nywine68 wrote: 92 Points
Cork and bottle in pristine shape. This is lean and a bit austere with lots of acidity. Nice nose with typical secondary development. Figs and blueberries with some licorice on the finish. Wine is slowly gaining weight in the glass. Tannins are very fine grained in the background.
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10/27/2020 - _Alex_ Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dobbeldekantert tilbake i flaske. Mørk rubinrød med et svakt granatrødt modningsskjær i kanten. Åpen, ren og nydelig kompleks Bordeaux fra første slurk. Masse moden mørk frukt av cassis og litt bjørnebær. Deilige og kraftige sekundær- og tertiær-aroma som gammel sigarkasse, våt tobakk, mørk grafitt og jordlig lærtoner med skogbunn. Tanniner er pent nedslipt med deilig frisk balanse. Magisk avslutning som varer og varer! 1990-årgangen leverer! Topp match til Txogitxu Côte de Boeuf!
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10/12/2020 - roederer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beau bouchon, taché sur 1 cm : pas de coulure
Belle couleur pourpre, nette et franche
Un vin surprenant...
Au débouché, nez de "backyard", comme disent nos amis anglo-saxons. Marque de réduction, sans doute : c'est plutôt bon signe.
En bouche, fraîcheur (acidité) ; griotte, fumé, terre, herbe. Des tannins bien présents comme j'aime, sans aucun excès. Grande longueur
Plus tard, notes de graphite, de venaison, et d'autres encore... ce vin est beaucoup plus riche en bouche qu'au nez. Il met du temps à s'ouvrir et révèle au fil du temps des facettes légèrement différentes, tout en gardant sa signature propre et une part de mystère.
Grâce à son acidité, ne fait pas son âge et peut encore attendre ; je ne sais s'il gagnera beaucoup. Mais c'est une belle réussite en termes de longévité.
À décanter, je ne puis que le confirmer.
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10/4/2020 - djhammond Likes this wine: 95 Points
Almost 18 months since my last bottle, and the wine is still in good spot. Perhaps it was not quite up to its last outing, but variance is to expected at this age. This does benefit from extended time in the decanter. The nose is deep and ripe with fruit. It displays secondary and tertiary notes on the palate with excellent depth and balance, but I found the finish a little green and over harsh on this time out.
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10/2/2020 - Nicephoras wrote:
Most 90s I’ve had have still had too much structure, but this was in a very nice place. Lots of graphite on the nose, fruit that’s turning secondary but still prominent, but tannins in a happy place. A bit greener than I’d expect for a 90 Pauillac, but very nice. An underrated property.
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9/20/2020 - FabesMTL Likes this wine:
Triple header against the '88 Ducru Beaucaillou and '89 Lagrange. This one had the slight edge over the DB in my opinion, with the Lagrange coming in 3rd.
Beautiful color, no signs at all of aging. Very complex nose that evolved from vegetal and fruity at first, then showed some serious notes of black tea leaves and figs. The tea and figs were very pronounced but in a good way. On the palate, a bit of spice, medium in body/weight, and a very fresh finish, youthful but mature at the same time. The wine is in an excellent place.
Rating: between excellent and outstanding.
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9/18/2020 - Moonie Likes this wine: 95 Points
In a perfect place and exactly what a 30 year old should be. Two hour decant. Lovely.
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9/14/2020 - Nanda wrote: 94 Points
Leoville Barton always seems to take some time to come around, and this 1990 is now banging on all cylinders. Rich, velvety fruit that still has some fine grit. Plenty of wet tobacco and cedar interspersed with the plum fruit. Great pairing with the decadent steak.
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9/13/2020 - Nilsenfr wrote: 94 Points
Chateau Leoville Barton 1990 :
Cab.Sauvignon
Merlot
Cab. Franc
Alkohol 12,5%
Mitt vinlager kommer for det meste fra Italia, men noen sidesprang forekommer selvfølgelig.
30 år gammel Bordeaux, må innrømme at forventningene var relativt høye.
Korken var litt gjenstridig og brakk i to, men med litt fin hånd og spes. verktøy kom resten hel opp. Vinen rett over på dekanter og deretter i glasset og «festen» kunne begynne.
Farge medium rød med lysere mursteins toner mot kanten.
Nesen i glasset. Vinen «pip åpen» fra første stund. Utrolig kompleks og sterk duft. Mørke bær,Balsamico, tobakk og blyant spon, ++++. Ble sittende med nesen i glasset en liten evighet før den første smaken.
Kraftpakke i munnen, overraskende frisk frukt etter 30 år,mørke bær,lær tobakk og et snev av sigarrøyk. Polerte glatte tanniner i en relativt lang ettersmak.Utrolig kompleks og elegant smaksprofil.
Bare å bøye seg i støvet . Dette var nydelig !!
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8/2/2020 - liber Likes this wine: 92 Points
7th of 12, opened an hour, perfect level, cork third travelled, mature but with plenty of vigour, initially fruit flavours dominant, ash flavours in last glass, complex but slightly odd and not up with better bottles......this bottle F (17.5), normally F+ and occasionally VF in this top vintage!
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7/31/2020 - Corporateslaves Likes this wine: 94 Points
Superb bottle of wine. Everything you would expect with an abundance of cassis, tobacco leaf and forest floor. Feels perfectly balanced, no rough edges anywhere. Lovely. Very long finish. Sommelier also enjoyed this wine immensely!
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7/17/2020 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Zooming through Some Aged Bordeaux...and loving every minute of it!: Zooming through Bordeaux
Wines were filtered into jars for transport at around 3:00, transferred from jars to glass around 6:30, and tasted starting at around 7:00. The wines featured for this tasting were:
- 2012 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses (starter wine)
- 1985 Grand Puy Lacoste
- 1990 Leoville Barton
- 1995 Lynch Bages
- 1995 Pichon Lalande
- 1997 Latour
- 2001 Suduiraut Sauternes (dessert)
All wines were excellent, with the exception of the 85 Grand Puy Lacoste, which was slightly corked (unnoticeable to me in the beginning, but quite apparent hours later). My score and ranking are based on initial impressions as I believe that realistically shows the character of the wine (maybe a better bottle would score even higher).
Groups ratings: WOTN - 1997 Latour; 2nd - 1990 Leoville Barton , and 3rd 1995 Pichon Lalande.
My ratings: WOTN - 1997 Latour; 2nd - 1995 Pichon Lalande, 3rd - 1990 Leoville Barton and 1985 Grand Puy Lacoste, 5th - 1995 Lynch Bages.
--Leoville Barton: IMO, this wine had the best nose of the lineup...a floral bouquet with violets and perfumed apple blossom, with hints of sweet cedar and a twinge of anise. The palate was more one dimensional, with gobs of red and black fruit, with just enough acidity to keep the fruit lively. Finish was medium. This was a very enjoyable wine, and one I could see sitting on porch and sipping away! Still has some life left....would not be in a hurry to drink, but certainly would not shy away from drinking now either....this wine is in a good place! A solid 93 points.
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7/17/2020 - Paul S wrote: 94 Points
1989 / 1990 Bordeaux Dinner (Jade Palace, Forum Galleria, Singapore): Delicious. This had a lovely nose of cassis, loamy earth and savoury tobacco spice, maybe even a drift of florals. A really deep and lovely bouquet. The palate was perhaps a couple of steps behind, but still delicious in its own right, with juicy orangey acidity and fine tannins forming a lovely backdrop for pure transparent flavours of cassis and black plums. So juicy and succulent, and absolutely perfectly balanced. Good finish too, with a lovely trail of gentle fruit and tobacco spice. Such a good wine - balanced, pure, yummy, yet understated. This was a classic Barton, drinking beautifully now, but this was another wine still with its best years still ahead of it.
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7/16/2020 - galewskj wrote: 94 Points
Virtual Bordeaux: Floral, perfumed nose including violets, lots of earth, red fruited, strawberry and leather
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7/16/2020 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Virtual Bordeaux Tasting (Home): Dark red color with a 1 cm transitional margin. Filtered into jars and sealed about 4:30pm, poured into glasses at 6:30pm and drank a glass plus over 3 plus hours. Love the nose, cigar wrapper, deeply earthy, a mix of black and red fruits, florals. The palate is leaner, more medium bodied, dark red cherry fruits, cassis, leather, medium grained tannins. I really enjoyed this, but I will say not to the level that I have most other bottles for whatever reason. I think an actual decant might have helped, but although it got better over the evening the palate never caught up to the nose. My #3 WOTN and group #2.
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7/11/2020 - Offbeatdoc wrote:
sadly past it
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6/26/2020 - Arcturus wrote: 97 Points
97. 3 hour decant. Aromatic bouquet of dried roses and dried blackcherry. Seductive palate of cherry cobbler with layers of silkiness on the finish. Fantastic mature Bordeaux with plenty of life remaining.
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6/21/2020 - tutticalvi Likes this wine: 97 Points
Double decanted (modest sediment) then slow O’d in bottle for 7 hours. On opening seemed too acidic and no stuffing left and thought it might be over the hill. Nope. After 7 hours the wine was sublime. Delicate fruit (cherries and other red fruit), light tannins, hint of vanilla - really a fantastic old claret. Went great with a NY strip steak on Father’s Day. This wine is ready to drink and not over the hill. Still have a few more.
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6/20/2020 - hargy Likes this wine: 92 Points
drunk alongside the 1996, the two wines were unexpectedly similar - full of character and certainly mature with the 1996 surprisingly so - these are lovely wines
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6/2/2020 - brianngibson wrote: 93 Points
Drinking remarkably at 30. My previous bottle was at 25, and just looking at my note I have to say this had a little less power than 5 years ago. Still good finesse and structure. But I have to take a point away for what appears to be moving off the peak of the maturity curve. Will I wait 5 years for my last bottle? I don’t know. Feels like it might be pushing my luck.
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5/4/2020 - John Kooistra Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wine was near perfect. Full bodied, wonderful cedar box and roses nose. Deep color. Some soft tannins remaining. Can hold. We are amazed at the consistency and longevity of the wines from L.B. And so reasonable among wines of this quality. Decanted for 2-3 hours.
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4/23/2020 - dream Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful nose of dark red fruits and nutty gravel. On the palate, this is clearly less flamboyant than many other ‘90’s with a stricter profile and a silky but less opulent texture. The layers of dark red and black fruits float over the tongue with a superb intensity and still mouth-watering acidity with a classic red spice St. Julien flavor. The finish is loaded with complex notes of graphite minerals and charred gravel. This particular bottle is drinking younger than the last few I’ve had and it needed a full three hours in a wide-open decanter to fully come together. 94+
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3/9/2020 - JonnyG wrote:
Not an ideal bottle, and a contrast to the others bottles served around the room as best I could tell. Dense plum and black cherry notes, a bit flat, lacking acidity. Not scored.
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2/23/2020 - aagrawal wrote: 95 Points
Dinner with the wine group (Millbrae, CA): Superb nose with high intensity, mature fruit, forest floor, superb; palate is medium bodied, elegant alcohol, integrated tannins, capsicum, still some remaining fruit; finish is medium-long. Absolutely amazing and classic Bordeaux. 95
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1/17/2020 - beatles wrote: 93 Points
Lots of coffee and chocolate going on here - I was guessing right bank. Tasted over two days, and this was more balanced on day 2, ripe, yes, but very well structured, vertical and classic. Mature, tannins completely integrated,m but no signs of fatigue whatsoever. From IB.
#X-pensiveWinos
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1/3/2020 - CHINACAT wrote: 92 Points
Red and dark fruit, a touch of tartness, still pretty fresh, good complexity and ample acidity. Thinner and less ripe than I expected, but a very nice bottle nevertheless.
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1/1/2020 - Julian Marshall wrote:
I'm not sure if this bottle was a good example so I will not rate it. The condition was pristine, with a good level and perfect cork. On opening, it was quite fresh but clearly didn't need decanting. A couple of hours later, the aromas were not promising - flat, old and tired, like the taste. It did however improve, revealing forest fruits on the nose, a much better searing middle section of black cherry and a reasonable finish, but this was a lot better a few years ago and on the basis of this bottle, it needs drinking quite quickly. Certainly not worth the current price.
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12/28/2019 - TRough Likes this wine: 92 Points
Took two hours for the fruit to start to emerge
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12/18/2019 - maxima wrote: 92 Points
Un brin rustique et animal mais
tout de même une belle souplesse
avec un certain équilibre.
Bien aimé.
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11/21/2019 - roederer wrote: flawed
Bouchon probablement insuffisant : coulure généralisée.
Peu de liquide perdu mais vin plat, sans profondeur. Pas de longueur en bouche ; un peu acide, sans excès.
Décevant.
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11/17/2019 - cweiss wrote:
Diana's Birthday. Classic mature Bordeaux. Density and balance of the vintage. Drink or hold.
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11/16/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Saturday (Mostly) Bordeaux Lunch with Friends (Prairie Grass - Northbrook IL): Tasted double blind. Also clearly left bank Bordeaux with age, but I didn’t think it from a vintage as big/ ripe as 1990. Very pretty from start-to-finish, with very good+ balance and charm. Long finish.
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11/13/2019 - Song103 Likes this wine: 92 Points
well-kept 375 bottle, cork in great shape
clear, M garnet
Clean, M intensity
cherry, plum, black currant, cassis
violet, eucalyptus, Liquorice
Toast, cedar charred wood and Earth
Dry,
Fruit has started to fade, but more than balanced by its complexity
Same as nose but showing stronger earthiness
Tannin M-,
Acidity M+
Body M
Finish M+
Ripe fruit with silky tannin, classical proportioned and rustic. The wine is getting fragile, and should be drunk up (375). Better when slightly warmer 20-21C
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11/2/2019 - WineBandito wrote: 94 Points
This was the first bottle i drank of a case I bought through Southwick Court Fine Wines in the UK. This wine was every bit as good as what was promised. it was perfectly balanced and surprisingly complex. Although the wine has years to go, not sure it will climb any further and now is a great time to indulge. it was an amazing showing.
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10/29/2019 - Collector1855 wrote: 92 Points
Medium ruby, still dark for the year. A bit tannic for the vintage with a rustic touch. Good, but drink with food.
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10/28/2019 - MaxSiegel Likes this wine: 94 Points
Abundant, slightly stewed cassis and dark cherry fruit on the nose, along with tobacco leaf, cedar, and lead pencil. Palate still shows ripe, luscious dark fruit. Very sweet and ripe for Leoville Barton in this warm vintage. Slightly spicy tobacco, along with some graphite. Finish is long and seductive. Very drinkable now but with plenty of life ahead. Still some, but not much, tannin to resolve, and plenty of acidity to keep the wine alive.
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10/26/2019 - dream Likes this wine: 95 Points
Superb older Bordeaux nose of grilled nuts and graphite minerals. This is a bottle in great condition and the wine is quite full and intense with rich black fruits and extraordinary graphite flavors. Deep and concentrated with still powerful and smooth tannins. Amazing how long this Château’s wines last and this is every bit as profound as the Las Cases in ‘90. Decanted 2 hours. 95+
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10/8/2019 - brianakrin wrote: 94 Points
mature, solid acidic spine, very good but worth the wait??
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9/26/2019 - zindhum Likes this wine: 95 Points
This claret is now fully mature. Classic nose of cedar and blackcurrant The wine is gentle yet perfectly balanced with mature black fruits and some mineral notes. This is a lovely old claret and is simply delicious with a lovely lingering finish and fully resolved tannins. Drinking perfectly now and although there is no rush I can’t see this getting to a better place than it is right now. Bravo! I purchased this from a wine shop in France in 1995 for £15 just wish I had some more
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9/10/2019 - rocknroller wrote: 95 Points
Heidi's Redux Group (The Kenwood, Mpls, MN): Very dark red color. PNP, drank a glass over 90 minutes. Another killer nose from this wine; a perfume of cigar box, pencil lead, dried woodsy earth, violets and dark fruits. The palate is full bodied, round tannins, cassis, dark cherry, earth, cigar, pencil, dried wood, and a long finish. Always one of my favorite LB's this has been so consistent. Drank next to a pretty phenomenal bottle of '91 Mondavi and it would be so easy to overlook just how good this is. Love this wine, and at a mere 29 years old, it has the structure to give so much more. I wouldn't exactly call it youthful, but it has so much more to give. 94+ to 95pts.
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9/10/2019 - chablis28 wrote: 94 Points
Jimmy's btl and served along side the 91 Mondavi Reserve. PnP and slow ox about 45 minutes prior to drinking. This too was elegant, resolved, tertiary and showing less ripe then the perfectly ripe Mondavi with; cedar, red fruit, tobacco, mineral and also tea and herbs. Every time I poured this the nose exploded in my face with cigar box, pencil and fading fruit aromas. Stand alone this may have been WOTN on many evenings but tonight it played second fiddle to the nearly perfect 91 Mondavi Reserve. Thanks Jimmy! Proof you don't need to own btls from release and that there are killer, ready to drink, ubber values in secondary BDX market if, your not chasing La Mission HB and the like.
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9/6/2019 - nywine68 wrote: 94 Points
Graphite and pencil shavings on the nose. Beautiful complex mature Bordeaux flavors. Plenty of black fruit, acidity and vibrancy left. Silky soft tannins.
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8/21/2019 - drjb Likes this wine: 94 Points
A 'lost cellar' wine, this remains a lovely bottle of Barton which opened beautifully with a deep crimson colour and some bricking at the edge . There is a beguiling nose of blackcurrant, crushed raspberry, blackberry leaf and cedar. The palate was rich and ripe with a spherical impression of lovely black fruits leading into a cedar and mineral finish balanced by persistent fine tannins. This is in a perfect place and shows the strength of the 1990 vintage.
Comment (3,702 views)
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8/16/2019 - nskelsey wrote: 93 Points
The 1990 Barton is a gorgeously concentrated claret with well-rounded tannins, a strong note of blackcurrant plus all the usual aromas and flavours one has come to expect from this classic estate - hints of chocolate, tobacco, cedar and spice. All in all a complete wine with no signs of ageing. Thirty years behind it and surely at least another twenty ahead.
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8/3/2019 - Marc wrote: 90 Points
Midwinter, 2019 (Pokai Parera, Ekatahuna, New Zealand): Tasted next to the Dominus 1991, this came across as leaner, slightly mineral, and perhaps a little watery on the finish. At full maturity, or possibly slightly past its peak, this wine ha s a vivid graphite and cedar personality. Cinnamon and clove spiciness is an exotic aspect of its nature, perhaps derived from the graphite notes. I like the aged and mineral nature of this wine, as it relies on its fruit and balance more than flashy oak handling.
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8/1/2019 - the player Likes this wine: 92 Points
Finally after a few over jammy bottles I stumbled on a very good bottle. Ruby color with bricking throughout pointing to the evolution of the wine. Decanted and aerated for 90 minutes and drank over another 90 minutes. The wine clearly needed more air. At first the nose was dominated by dust and leather with dark fruits struggling to emerge. With time, the nose became spicier, the dust dissipated, the leather softened to reveal dark fruits, cassis, iron and crushed stones. On the palate quite dry with great minerality and cassis mid palate, tannins soft but very present and a very long spicy finish. Not the most complex and requires 3 hours in decanter but a very enjoyable wine at the price point.
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8/1/2019 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:
decanted for an hour and then placed back in the bottle and reopened about 30 minutes prior to serving
deepish red color with brick throughout, cedar and cherries on the nose, white chalk, roasted plums, on the palate this feels slightly fresher and more cuddly than a bottle opened a couple of weeks ago but at first also a bit rougher on the back end, bright and vibrant cassis and cherries, with time the finish smoothed out nicely, herb and cedar notes grow with time as does a wonderful flavor of ripe plums, where the 82 Figeac and 01 Jamet were more complex and elegant this evening- the Leoville-Barton was the more friendly and engaging as well as slightly rustic in comparison, three different personalities for three great wines, as with the last bottle this is ready to go and one to drink up within a decade to enjoy it at its best.
****+, now to 2030.
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7/9/2019 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:
The very first Bordeaux I ever purchased on my own. Back in 1995 when Dad opened a bottle of 1976 Lafite to share with me, that same evening we popped over to the local wine store while letting the Lafite breathe. For Houston friends- that local wine store happened to be the old Richard's on Gessner that Jackson Hicks used to run before Charlie and Tony took over- and one of their two best locations for Bordeaux back then. That night, with my recently acquired 3rd Edition of Parker's Bordeaux book in hand to guide me, I picked up a few bottles of 1990 Leoville-Barton on sale for $29.25 each. The stash has been augmented since more than once and at long last this beauty is fully mature.
maturing red color with a bit of bricking at the rim, lovely aged cassis nose, cherries, some pepper notes, sweet aged oak tones, calm and serene, slightly sweet, 2 hours after double decanting enjoyed an additional 2 hours with dinner; smooth cassis notes and rounded cherry tones, roasted plum notes, fine depth of ripe and mature fruit with some game nuances, remains of oak well integrated and contributing to the light pepper and spice notes, brilliantly balanced, good fine finish with ripe cherry notes on the tail end, very much a 1990 with its slightly roasted fruit notes- attractive and exciting and just within the bounds that allow the wine to remain stately and worthy of a fine rich cut of beef, in a beautiful place and fully mature with time in hand but somehow instinctively I am inclined to finish off my remaining bottles over the next decade, it should hold beyond that- but I do think this is at its full peak now.
****+, now to 2030.
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6/16/2019 - VDLT Wine Likes this wine:
Some 1990 1st growths etc (Chez Herb Wollowick): About 12 years since I last tasted this and described it as big, brooding but with a bright future. This bottle confirmed, the future has arrived. In many respects, I consider this classic Médoc. Managed well in the lofty company it kept this night.
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6/16/2019 - BenBlu Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for half an hour and consumed over the following hour. This was a pleasant surprise. Clearly mature old school claret with a nose of earth, gravel, library, and a faint bit of animal which disappeared with more aeration. This was solid at first but gained some fruit sweetness with more time and ended up a truly sublime example of mature claret at a moderate alcohol level making it a great lunch wine.
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6/16/2019 - djhammond Likes this wine: 96 Points
Surprisingly delicate for the estate, the nose is opulent with ripe cherry and floral wafts. Once it settles in the glass, it is beautifully smooth on the palate, and is fully mature with secondary and tertiary notes. The tannin has sweetened, but still retains enough bite to give an excellent balance. The finish is not overly lengthy, but pushing 30 seconds, and is exquisitely balanced. Sufficient time in the decanter and glass is all transforming for the wine. I gave this 4 hours of aeration, but would recommend twice that time. For myself this is only surpassed by the exceptional 2003 from the estate. 96+
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6/15/2019 - DrZett wrote: 94 Points
This is drinking absolute lovely right now. Great balance, very smooth, precise and feminine. Ripe red fruits, overripe cherries, some leather. Classic early 90s Barton. Nice aging notes. No need to decant. Drink now or within the next 5 years.
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5/17/2019 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot wrote: 96 Points
Still at the top of its game. Cassis, red currant. Tobacco. Medium to full bodied with ample tannins for its age. Classic Bordeaux that’s holding up very well.
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5/6/2019 - Percival Likes this wine: 97 Points
Encouraged by our last experience we opened another bottle, expecting consistency. We were very pleasantly surprised. This bottle appeared to be further evolved, and it seemed to us that it had followed a path quite different from the last bottle consumed. The cork was in excellent condition. This wine did show some garnet color on inspection. The fruit and the tannin both seemed elevated at first tasting compared to before, but we did not realize initially what a treat we were in for. We had roast lamb with roast vegetables and potatoes. Decanted a full three hours this time, and the wine actually improved to near-perfection at five hours by which time it had been finished over some Port Salut cheese. The tannins were intense but soft, and coated with that Marasca cherry fruit that had been noted previously. This time the Marasca flavor was much more pronounced, but this was no fruit-bomb. The tannins, so rich, coated the mouth so as to create the sort of extraordinary experience that one can hope for with a top-quality aged Bordeaux at its peak. Was this the best bottle of wine from Leoville Barton we have had? Yes. We can only hope that of the three bottles remaining there will be another such success. We are not sure why this bottle was so significantly different compared to the previous one. Considering the ethereal heights that this bottle hit, however, we now intend to consume the remaining bottles within two to three years. That is, the next bottle will be opened in some months and we will see where we go from there.
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5/1/2019 - Percival Likes this wine: 94 Points
Consumed the eighth bottle of a case with veal, noodles, and asparagus. I can confirm that this wine is at its peak, and that it should stay there for at least several more years. Previous bottles have shown some garnet around the edges, but this one was pure dark ruby. Decanted for 2 1/2 hours, and it actually improved over the next hour after that as we drank it with our meal--but no further improvement from there. Upon opening it seemed a bit tart and acidic, but this resolved completely by mealtime. Beautifully integrated fruit and tannin, just what we look for in a mature Bordeaux. Perhaps some suggestion of red fruits on the palate, strawberry, raspberry, red plum, and Marasca cherry. One of the strengths of this wine is its finish, which with this bottle went on for "only" 45 seconds. According to my notes previous bottles exhibited a finish that lasted up to two minutes. Have to agree also with prior notes that provenance is crucial. My case was obtained as a future, and since delivery kept at 55 to 58 degrees at all times in my wine storage.
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4/22/2019 - advinm41 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fully mature, at its peak. Dark ruby color, minimal bricking, nose of red cherry, pencil lead, cardamom, vanilla, star anise and earth. Did not decant, took 1 hr to open up fully. Tannins are fully integrated, but still alive. Palate is very balanced, medium body, good acidity, smooth and silky, mostly cherry on the palate with licorice and spices mixed in. Finish is medium to long. Drink now, won't get better but will stay at peak for 2-3 years.
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3/17/2019 - LWI wrote: 94 Points
Very youthful, rich and structured. Splendid bottle!
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3/12/2019 - martin_e Likes this wine: 95 Points
Classy perfectly-aged Bordeaux at the peak of maturity. Cardamom with other spices, a bit earthy; dry cherry & ripe black cherry. Enjoyed it
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2/20/2019 - beachbum wrote:
Very good and proper.... tons of time but unlikely to get better... 93
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2/2/2019 - BHRH Likes this wine: 94 Points
tried after one hour of decant - slow to open. initial pruny ripe fruit aromas turned into more classic cassis, light minerals, smoke and mature oak. Two hours in the bouquet was marvelous. On the palate this was sublime, with balanced richness and not much tannins. Clearly at or slightly past peak - enjoy now with a healthy decant!!
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12/15/2018 - Sonoma Duck Likes this wine: 94 Points
Medium ruby, cork failed at a restaurant. Server was going to do it his way rather than use an ah-so as I requested. All was saved. Decanted and opened up within 30 minutes. Full bodied, balanced, tannins mostly resolved. Elegant drink and nose. Everything I want from a mature Bordeaux. I would enjoy now.
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11/9/2018 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Incredible nose of fully mature Bordeaux. This is drinking in its prime and while it will plateau for many more years, it won’t get any better. Drink up.
I called 1995 Leoville Las Cases because it screams of St. Julien, but was down the road a bit and 5 years off the target.
A great wine!
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11/5/2018 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 94 Points
Pnp, wotn for me, showing beautiful mature red fruit, leather, entire group called older Bordeaux, most felt mid 90's to possibly 2000. Really at a good spot and showing younger than expected.
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11/1/2018 - nywine68 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lovely wine. At a perfect plateau today. Opened up very nicely with food and some time in decanter. Secondary flavors but still very fresh and full of black ripe fruit. Round and voluptuous. So smooth, like liquid candy.
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10/28/2018 - In vino potestus est Likes this wine: 93 Points
27 years waiting. Sediment on its downside. Not decanted. Served at room temp @ 68 degrees F. The color barely but perceptibly betrays its age with a ring of light. Tobacco wafts from the glass with the suggestion of mocha. It has a very delicate palate comprised primarily of cherries and an aftertaste of anise. Light body. Long finish. Superb. At the summit. Downside time risk merits consumption in the near future.
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10/13/2018 - StasMedvedev.lv Likes this wine: 95 Points
Super Vintages of SuperSeconds🍷 (Riga, Latvia): 🏅 Rating 95+/100 (4,55🌟)
Cherry, tobacco, earth and spices. On a plateau and won’t improve with age. Don't wait, drink now.
2nd Growth Classe. 72% CS, 20% M, 8% CF. Fermented in 200hl wood barrels, 20mo aging in 50% new oak. Fining & filtration.
1 of the best buys among Super 2nds. Quality is there, but price is still behind.
Very CS driven.
1990 is the best performing vintage for LB which is at peak maturity now.
---
Read my wine writing at stasmedvedev.lv
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10/11/2018 - Paul D wrote: 87 Points
1990 Bordeaux (Piccolino, Exchange Square, London): Nose is quite earthy, lacking a touch of purity. Palate is better with gently spicy black fruits, although it is a touch pinched on the finish. Perfectly drinkable, indeed enjoyable, but not the best bottle of this.
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9/9/2018 - Marcosuru wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic old Bordeaux. Elegant and complex. Obviously ready to drink, I think still has a long live ahead.
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9/3/2018 - ledocq Likes this wine: 94 Points
Third of three from HA auction. Similar experience to first bottle -- excellent. Took about an hour to open up, and I'd definitely decant.
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9/3/2018 - englishman's claret wrote: flawed
Tant pis - cooked
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7/29/2018 - djhammond Likes this wine: 95 Points
This has really hit its stride, and is firing on all cylinders. The nose is rich with blackcurrent and blackberry. On the palate the fruit is combined with cigar box and a robust but resolved tannin. The wine is multi-layed on the palate, and has excellent depth with the finish now much improved from a year ago. A couple of hours in the decanter is appropriate to fully enjoy the wine. This is now at its peak, and can be consumed without guilt, but with a structure to last for a decade plus. 95+
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7/27/2018 - nywine68 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Really started to come into its own after a 3 hour decant. Beautiful juicy dark fruit that is still very much alive. The tannins are ultra fine and give the wine beautiful structure. Some nice secondary notes on the medium finish. A very enjoyable wine.
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7/16/2018 - ledocq wrote: flawed
Second from an HA auction lot -- this one opened with band aid and ended up astringent and no good.
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7/7/2018 - Topper wrote: 93 Points
I've been drinking through a case at the rate of around a bottle a year since 2008. Some of the bottles have been very good; more recently a few have been tired. This one was very much alive and vibrant and ticked all the boxes of good mature bordeaux. A pleasant surprise.
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6/14/2018 - drjb Likes this wine: 94 Points
A lovely bottle of Barton, this wine opened beautifully with a deep crimson colour with some bricking at the edge and an immediate nose of blackcurrant, crushed raspberry, blackberry leaf and cedar. The palate was rich and ripe with a ball of lovely black fruits leading into a cedar and mineral finish balanced by some persistent fine tannin. This bottle was in perfect shape and showed the strengths of the 1990 vintage.
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5/4/2018 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 94 Points
Fri Night Blinds (château du Chevlin): WOTN for reds for entire group. Tasted double blind, brick red with a light brick rim, very resolved tannin, pure finesse at this point and in a perfect spot with a little air, pepper, ash, tobacco, leather, good acid and maybe a touch of VA. Fully mature and ready to go.
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4/22/2018 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Second Sunday Group: Chateau Latour vertical (Frank's (hosted by Marty)): Aromas of dark fruit, iron and tobacco. Has some tannin yet to integrate, but shows an abundance of dark fruit on the palate. Somewhat rustic.
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4/16/2018 - fine137 wrote: flawed
Corked
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4/2/2018 - fine137 wrote: flawed
Corked
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3/1/2018 - Hypersphere wrote: flawed
Tried it over the space of 3 hours, never bounced...
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2/21/2018 - OttawaB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Has developed well. That said it took a few hours of air to really open up. Nice florals, dried berry fruits. A deep and meaty aroma, cedar, old leather. Great structure ... velvety tannins, round and rich. Medium acidity. Good complexity with cedar, leather, tobacco, dried berry fruits, cassis. Long finish. Very typical of great aged Bordeaux. A pleasure to drink.
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2/1/2018 - hargy Likes this wine: 91 Points
lovely mature claret - drink soonish
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1/13/2018 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 94 Points
Graham/Barton tasting-cum-lunch (Restaurant Bak, Amsterdam, NL): Rich and full and rounded, beautifully developed, deep and meaty, mostly resolved tannins, relatively low acidity, velvety, slightly decadent, good length. Drink soonish.
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1/13/2018 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for two hours, yet still seemed a bit closed and reticent. That being said, there was classic LB blackcurrant with cedar and mineral backbone and plenty of tannic structure. Given where the fruit was, the structure was really the star. This did start to open up over the evening, but I suspect this is one that really needs a lot of air rather than time in the cellar. Beautifully austere in that perfumed way St Julien and Barton do so well.
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1/1/2018 - empire80 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very consistent with my previous note.
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12/30/2017 - ledocq Likes this wine: 94 Points
I opened this for my father, who is 86, and who only started drinking at 80 ("because why the hell not?"). I had him taste it and he said "it's wine," but he looked disappointed. I told him we had to let it decant an hour because it wasn't ready yet. He is an engineer and he tends to believe that my talk about exposing wine to air is liberal arts major frewfraw unsupported by science. So we let it sit an hour while we ate appetizers. Then out came the beef stew, and we had this to accompany it. Magnificent. I recognize in this the same nice development as the '89 Pichon Baron, but with better length and complexity. This can still go a while, but it's probably on its way to being archetypal Bordeaux, just what you're looking for with an aged claret. Very happy with this.
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12/29/2017 - wineguru57@yahoo.com.au Likes this wine: 93 Points
Has reached its perfect drinking plateau, with some fragrant cassis, and leather overtones, while tannins have softened out beautifully. I dont think it will change a lot in the next 5 -10 years, or even longer.
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12/25/2017 - Bobhelge wrote: 94 Points
There is nothing like matured Bordeaux during Christmas. Tasted the 1990 up against the 1996. The 1990 was the definite winner of these two Leoville-Barton vintages, such an incredible well matured and delicious wine.
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12/9/2017 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Bill's: clearly Bordeaux but slightly poopy, enough to suggest it might be Ste. Estephe. Good on the palate with the herbs etc Coop mentions, but the acidity was a tad high and out of balance for the fruit for a Bdx this age. There's usually a silkiness to the texture of mature Bordeaux, and this didn't have it.
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12/9/2017 - David J Cooper wrote: 92 Points
Light medium red. Medium intense nose, cedar box, cassis, olives, thyme and meat. More savory then ripe. Delicious earthy herbal red fruit flavours and a very dry finsh.
Not ripe or fruit driven, instead a very savory delicious medium weight Claret.
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11/12/2017 - Marc wrote: 94 Points
Gorgeous and archetypal left bank Bordeaux. Bottle age complications, intense graphite, ripe blackcurrant and dark plums, expensive leather and high toned spice notes. This is in full maturity, but is showing no signs of decline. Final bottle, but bottles in this condition will certainly last 40 years in a cool cellar.
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11/8/2017 - wineappreciation wrote: 93 Points
Blackberry syrup, cigar, pine, hints of barnyard; full, balanced, structured, still very lively, poised, lovely terroir, long lived, beautiful wine
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11/4/2017 - chablis28 wrote: 95 Points
Same Btl as R&Rler. Ok, so there was fire pit wine after all, that followed the Glen Ellen Star dinner and what an outstanding cap on the last night of our trip. This was our coolest temp night by the pit and it was great to sip this in such a relaxing setting. This btl and the fire pit were our fitting reward for once more making it back up a narrow, 3 mile+ long, essentially one lane, white knuckle road climbing to an elevation of 1800 ft from the valley floor. Still dark almost opaque ruby. I love Leoville Barton and wish I had personally secured more old vintages years ago. This was a pleasure to just smell with its smokey cigar box and forest floor aromas. Yes, there's still a bit structure but totally in keeping with the producer and keeping the wine fresh and vibrant. Want to know what great BDX is? Seek this producer out but avoid drinking them before age 15. Loved this wine and especially by our roaring fire pit with nearby silhouetted mountains and a bright moon above.
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11/4/2017 - rocknroller wrote: 95 Points
Napa/Sonoma Trip With Some Exceptional Gems; 11/1/2017-11/5/2017 (1800ft Up Cavedale Road, Glen Ellen, CA): Very dark red color. Open for about an hour before pouring, drank 2 glasses over 3 hours. We drank this after getting back up the mountain to the house on what turned out to be a very cold evening. We sat around the fire pit and it was 37F without the wind chill. I left the bottle inside most of the time and repoured to warm it up along with some hand warming of the glass. Despite the extra chill this evolved and was a very nice drink. Classic old school Bordeaux in a style that seems to last forever and from a vintage that is drinking well yet shows incredible potential longevity. There's still plenty of structure here with tannins that are somewhat youthful but certainly refined. As I said, the nose is classic with earth and funk out front, loads of pencil lead, leather, black cherry and cassis on top of dried spice box. The palate is fuller bodied but has a feminine grace to it, cherry, darker fruits of berry and cassis, soil infused and earthy, pencil, cigar and a long finish.
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10/25/2017 - Andre Brattland wrote: 93 Points
Vinen er mørkere rød på farge med tegn til modning med lysere orange/brun kant.
Vinen har på nese en tiltalende krydret rød frukt med en behagelig underliggende lakristone. Også litt tørket frukt.
På paletten har vinen begynt å få modne toner med noe stall og moden frukt, men har absolutt fortsatt friske solbærfrukter, skogbunn og et lett mintpreg. Vinen har fortsatt bra fylde med tydelige tanniner og syre.
Vinen viser fortsatt evne mange års lagring fortsatt. jeg synes vinen mangler litt kompleksitet og trenger fortsatt noe tid for å integrere tanninene, men dette er sjarmør dette. www.botti.no
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10/22/2017 - miadelt Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 1 hour; but it needed more. After about 2 hours it really started to open up and become beautiful. Good showing for a 27 year old wine. Lacked some the intensity of the 1990 Figeac but had more body.
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9/2/2017 - Levantine wrote:
Beautiful
Full of blackberry chocolate cacao
Present and balance in all dimensions in the mouth
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9/1/2017 - Paul D wrote:
Brought by Fletcher to dinner at 67 PM. No formal note but this was rich, touch of fruit-cake, some smoke and undergrowth, underlying dark fruit, soft tannins, rich on the palate, balanced acidity, decent length. Unusually for this chateau this was completely ready to go, lovely.
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8/27/2017 - djhammond Likes this wine: 95 Points
Now entering its prime drinking window, the wine has evolved significantly over the last year. While still packed full of blackcurrant and blackberry, with a background of leather, its previous delicacy has evolved into a wine with a profound depth. The finish is still a little on the short side but for myself the best drinking Leoville Barton at present along with the 2003, and with a structure that will keep it here for many years and should continue to evolve. Decanting is recommended for a couple of hours.
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8/17/2017 - Kepos Likes this wine: 93 Points
very smooth and elegant, good length, nicely balanced, beautiful
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8/8/2017 - sooper65 wrote: 96 Points
lovely elegance, the LB90 is fully resolved and in a beautiful place.
Mid-weight style is what I like... not the modern day bruisers
Lovely wine
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8/2/2017 - the player Does not like this wine: 88 Points
This is the fourth bottle from a case I bought a couple of years ago. Similar experience. Dark red fruits, pencil shavings on the nose but very tart and jammy. Disappointing. 8 more bottles let's see how this goes.
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7/20/2017 - GNBB wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 40 mins. Paling throughout the wine now with very pale rim. Rich, medium intense nose of old leather, sweet spice and tobacco with clear, but fine, ripe cassis. Real classic. Palate is medium weight with fine tannin and light, but clearly present, acidity giving a good balance to the wine. Light, ripe blackcurrants clearly come through. This is a fully mature and delicious old claret providing wonderful drinking now, but will only diminish from here. This is my final bottle of the case and it has been a wonderful wine.
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6/16/2017 - cannym Likes this wine: 94 Points
I can only suggest that comments about tired etc are arising from bottles with less than ideal storage. This one is still just starting to reach respectable maturity. The tannins are resolving. Still big berry fruit, mostly black but some rasp too. Dark plums. Lots of woodland notes. Some tarry notes too. Great concentration. Good acidity and long. Bit stinky on opening but an hour or so resolved this. This is one to last.
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5/25/2017 - LWI wrote: 94 Points
Classic in every sense, elegant and somewhat supple for Barton
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4/28/2017 - SimonG wrote: 91 Points
Bordeaux Wimps, Benoît Chamoux table (La Trompette, London): A slightly subdued nose cf the 94 initially. Quite jammy with a touch of Madeira cake or even jam. Lacks some focus and persistence on the attack, but fills out on the mid-palate and develops with some air. Not the best bottle of this, but still a good drink. solid ***1/2 to bare **** with the benefit of doubt.
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4/9/2017 - GNBB wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 30 mins. Medium intense nose of ripe blackberries, roses, earthy leather funkiness. A little iodine perhaps. Palate medium+ intensity with ripe, fine tannins and a good zip of acid to provide excellent balance. Showing light ripe blackberry fruits with good chewy leather notes and a little forest floor. A very attractive wine absolutely in its drinking window but perhaps coming to the end of it. Drink now.
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3/12/2017 - empire80 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tawny colour, cedar and meaty aromas, beautiful but doubt it will improve.
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3/4/2017 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 88 Points
Ripe and round nose. Plummy with some blackberry. Not corked but some unpleasant damp cellar in addition to the brett. Palate is thin and weak, neither good fruit nor structure. Can't really point out a specific technical flaw, it's just not very interesting or engaging. Quite disappointing as many of the '80s vintages Barton are classic and really good drinking.
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2/14/2017 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nose of rubber; nice texture and balance; tannins still there; give it time.
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2/13/2017 - vinhslee wrote: 94 Points
Tasted twice in 2016.
Deep garnet, not bricking yet.
Expressive nose of blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco, earth, leather.
Decanted for 1.5 hours, but tannins are still very high and almost violent. High level of acidity and blackcurrant flavour is still going strong.
After another 3 hours of aeration, tannins are mostly resolved. Complex and expressive notes of blackcurrant, cherry, plum, cedar, tobacco, smoke. Long lingering finish.
No signs of aging.
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1/25/2017 - mattiasjansson wrote: 95 Points
Barton tasting with Damien Barton Sartorius (Gordon's): Fresh nose. Precise and elegant on the palate, but still big fruit (especially for its age)
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1/25/2017 - chcook Likes this wine:
Leoville Barton at Gordon's (Gordons Waltham): 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
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1/25/2017 - RockinCabs wrote: 92 Points
Leoville Barton Tasting Seminar - (1986 - 2011) (Gordon's Wines - Waltham, MA): Nose: Blackberry, Cassis, Truffles, Sage and Cigar box. A bit of bottle funk on this initally, but it cleaned itself up. Palate: Nice fresh blackberry, dark cherries, herbs, green pepper and cedar. Finish: Lengthy and full of dark berry, eucalyptus and tomato leaf.
Very enjoyable, but I was looking for more power from the 90 vintage. I don't suspect this was decanted, and I think it would have benefited greatly from more air. I'll have to revisit this based on the reputation.
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1/17/2017 - lifebreath wrote: 89 Points
Fully mature and a little over the hill. Some bricking, deep garnet core. Pleasant nose with dried fruit, earth, tobacco, leather. Decent fruit, tertiary flavors, a hint of eucalyptus or sage, some brambles and pepper, resolved tannins and sweet finish, but lacking the structure to really carry the wine. Consequently, it was enjoyable, but somewhat unbalanced. Probably would have been great five years ago. Drink up now. (Consistent with previously tasting 7/2016)
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1/6/2017 - Blake Brown Likes this wine: 93 Points
1990 CHATEAU LEOVILLE BARTON ST. JULIEN- a good bottle with nice balance, light and easy on the palate, mild to medium weight and tobacco and cedar infused blackberry notes to please; loved it.
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1/5/2017 - paulst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tar and blackberry; concentrated; youthful; sweet finish.
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12/25/2016 - Stefanos T. Likes this wine: 93 Points
At peak, fully mature, this is a definitive sample of a mature Bordeaux.
Not spectacular, but good. I have to say I was expecting more from a vintage like 1990.
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12/25/2016 - KSWinegeek wrote: 93 Points
Cedar and tobacco notes. Elegant and smooth. Drinking very nicely right now.
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12/24/2016 - germainecoty wrote: 87 Points
En deux mots, ce vin m'a semblé fatigué... Les notes d'acidité dominent.
Je l'avais trouvé excellent il y a 3 ou 4 ans, mais là - il a pris un coup de vieux. Joyeux noël quand même.
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12/8/2016 - paulst wrote: 95 Points
Bottle direct from Chateau 2 years ago; perfect condition; blackberry; balanced and perfectly structured; still tannic and youthful; full bodied; sweet long finish.
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11/26/2016 - ElAzul Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lots of Bordeaux funk on the nose which quickly blows off with air. Initially very restrained but comes alive with airing and splashing back and forth a few times. Elegant with black fruit but only a very slight few second finish. Still very good the 2nd night open. Good but not great compared to other 90 Bordeaux I have tasted.
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11/19/2016 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nice cedar with tobacco; balanced and elegant; blackberry; smooth elegant finish.
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11/10/2016 - paulst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light nose with cedar, some tar; tannic and concentrated; youthful; decent finish.
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11/5/2016 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
HDH Bordeaux Auction; 11/4/2016-11/5/2016 (Chicago, IL): Well, this is about as Bordelais as it comes. There was quite a bit of stink on this but air did this a lot of good, blowing that stuff off and leaving a very classic wine. Very much on the red spectrum of Bordeaux, this is a very light example of the vintage. Lots of secondary characteristics here, with a bit of dried fruit and cedar.
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10/23/2016 - djhammond Likes this wine: 94 Points
A surprisingly delicate wine, with pure black current aromas and hints of vanilla and cassis on the palate. The taninns are resolved but light and soft. The wine is fully mature and is a delight to drink. Everything is harmonious if just lacking a little depth.
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8/21/2016 - winecat9 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good color, fragrant bouquet of mature Bordeaux. Good fruit. Only subtraction is for balance and finish. Holding up well.
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8/1/2016 - batas wrote: 91 Points
Young in colour and quite masculine on the palate, but tannins well integrated. Not quite as complex as expected
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7/27/2016 - Yagil wrote: 94 Points
Bordeaux 1990 & 2000 tasting (at my home): dark translucent red-brown
elegant dark fruits tertiary nose with leather and tobacco notes, fine oak-vanilla hint
med-full bodied, integrated soft firm tannins, excellent acidity level, well balanced, excellent harmony, well structured, old mahogany wood, elegant complexity, fine chocolate and tobacco flavours, excellent finish and long aftertaste.
can further age 5-10 years.
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7/12/2016 - GNBB wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 60 mins. Mature nose with clear blackcurrant. tobacco leaf, light leather, violets, aniseed. Palate is medium intensity with light acid and low, fine tannins. Brambles, roses; has good depth & poise. Good balance and fully mature. Classic claret. Drinking now-2018.
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7/8/2016 - the player Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely and mature classic bordeaux. Decanted for 90 minutes then drank over another 90 minutes. Open nose of cassis, graphite, saddle leather. Medium to full bodied on the palate with dark fruits and graphite dominating, excellent structure and backbone, and tannins almost fully resolved with a long gratifying finish.
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6/12/2016 - liber Likes this wine: 93 Points
6th of 12 (+6 mags), decanted an hour, perfect cork and level, previous notes since 04 fine or better, now entering plateau of maturity,, brown tinge on rim, cassis tending to mulberry, tertiary aromas developing, and fruit just beginning to lose former energy, flavours nevertheless elegant, persistent and attractive and very much what I look for in fine claret, no rush but no particular reason to keep as near its best I suspect now. Just shaded off my top previous mark on loosening grip! F+ (18).
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5/20/2016 - BenBlu Likes this wine: 93 Points
3 hours decant. Some noticeable bricking around the edges, medium garnet colour - looking about its age. The nose is drop dead gorgeous: Cuban cigar, spice box, some pleasant barnyard in the background- unmistakenly Bdx at its best, you know it's on. On the palate a bit brusque acidity, less balanced than other 1990s, the fruit is a bit more in the background, picking up some saddle leather, faint anise. This is a fabulous wine for sure. Folks that have been reading my other tasting notes will know that 1990 is my favourite Bdx vintage for drinking now, I just love it and it has gotten what I look for. This wine is in this vein. While a great effort my recent experiences tell me it ranks behind the incredible Lagrange (which is cheaper) and the next door neighbour Las Cases (which is double the price). Less mature then Lagrange but more mature then Las Cases I would say. It has got 2 decades of life in it ensured by the ample acidity. My fear is just that the fruit is not supple enough to catapult this wine to higher scores. Hmmm - selling for 1250 pound per case in bond it is one to consider nevertheless (if I take Lagrange 1990 as benchmark only no wine will be good value, so I rest my case on this). Tough to find a wine of this pedigree, bottle age, further age worthiness, status (second growth after all). I will see how it develops the next two days to make up my mind. I keep you posted. I own a lot of vintages of Leoville Barton but my fundamental problem is that this house is sort of the eternal promise dangling in front of your nose, critics love it, merchants love it... Given that 1990 is known to be an accessible year it should teach us to either buy the back vintages or leave our hands off it - if we want to enjoy them in our lifetime that is. cheers.
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5/10/2016 - Lype wrote:
Some attraction but somehow this does not take off, probably a bad bottle.
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5/6/2016 - mjdixon Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep brick reddish brown color foretold the flavor
Muted fruit backward
Maybe the bottle wasn't representative
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4/28/2016 - Comte Flaneur wrote: 96 Points
Spectacular is an adjective you rarely see alongside Leoville-Barton but this wine is the complete symbiosis of impeccable, restrained, traditional winemaking and an exuberant vintage. It has a fabulous nose of cedar, graphite, tobacco, herbs and spices leading into a refined palate with cassis-infused fruits, minerals and earth, underpinned by fine silky tannins and bright acidity. Perfectly pitched this wine has a restraint and equilibrium that the more exuberant Leoville-Lascases 1990 lacks. While both are thrilling the Barton is the better wine. It doesn't have a hair out of place.
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4/27/2016 - SlimShaney wrote: 90 Points
Nice and clean to the eye. Colour holding very well at 26yo, shinny though not suggesting it's particularly deep or layered. Taste of understated dry vegetables.
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4/26/2016 - MarceloIdeses wrote: 95 Points
Classic vintage. Classic Bordeaux. Ready to drink.
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4/22/2016 - Stefan and Ingrid wrote: 94 Points
Always (after the 12th bottle meanwhile tasted) a wine for the winner of the evening. Ripe (clearly more than the 1990 Lagrange, also 94 points).
Drink it now, but don`t worry, he will be good for several years.
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4/10/2016 - Axone Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent vin, à maturité.
A boire sans se presser.
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3/30/2016 - Andrea1975 wrote: 95 Points
This is a great bottle. Lots of juicy red fruit, forrest floor, hint of vanilla and toast. Very balanced, good fruit concentration and lively acidity. Elegant and femminine, very well rounded. Long, long, long. In a good drinking phase now.
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3/29/2016 - the player Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious after an hour in the decanter. Deep ruby color, nose of raspberries, black currants, leather, mocha and spice. Elegant on the palate, rich mid palate and a nice finish. What 1990 is all about!
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3/27/2016 - demiurg wrote: 93 Points
Good fruit, great freshness and elegance, not so easy to identify, would have been good for many more years, 93-94
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3/16/2016 - Alex H wrote: 90 Points
Dark developed and brooding black currants , plums and lovely morello cherries nicely married wih dark cocoa, dark leathery barnyard and pencil shavings. A good point for bordeaux.
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2/20/2016 - batas wrote: 90 Points
Nice nose, very open upon opening. Lots of fruit, maybe too much? Lacks a bit of backbone as a result
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2/17/2016 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Leather and blackberry; complex and deep; long finish.
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1/16/2016 - Nekodab wrote: 92 Points
A lil to complex
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1/13/2016 - FransS wrote: 92 Points
A bit mixed feelings, showing very good for its age with a firm core and
of course ripeness, but a bit too firm in showing the elements; for me the not-so-subtle Léoville-Barton style.
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12/30/2015 - hkbob Likes this wine: 95 Points
Still a youthful purple with only faint lightening at the rim. Glorious nose of dark fruit, cedar, fresh tobacco and a hint of smoke straight upon opening. Full-bodied with velvety tannins. Lush swathes of dark fruit on the mid-palate with a cedar-tinged finish. Great structure. Much less evolved than the '82 Leoville Barton drunk alongside. Really enjoyed! This will improve further and go for years in the cellar.
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12/29/2015 - dchoo077 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Double decanted and stood in bottle for 4hrs. This wine is the epitome of a mature left bank bordeaux. Wonderfully expressive on the nose, perfect balance and still possessing a youthful vigor and intensity. Medium plus finish. A benchmark St Julien which is drinking at peak but will hold for many years to come.
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12/15/2015 - jmoore431 wrote: 92 Points
Rich, "drippy" fruit on opening; EXCELLENT but less length than the Lagrange tasted alongside. Others at this tasting liked it better than I.
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11/30/2015 - the player Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep ruby red color with slight bricking at the rims. Typical mature St Julien claret with a nose of cassis, cranberries, slight cedar, some raspberries. Medium bodied and a long finish this wine did not need more that 30 minutes in the decanter to strutt it's stuff. Very nice indeed but a class below Ducru 1990 and two notches below Leoville Lascases.
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11/28/2015 - GQDaley Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bottle in pristine condition with very little ullage. Color a medium ruby with brick rim. Cedar and pencil lead nose, bright attack with medium body, dark fruits with soft integrated tannins. Very long. Delicious wine.
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11/21/2015 - Aglenardi Likes this wine: 93 Points
First wine to be drunk in a 1990 bordeaux horizontal dinner. Opened and decanted for 30 min. Lovely nose of rose petals blackcurrant and berries. Medium to full bodied, fruity with hints of chocolate, tobacco, and a well integrated silky tannins. Superbly long finish!!
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11/14/2015 - GNBB wrote: 96 Points
Decanted 45 mins. Only light paling to rim. Medium intense nose with plenty of cedar, tobacco box, leather, sweet spice and ripe blackberries. Palate ripe and round - excellent balance of medium acid, fine tannins and wonderful light blackberries. A supple with secondary notes of light spices. Absolutely excellent and drinking beautifully now and to 2023.
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11/13/2015 - rupertg Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened and decanted three hours before. Fine ruby red, well balanced fruit and tar. No sign of thinning in this bottle. Very enjoyable and strong enough to cope with young pheasant.
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11/4/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 90 Points
Austere with light nose and light blackberry; acidic; decent balance; light texture; short to moderate finish.
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10/31/2015 - burlingtonm Likes this wine: 93 Points
Best bottle so far from a case. The wine was in perfect balance with a medium body & understated harmony with the tannins well integrated & good length. An absolute pleasure to drink
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10/26/2015 - UTPK wrote:
Much better this time. Needs 2 hours in decanter. Still tannins but good sweet fruit underneath. Very solid and well performing 1990. Way above its pedigree. Classic left bank notes, with some cloves and plums thrown on top. Medium body, quite fresh, medium finish. Great with food! Had it with Tournedos Rossini, which craves a substantial wine!
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10/12/2015 - davergny Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine needed some serious air time. Then, it finally opens up, with some beautiful, sweet fruit, matchstick and leather, nice acidic backbone, good structure and length. It's still a little austere, but I think this is a Bdx that will drink well for decades. 92+
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9/27/2015 - dharrison93 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sweet spot. Dark ruby with minimal sediment, the nose being an exotic mix of cherry, berry and spice with a thrilling super-long palate coating finish. Tannins are mellow and in the back seat now.
If a date, this was the 29 year old homecoming queen beauty who never quite found success upon her several attempts to move to the big city so is content to remain FwB on a regular basis.
Years of pleasure ahead for properly stored bottles
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9/7/2015 - drgradowski Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drunk in Curitiba, Brasil.
Very nice, balaced, elegant.
Black fruits, soft tannins.
Complex nose, good to drink for more 5 years at least
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8/21/2015 - bon vivant wrote:
Took this to a friend's retrospect 1990 tasting. A short double decant about 3 hr prior to consumption. Every once in a while you get lucky, and this was one of the finest older bottles of LB i can recall. The aromatics exploded out of the gate with a signature Black Cherry & spice. The flavors were big and powerful and the mouth feel plush and a broad long finish. In an evening of a few disappointments this held it's own. This bottle would have been easily good for another 3-5 if not longer.
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8/7/2015 - PhN Likes this wine: 88 Points
Classic Claret. Light flavors very soft tannins and fruit. Enjoyable but probably near the end of its life if this bottle is typical.
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7/22/2015 - cannym Likes this wine: 93 Points
First things - the score is for today and will get higher. I can only suggest that comments about tired etc are arising from bottles with less than ideal storage. This one is just starting to reach respectable maturity. The tannins are resolving. Lots of berry fruit, mostly black but some rasp too. Lots of woodland notes. Great concentration. Good acidity and long.
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6/30/2015 - tomred wrote: 94 Points
Rich black fruit assail the nose as the wine was being decanted one hour before drinking. Brick red colour. Black fruit and hedgerows in the mouth together with leather and tabaco some tannin on the finish. good balance and length. Good now and over the next few years
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6/14/2015 - Paul D wrote: 95 Points
Deep garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose is quite developed with spicy black fruit, tobacco and hints of earth. Complex and quite rich. Medium bodied, blackcurrant, tobacco, very fine, almost resolved tannins, decent acidity, long harmonious finish. Lovely.
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5/24/2015 - pkatz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very tasty and still youthful. Can't see waiting any more.
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5/16/2015 - DougLee wrote: 92 Points
Brick maroon color. Nose of cassis, black currant, cedar, forest floor, damp earth. Still lively on the tongue with good acidity balancing filed off tannins, and layers of blackberry, currant, sweet grip, and leathery notes to savor. Moderately long finish. Very good.
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4/29/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decent nose with earth and leather; textured but still tannic; potential.
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4/11/2015 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 93 Points
Drinking very well right now. Bold ruby color. Only needed an hour of air to open up nicely. Lots of black currant, cedar, mushroom, and leather. Very smooth on the palate. Tannins round and integrating well. Prominent acidic backbone. Perhaps one of the most impressive things about this wine is the long, complex finish. No heat at all on the finish. Overall, a beautifully balanced wine that should continue to drink well for several years.
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4/5/2015 - blakehastings Likes this wine: 95 Points
Peaking, great berries and floral notes. Virtually no tannins. Silk smooth. Would scored higher if it had the layers and depth of top bordeauxs, but still really good. Wife loved it. Slightly better second day.
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4/2/2015 - Yagil wrote: 93 Points
1990 Bordeaux tasting in 2015 - round #1 (The Traklin - new location): double decanting for sediments removal 2 hours prior to drinking
lively red-ruby colour, with almost no age signs
classic Pauillac tertiary leathery aromas with oak-vanilla notes on the nose & palate, med-full bodied, firm tannins, good acidity level, well balance and excellent harmony, still holds fruitiness, present oak-vanilla, solid, mainstream, subtle spicy & veggie flavours, long enjoyable finish.
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3/28/2015 - chbeaumont wrote: 94 Points
Deep; classy, real breed; plenty of stuffing. Closer to peaking.
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3/17/2015 - Yagil wrote: 93 Points
Coravin tasting
transparent light red with amber rim
elegant & complex aroma of dark dry forest fruit with notes of old clean leather, earthy-veggie, fungi, and light spice
med-full bodied, fine round soft integrated tannins, excellent balance & harmony, very good complexity, high acidity level, fine spicy-dry fruity flavours, long quality delicate finish. A great joy!
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3/14/2015 - LWI wrote: 93 Points
Cherries, deep fruit, yet very elegant and light on its feet, long. Youthful.
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3/5/2015 - mwanasheria Likes this wine: 94 Points
From jéroboam. From the big bottle still a bold wine with a bouquet of herbs, raisins and some overripeness. On the palate a lot of power left, Cabernet sweetness, leather, round tannins. About two litres were left in the bottle and this was great for lunch the next day!
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2/18/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Rubber with textured blackberry; supple with integrated tannins; long earthy-sweet finish.
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2/8/2015 - bhouk wrote:
You would never guess the age of this wine from the color -- purple all the way to the rim. Decanted 6 hours before tasting. The nose gives some indication of bottle age, with a beguilingly complex aroma of perfume, rich leather and coconut. Cedar and currant on the palate. Tannins tend towards the silky and integrated side of the spectrum. The finish is a bit abbreviated.
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1/29/2015 - brianngibson wrote: 94 Points
This is a very youthful 25 year old wine. From first our into the decanter this wine expressed energy, and not old tired and musty leftovers. In the glass, very light bricking on the rim. Black cherry, cedar and kirsch. Nice mineral ity on the finish. Nothing says this is going downhill fast. But it certainly seems to be entering prime drinking. Hope there is little bottle variation in my remaining two bottles as this is delicious.
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1/25/2015 - rupertg Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still dark but brick rim, heavy sediment in the bottle. Cedar and blackcurrant nose. Smooth and mouth filling. Sweet fruit finish, some dryness emerging. Lovely.
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1/11/2015 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
Second Sunday Group: Douro reds (Frank's): The color belies its age. Opens with a strong note of brett, with black currant jam, cherry, sous bois and leather underneath. Medium-bodied with some tannin to shed, and flavors of currants and tobacco with a bretty streak here as well, which is a shame because there's such a nice core of fruit & other complexities underneath. Others fawned over this, but I think the brettanomyces dominates and was not as impressed.
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1/11/2015 - irish95 Likes this wine: 94 Points
At first, I thought it was just OK. My second glass about 2 hours later, was awesome. Velvet mouthfeel with a bit of chocolate. I wouldn't wait much longer with this one, but let it breathe for a while before you pour it.
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12/30/2014 - Marquis du Vin wrote: 88 Points
Pretty ordinary wine… Not what I expected. Gruad Larose of the same vintage blew it away...
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12/27/2014 - Kipper38 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 45 minutes before pouring. Beautiful deep garnet coloration with less brick edging than expected for this age. More deep purple coloration than expected.
Somewhat sweet, floral aroma with cedar and cassis notes. Not as prominent or as complex as I expected, but not disappointing.
On the palate, instant tobacco and cassis overtones, with cedar undertones while still remaining balanced on the tongue. Fruit was mouth filling but not overpowering. Decent length- 30 seconds + Acidity was perfect- zero hints of flabbiness.
Overall, a well balanced wine begging one to take larger sips than decorum demands. I'd love to open a magnum of this wine.
To be safe I'll drink my two remaining bottles by 2017- I wouldn't wish to risk any more acidity reduction- it's drinking beautifully right now.
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12/23/2014 - chablis28 wrote: 94 Points
I was psyched to try this and not disappointed. It sounds incredulous to say a wine needs 20yrs plus but many BDX do and this one was great at age 24. Loved the black raspberry / dark cherry flavors and minerality. 24yrs have tamed what was likely a tannic beast early on and yet this still is on the upswing. Very fresh, elegant and intellectual. Thanks R&R!
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12/23/2014 - rocknroller wrote: 95 Points
A Tour Through France Tuesday at Tilia (Tilia, Mpls): Very dark red/purple color, no bricking. PNP with 2 hours of slow-O only. Drank 2 glasses over 2 hours. Wow, this was a pristine bottle that was firing on all cylinders right out of the gate. A fantastic nose, beautifully floral, perfumed, saddle leather, horse barn, dark raspberry, black cherry, cassis. The palate is vibrant, lively ripe fruit that is very fresh, bright red berry, cherry pie, cassis, full bodied, feminine, very elegant, very flavorful, leather, and a long, long finish. The tannins are velvety and enticing. Great wine, perfectly balanced, you'd never believe it was 24 years old. Drinking great and it has a very long future. My and group WOTN.
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12/22/2014 - SimonG wrote: 92 Points
Bright and quite intense blackcurrant nose. A touch of spice too. Sweet, quite broad entry with ripe blackcurrant fruit. Nicely padded. Cedar and mineral on the classical back end bringing everything in to line nicely. Quite long. ****
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12/14/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light nose; blackberry; sweet at times bit tannins still evolving; moderate nose.
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12/13/2014 - isdblm@lsu.edu wrote:
This estate bottle bought from a prominent distributor obviously had been poorly stored for some time.
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12/8/2014 - conviction buy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Btl decanted 2 hrs, typical St Julien nose of cedar, pencil, tabacco and leather. Ample acidity in mouth yeilding a balance with the fruit, while tannin is resolved, there is a mild lack of concentration. Still a lovely wine, drink up.
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12/3/2014 - Hodby wrote: 91 Points
Medium red-garnet color. Aromas slow to develop; with two hours, gives medium intensity, slightly green cabernet, of olives, thyme, cherry and cassis, leather. Medium tannin and medium acidity; stiff at age 24. Reserved in the mouth, tight. Finish is the best part, the sensation of the structure really helps the olive-y and leather-y flavors persist. Good match to prime rib sandwich with cheese-potato-herbed croquettes. Bottle #5 of six.
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11/30/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 90 Points
Some earthy leather, but rather abrupt, tart, tannic and still evolving (I hope); some blackberry; structure and balance aren't there; light finish.
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11/25/2014 - winemaker Likes this wine: 93 Points
Gorgeous bottle of wine. Drinking really well.
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11/16/2014 - Mr T wrote:
KR66 got this right
Good cork and still fairly deep ruby
Not sure it was the right pairing with great pan Asian food at Soba and alban reva also on table but very solid showing
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11/2/2014 - tomred Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for Two hours before drinking with roast lamb. Will decant for less an an hour in future!
Deep brown some light fadeing at the rim, Powerfull creamy nose sweet black fruits, chocolate, cedar, tabaco. with soft harmonious tannins. All these flavours come through as one in a mature wine.
Noticable fading after three/four hours. will reduce the time from decanting to drinking for future bottles.
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11/1/2014 - liber Likes this wine: 94 Points
4th of 6 magnums, perfect fill, 120 mins decant - see July 2013 for detailed note, but still very classy, attractive old style claret and clearly better than a nice, if not quite ready, magnum of 2001 on same night. At least fine plus (18/20).
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10/11/2014 - dowyong Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wow right from the start, beautiful aged nose. Perfect age and integration. Singing like a lark. Amazing. This how every aged wine should be.
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9/14/2014 - johnh1001 wrote: 92 Points
OJH Party (Racquet Club Chicago): Dark fruit and coffee on the nose. Round, plush and wonderfully balanced in the mouth. I don't know what it is, but I always get this burnt rubber note with LB and this was no exception.
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8/30/2014 - sooper65 wrote: 95 Points
Brooding - dark cedary fruit, classically St Julien; smooth, roasted coffee aromas. Lovely balance, with plenty of ripe blackcurrant fruit to this wine, and showing immense youth - assembled party put this as a 2004/2005.
Alas, on the evening, trumped by Chambolle 1er Cru 1999 from de Vogue!
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8/9/2014 - shutto1992@gmail.com Likes this wine: 96 Points
Spectacular wine. Based on other notes, I have to wonder if the storage of this wine somehow impacted the wine's showing at this time. This wine was stored in perfect conditions from release until 10 years ago. Our friends bought the wine and have had the wine in their kitchen at 72 degrees on it's side for 10 years. Due to it's improper storage, I thought the wine would be over the hill and faded. The cork crumbled but was dry. I was quite surprised how good the wine was. Deep dark fruit with smoke, tar, bordeaux earth with a seamless mature profile and a long aftertaste. Absolutely loved this wine.
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8/2/2014 - Topper wrote: 91 Points
Slowly drinking though a case but may have to speed up as the fruit is fading and the structure remains but can't sustain it. A nice peppery aspect comes though now.
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7/3/2014 - Amerique wrote: 91 Points
Tasted with the 1989 Leoville-Barton. I preferred the latter.
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5/22/2014 - wino121 wrote: 93 Points
Epic, for its age, light bricking, and full oak integration at this point.
Still hints of fruit and a massive nose.
A full throttled Bdx!
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4/26/2014 - fatfishzsy Likes this wine: 92 Points
换瓶45分钟，黑色浆果，酸度和单宁紧实，回味甘甜、巧克力。
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4/6/2014 - ubercuvee wrote:
My last note still kinda holds - competent but the structure definitely outweighing the fruit. Don't think this'll ever be that pleasurable
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3/31/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 95 Points
Just little signs of age, still pretty dark. On the nose smoky, slightly creamy, dark fruit, hints of cocoa, mineral. Great purity of fruit. Round and rather youthful, again lovely fruit character on the palate, complex and intense. Gentle tannins, really well balanced and persistent. Very long. Good future. 94-95+
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3/29/2014 - sandwich Likes this wine: 94 Points
Soft and supple. This is in a great place and probably can go another ten years - but why wait. A great wine from a great year. Primarily blueberry and raisin with a hint of oil cured Greek olives and the slightest note of smoked beef brisket. Of course there is the gravelly backdrop and long finish.
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3/15/2014 - micser1733 wrote:
drank at roast
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3/6/2014 - -E- wrote: 94 Points
(Blind) Klar, mørk rød med hint av oransje i kanten. Frisk, tiltalende og floral nese med mørke bær, solbær og blyantspiss. Forførende og nydelig nese.
Dyp, saftig, ren og fokusert frukt. Saftig, spiss syre. Milde, finkornede tanniner i utgang. Flott lengde.
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3/6/2014 - LWI wrote: 95 Points
1990 Bordeaux Horizontal: Blind. Slightly exotic and fine-grained nose; dark berries, smoke, a bit on the extracted side, very convincing, powerful and structured.
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2/24/2014 - ubercuvee wrote:
Textbook "vin de garde" even now at 24 yrs old, plenty of stuffing and fruit left but for me missing aromatic development and nuance (aka X-factor). Extremely competent rather than fabulous.
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1/19/2014 - cweiss wrote:
Sampled via Coravin, initial nose seemed old, palate mostly tannin and metallic component. Over a couple of hours in glass the metallic note disappeared, and the last swallow (just before I left for dinner with another wine I'd opened and decanted instead) suggested that it might actually be opening up after all.
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1/15/2014 - ilee Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opened 2 bots at Jade Palace in Singapore among pleasant company. Oh this is very good indeed. Dark purple, beautiful rich creamy bouquet of cassis, minerals, tar, violets, cedar -- a lot of stuff going on here. Dense and chewy on the palate, brimming with juicy black fruit but very integrated, pure and balanced without a hair out of place. Compared to the clear impression of ripeness one finds in some 1990 wines, this is somewhat more restrained in that respect. The tannins aren't at all harsh but are still quite prominent, which together with the robust fruit gives the impression of a wine ten years younger. What can you say, another beautiful classic textbook lesson in impeccable winemaking
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1/3/2014 - PASimon wrote: 93 Points
This was remarkably young. After decanting for three hours it was giving almost nothing on the nose other than a bit of green pepper. On the palate it tasted like a wine that was 5-7 years old....not 24! After a bit of time in the glass it began to show deep cassis and currant flavors with a bit of cigar box/cedar -- but still nothing to indicate a quarter century in the bottle (forest floor, leather, tobacco, etc). Those things never came.....but I really liked it regardless. As for this bottle, it was just entering its drinking window and would have gone for a very, very long time. I realize that bottle variation is more prevalent in wines this old.....but I am hoping the rest of my quality BDX from 1990 drinks just like this because, if so, I will be enjoying it for a long time to come!
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12/23/2013 - Vinterest Angus Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted through 9 different bottles this year. Pretty sure this wine is still improving, my scores have increased from 90 to 92 mark in the case of the one tried last night. A superb wine, just a little too much pencil shavings for me. Drunk last night alongside the superb '93 L'Apparita (95) which could have helped its case.
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12/6/2013 - stadler Likes this wine:
Servi en bouteille. Robe tirant vers l'acajou, limpide. Nez intense encore sur les arômes tertiaires, le cigare éteint, la réglisse, le sous-bois. En bouche, c'est tout à fait en place, les tannins sont encore là pour tenir le milieu de bouche et la finale, c'est épicé et le fruit est bien évolué, il peut bien attendre encore mais que c'est intéressant de le goûter aujourd'hui !
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11/15/2013 - paulst Likes this wine: 96 Points
Classic leather and lead pencil; textured blackberry and licorice; well integrated tasty tannins; long lasting finish; outstanding.
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11/11/2013 - Gabe Likes this wine: 91 Points
Enjoyed this, nice mouthfeel with a complex nose and long finish. Definitely a balanced wine with some time left. Wish i had a few more bottles.
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11/7/2013 - kenv Likes this wine: 93 Points
WCC St. Julien (Cafe Capriccio, Albany, NY): [Double-decanted at 2:30pm.] Balanced. Quite drinkable now. Ripe and appealing. Lovely.
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11/2/2013 - dmalcolm wrote: 91 Points
While the quality is apparent, despite a 2 hour decant this did not really blossom. Great freshness, balance, powdery tannins, and decent concentration. While enjoyable now, this will really benefit from 5 more years of aging.
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10/20/2013 - petitblanc wrote: 91 Points
La Fête du Bordeaux - 2011 Vintage (Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, Chicago): Light but fresh color. Simple, advanced, very horsey nose. A little thin on the palate, letting some heat show through. Still an enjoyable old bottle, showing some structure. Grew tired with air.
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10/20/2013 - paulst Likes this wine: 90 Points
Classic St Julian nose of rubber, leather and cedar; smooth blackberry; rather tannic and somewhat sour, but good texture and balance.
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9/20/2013 - anonymoose12345 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very nice, full bodied. Complex nose, graphite, forest. Sweet fruit. Balanced.
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8/19/2013 - PSPatrick wrote:
Ordered by the glass (tasting pour) at the Wine View Bar at Helsinki airport. The wine was medium brick coloured. It offered a very complex, sweet and savoury nose that kept changing whenever I swirled the wine in the glass, with intense floral notes, dried dark fruit, prune, juniper berry, exotic spices, leather, tobacco and some chocolate. On the palate the wine was medium-bodied, sweet, lush and velvety, with prune, juniper berry, leather, lots of tobacco and a mild spiciness, paired with medium-plus acidity, chewy tannins and very good length of the chewy finish; the aftertaste even re-emerged after some time. To me this 1990 Léoville Barton was somewhat controversial. The nose was absolutely incredible and the wine was as velvety on the palate as you would expect from a well-aged Bordeaux, but then it somehow lacked balance and I would even call it a bit austere with view to its chewy tannin and noticeable acidity. I reserve scoring until I get the chance to try a full bottle.
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8/10/2013 - whitmanlholt wrote: 87 Points
Dark purple, no signs of aging. Nice nose; carries cedar, forest pine, a bit of stone. Mouth bellyflops, however, with some pruney, immobile flavor, topping off with a tannic bite. Doesn't seem to blow off, so time/decanting is unlikely to help. May be a dud bottle. 87 points.
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7/31/2013 - Paul S wrote: 94 Points
Esoteric Wine Dinner (Absinthe, Boat Quay): Glowingly delicious. This was one of the two non-esoteric, thus off-theme bottles, but it was so good that no one complained. WOTN for most on the table. It had such a lovely Left-bank Bordeaux nose, strewn with tobacco, dried earth and exotic spice aromas mingling amidst clean cassis scents and some gentle floral accents. Wow. Really appealing. The palate was absolutely wonderful too. Pure cassis notes were cossetted by soft, silky tannins, bright acidity from the attack, giving the wine a lovely sense of definition and balance. It then glided into a slightly chewier mid-palate, where the dark fruit was met with earth, meat, and some minerally undertones, before moving into asavoury ending, where gentle notes of tobacco, spice and earth nestled amongst some plummy notes. Mouthfilling, delicious and wonderfully integrated - this was glowing. On the evidence of this bottle, it is wonderful now and will continue to be at least for the next 5 years and beyond.
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7/31/2013 - wallstreet Likes this wine: 93 Points
A perfectly mature Bordeaux. Doesn't have the complexity of the top bottlings from that vintage. but definitely a pleaser.
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7/19/2013 - JamesTye Likes this wine: 91 Points
From 750ml. Level HF. Served at the St Geran in Mauritius. No decant required. Colour was dark red, faint brown at edge, bright. Nose was dominated by cassis, with some secondary Bordeaux notes including cedar, animal notes, raspberry. A whiff of iodine was an unusual addition.
The palate is very fruit driven, again mostly cassis but there is some red fruit, and aged bordeaux sandalwood and leather. There is good of acidity to keep the wine fresh and the tannins are powdery and finely integrated now. The wine is balanced but not exceptionally so and the finish is a good length.
This is a lovely Leoville-Barton, and a good example of the sumptuous 1990 vintage. There is plenty of structure and power, wrapped up in black fruit and some of that hallmark St Julien freshness. This is perfectly ready now and drinking well. I predict this wine will comfortably live for another 10-15 years for sure, but the fruit will recede and would not show this wine at its best in my opinion. This is very different from the more classic 1988 Barton, which is still gently improving. For this reason, enjoy the 1990 now.
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7/16/2013 - liber Likes this wine: 94 Points
Third from 6 magnums, med deep garnet, some lightening on rim, attractive classy nose, black fruit driven though some graphite and cedar, med/full on palate, long, laid back, beautifull fine grained tannins if very slightly dusty, good grip and balance, mature. Fine plus (18/20).
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6/14/2013 - andyf wrote: 95 Points
Mit Rico
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5/26/2013 - mscooler wrote: 92 Points
Needed a lot of air (decanted 30 minutes before dinner, and the 1/4 bottle that remained after an hour dinner was still improving). Really wish I had another case or so.
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5/20/2013 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1 hour.
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3/18/2013 - Hodby wrote: 93 Points
Medium garnet. This is a complicated wine to review. Many thoughts, so am leaving out the usual descriptions. The wine develops with air but needs a lot (!) of air. It is overall a little stiff and unyielding in every way: nose, mouth-feel, flavors, finish, after-taste. But gradually, slowly it does release a very strong, very classic left bank cabernet character, at least in terms of a pre-1990 styling. Be patient with it in every way imaginable: in the cellar, on the table, in your glass. Bottle #4 of six.
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3/17/2013 - rupertg wrote: 93 Points
Dark ruby, great fruit and harmony. 3 hrs decanting brought out the best in it. Classic clear and leather.
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3/9/2013 - cannym Likes this wine: 93 Points
First things - the score is for today and will get higher. I can only suggest that comments about tired etc are arising from bottles with less than ideal storage. This one is just a fair bit away from respectable maturity. The tannins still need taming. Lots of berry fruit, mostly black but some rasp too. Lots of woodland notes. Great concentration. Good acidity and long. This wine will still live long and prosper!
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3/3/2013 - Topper wrote:
This is the 6th one consumed from a case purchased as futures. This is the second one that was tired and past prime. I think there is not much hope for the others.
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2/25/2013 - SB5784 wrote: 94 Points
Brick reddish brown in color with some age showing near the edges. Nose is extraordinary with lots of dark fruits, black currants, blackberry and plum. Also quite floral, showing violets and roses. As it sat in the classes developed increasingly sweet smells of molasses and stewed fruits. Lather and tobacco. Really special nose. On the palate, rather mellow, with fruit somewhat subdued with age but still ripe. Quite acidity but balanced with soft, smooth and extremely subtle tannins that have fully integrated with the rest of the wine. Fresh Black fruits with crisp and refreshing acidity despite the age. Medium alcohol. Long lingering finish of black berry and cassis. Almost like tasting the end of an early season blackberry off the vine with the lingering acidity and seeds biting your cheeks and tongue. Great wine. Drinking really well right now, but has time before it begins to decline.
Drank at the Oxford Cambridge club February 2013.
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2/7/2013 - Mr T wrote:
This wine was good enough, but did not move me as I hoped it might. I decanted about 1/2 the bottle for 1-2 hours before dinner and then recanted to head for the restaurant. The wine was just a little flat and never really sang. Bad night? Bad bottle hard to say. I've enjoyed prior bottles more, but likely from different provenance. I think this bottle might have been winebid. 5 to go and hopefully they will yield more pleasure
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2/6/2013 - paulst Likes this wine: 89 Points
Austere and light leather nose; slight blackberry-cherry; round and beefy on the palate but still expressing a more tannic and acidic aspect; light semi-smooth finish.
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1/26/2013 - Serge Birbrair wrote:
As ready as it can be
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1/23/2013 - Harley1199 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Returning to Wine & View Bar; 1/23/2013-2/1/2013 (Vaanta Airport - Helsinki): Brownish colour still with a dark core, Port Tawny-like
Little closed for nose but in a few minutes showed its origins
Delicious meaty aromas followed by owed apple and a well integrated wood and smoked complexity without end. Positively what a oldie. Wow!
Palate give you a good acidity to run many years yet
St. Julien at best in a few drops.
Perfect mate for a Parmesan cheese tapa
Color amarronado con un corazón oscuro , muy al estilo de los Tawnnies de Oporto.
Un poco cerrado al principio pero en minutos mostró sus orígenes.
Deliciosos aromas cárnicos seguidos de manzana al horno y de una buen integrada madera y de una ahumada complejidad sin fin. Favorecedora de una anciana como esta. ¡Tremenda!
En boca muestra una buena acidez para continuar todavía durante años.
St. Julien en lo mejor en unas pocas gotas.
El perfecto acompañante para una tapa de parmesano.
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1/8/2013 - GlöckliWein wrote: 88 Points
this wine is smiling at me ... but is not worth than 88 points
..... so in other word´s a little disapointing for this Money you ´ll spend for this ...
anyway : this is like a second wine of Leo B ...
bit not the first growth .. ;-)
a little shame on this ...
other 1990 ´s are this GREAT like ... ( tonns of ... )
sta y way from this little growth ...
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1/1/2013 - Serge Birbrair Likes this wine:
мило но за сердце не хватает.
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12/31/2012 - NewFrenchClaret Likes this wine: 94 Points
12.5% ABV. Decanted for about an hour. Could probably have used considerably more as it's still coming alive as I write. Garnet with a hair's width of bricking. Lovely but restrained St Julien black fruit and woodland nose. Hints of tea and chocolate. Classical but never boring. Balanced and appealing; real depth of character. Lip smacking acidity. Really, really long and beautiful finish which gets better with every sip.
This one really grows on you. This note started as a 92!
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12/30/2012 - bingomighty wrote: 93 Points
Opened two bottles. Decanted 30 mins before serving. Not disappointed in the slightest. Good balance. Much better than 1990 Gruaud Larose opened the following day which seemed harsh and underdeveloped by comparison.
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12/25/2012 - nortonnose Likes this wine: 91 Points
91 pts isn't "poo-pooing" this wine, obviously! That said, it paled quite a bit for me in comparison with 85 Lynch Bages....
Pouring strategy: borrowed from a few folks below. Stood upright for a couple hours, then opened (fr 750ml) and let stand. Poured an ounce and let relax. Popped back in the fridge for 20 min to resume cellar temperature, then decanted immediately before dinner (and did the same w/the LB, except that was served first with dinner). 30 mins later served from decanter. It was quite good but not excellent to my preferred tastes. Nose is fruity and even a little floral. On the palate, a very round, soft wine - no real sign of any tannins (and again, especially in contrast to 85 LB). All in all, quite good if a bit unremarkable. If I had it to do all over again, I would simply sip for hours from PnP'ing 750s. I don't believe there is an immediate rush to open this....
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12/12/2012 - paulst Likes this wine: 90 Points
Earthy and austere; blackberry; elegant; earthy and light blackberry finish.
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12/2/2012 - europat55 wrote: 93 Points
Year End Euro-Themed Lunch (Donato Enoteca, Redwood City, CA): Outstanding, generous nose that feels younger than its age. Very soft palate. Long finish. Elegant.
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12/2/2012 - cooberp wrote: 87 Points
Disappointing. Rather thin, particularly for a wine from the ripe 1990 vintage. Some cedar and dark fruit, but not a ton, and a little weedy. Still quite tannic and somewhat sour. I don't think this will ever come into balance.
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11/24/2012 - sooper65 wrote: 95 Points
Compelling.. very elegant but with some awesome core fruit. Perfect balance, juice... BRILLIANT
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11/24/2012 - mtaczak wrote: 90 Points
very youthful in appearance, slight bricking on the rim. initially mustiness on the nose blew off. tannins gained intensity with air as the palate tightened up. this isn't giving up much now - let it sleep another 5-10, at least.
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11/22/2012 - Flavito wrote: 93 Points
Still young and tight, elegant and long.
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11/12/2012 - markjanes wrote: 94 Points
Identical tasting note...
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10/25/2012 - redders wrote: 94 Points
Britannia group (Hix Mayfair): Very young colour still depp red with some purple. Lovely nose, very 1990 with fine weave of tannins and depth of fruit. Typical LB structure but wrapped in the fruit. St Julien elegance and persistence. Cracking wine which will improve t for a decade or more.
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10/19/2012 - AudunG wrote: 90 Points
Graphite and forest floor on the nose. Sweet fruit. Tart. Volatile acids. A bit premature. Could have been an underperforming bottle.
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10/9/2012 - markjanes wrote: 95 Points
Moderate depth of color... ruby with hints of bricking at rim that is looking its stated age. Aromatically this wine sings with plenty of fruit (as much red raspberry as black currant for me), plenty of varied and subtle baking spices, a distinctive pencil/cedar aroma, plenty of earthy/tertiary tea like aromas. On the palate the wine feels like a very traditional Bordeaux with high acidity, a firmish midpalate, still noticeable moderately ripe tannins that have quite a bit of grip, low to moderate alcohol. Wine has fantastic balance, length, intensity, and complexity. Has loads of finesse, a fine but classically firm texture, classic expression of place. The wine still has the depth of fruit and unresolved tannins to improve with age and will obviously continue to go strong for a few decades. Stylistically this is much more classic (especially on the palate) and as such I think you will see those who like a more classically textured Bordeaux rate this higher. For me personally, this is an "outstanding" bordering on "extraordinary" wine when one compares it to other "great" vintage Bordeaux, especially when you consider its style.
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9/21/2012 - jcoleman wrote: 93 Points
this is without doubt a fantastic wine with a full intense flavour and some lovely cedary notes. however it has to be said that it has never been quite as good as expected and nowhere near the 82 or the even more impressive 85. quite simply it just does not have those extra layers of complexity that you would like and expect. it is stuck in that no mans land between fruit bomb and complex traditional claret.
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9/17/2012 - UTPK wrote:
Seems younger than both Lynch Bages and Lagrange 1990. More structure but also less open nose. Classic though with all the left bank characteristics, just less so than i.e. Lynch Bages. Medium bodied with good maturity and no overripeness as some 1990. Very balanced with smooth tannins and fairly long finish. Will last for many years!
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7/19/2012 - winemaker wrote: 96 Points
Awesome wine. Really good. Lovely aromatics. Plenty of structure. Tannins and acids in balance. Lovely cassis, minerality, cedar. WOTN. vs. 1988 Leoville Barton, 1990 Les Forts de Latour and 1990 Pichon Baron.
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6/16/2012 - wineamateur wrote: 92 Points
Despite having been kept in passive conditions since purchase off the shelf in the early 90s, this was showing very well, with ripe blueberry and cassis, some Juicyfruits gum, cedarwood, and a fungal undertone. Not as impressive as a bottle from an LB vertial in 2008, but still a lovely wine.
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6/16/2012 - Ary Likes this wine: 95 Points
Beautiful wine, had it several times and always great. Typical Cabernet nose with dark fruits, earth, pencil and mineral notes. Very attractive and powerful on the palate, great elegance and long lingering with new notes evolving. Fruits, minerals, 'cream' and herbs.
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6/12/2012 - RayOB Likes this wine: 96 Points
Anthony Barton Dinner (Texture London): Full bodied strong and rich with years of life left in it.
Nose of cassis, cedar, earth and spice. Silky smooth deep rich mouth with a long length.
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6/5/2012 - nytiger wrote: 92 Points
excellent in a tasting of 9 bordeaux
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5/5/2012 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 94 Points
Killer Bordeaux Tasting (Kevin's House (Minneapolis)): Showing well but still plenty left in the tank. Firm tannins, gravel, funk, violets and menthol. Medium to long finish and balanced. Wonderful wine and another decade plus of enjoyment on this one. It received 2 hours of decanting prior to consuming.
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4/28/2012 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Big Bordeaux III - Kickin' Ass & Takin' Names: Stunning Wines from 1986, 1990, 1996 + 2002 Cristal (Rocknroller's (Kevin's)): Very dark red with no signs of bricking. Slow ox for 4 hours, then decanted for 2 hours before serving. The nose starts off very floral, blueberry, raspberry, a hint of raisin, and develops further to show creme de cassis, black cherry, lots of earth, light smoke, cedar. The palate shows a mix of black and red fruits - black cherry, raspberry, cassis, medium/full body, elegant and rich. Tart acids, a little meat flavor late, long finish. Fine tannins, amazingly young. 94+pts.
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4/21/2012 - englishman's claret wrote: 96 Points
750, good cork. Mature disc, ruby robe. What an emphatically classical nose - loads of cedar & pencil, svelte red fruits, a touch of tobacco. Simply put, archetypical. The palate is classic Barton, too, in a way that reminds me of the '88. Tannic, good acid, a little lean, similar in quality to the nose but more charcoal here. A milk chocolate finish. This is lovely - a true Englishman's Claret. This was beautiful right out of the gate, but after 45 minutes (closed decanter) this does put on weight. Changes a bit - more sweet tobacco on both the nose and palate. Less austere on the palate.
I love this style. I can see why modernists are maybe a little underwhelmed. Less of the 1990 richness than other wines of the vintage, but certainly very Barton in character during the first hour.
4+ to 5-
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4/15/2012 - bonedoc wrote: 94 Points
Bought recently from jj buckley, decanted for 2 hrs, drank over 4. A bordeaux lovers delight. Wonderfully balanced black currant fruit, acidity, sweet tannins, and secondaries. Although drinking well, this should survive at least another decade I would think. 12.5% etoh
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2/19/2012 - cortoncharlie wrote: 92 Points
Good but not a bit boring
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2/10/2012 - sooper65 wrote: 95 Points
Sumptuous - deep and dark, soft and alluring and far and away better than the 1996 Lynch-Bages [91]
Reckon it has 6 more years... superb
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12/10/2011 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
Rich, round, fresh, full-bodied black cherry fruit with cedar and smoke flavors, excellent structure, long finish, very nice wine
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12/8/2011 - salil wrote: 93 Points
In a great place right now, with a core of fresh dark fruited and cassis flavours framed by developing cedar, earth, graphite and floral elements. Complex, powerful and nuanced, drinking very well now but the fruit, density and fine grained tannic structure suggests there's plenty of time still ahead.
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11/29/2011 - Julian Marshall wrote:
I decanted this several hours in advance, but it took a good eight to actually open up. The colour is still very dark, with only a trace of brick at the edges. Good nose of lead pencil, blackcurrants and plums, with a little redcurrant as the evening drew on.
The first taste was not good: still massively tannic, quite bitter, like drinking coffee dregs. Then a second wave, much more amenable, a silky, seamless sensation of dusky plums, blackcurrants and black cherries, followed by a finish that alternated between bitterness and an increasing sweetness as the clock turned, with notes of red cherry.
Going back to the wine during the evening, we were struck by the purity of the silky middle section, which is of 1st Growth standard and which grew progressively longer and broader, sinking down to the bottom of the palate and giving a wonderful sensation of satisfying power. This is the heart of the wine, which will increasingly spread to the top of the palate as the wine matures further
Léoville-Barton is never a demonstrative wine, there are no artefacts or fireworks, it's a line of Grenadier Guards rather than a squadron of Polish Lancers. For me this is the best L-B ever, streets ahead of the 82, which simply doesn't have the same power.
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11/19/2011 - godx wrote: 93 Points
Dinner at Matt and Francesca’s (Vancouver, BC): Slow-O’d for 5 hours then decanted for sediment and served immediately. Beautiful, complex and classic mid-aged Bordeaux nose with notes of that wonderful Bordeaux funk, plums, black currants, cedar and coffee grinds. As it sat in the glass the nose continued to change and evolve offering other aromas of bell pepper, Cajun spices, graphite and tobacco. In the mouth this was smooth and mellow without being soft with solid acidity and fine, almost chalky, tannins. Finish is fairly long. I really love traditionally styled Bordeaux and this was no exception. This offers tremendous pleasure right now but should continue to age gracefully for at least another decade. Outstanding.
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11/19/2011 - MattTM wrote:
The Long Awaited Wine & Dine (Vancouver, BC): Opened and let breathe for 5 hours, decanted for sediment and served immediately. First impression, fantastic nose that proved difficult to put my glass down. Lead pencil shavings and black currants at the forefront on the nose, followed by soaked coffee grounds, black plums, barnyard funk, fresh mint, and some black pepper spice. A bit of bell pepper and an interesting note of almost Cajun-like spice developed as it sat in the glass, yet it did not detract from the palate whatsoever. Pure silk on the palate, showing more of that graphite-lead pencil, along with black cherries, dark plums, saddle leather, asphalt, and an integrated note of mint. Medium+ acidity, with plenty of dusty tannins still remaining. Medium+ finish, ending with notes of graphite and red cherries. A truly wonderful bottle of Bordeaux that appeared youthful and to be just starting to enter it's drinking window, with a long life ahead. Fantastic.
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10/24/2011 - rupertg wrote: 90 Points
Decanted through an aerator. Rapidly delivered full flavour. Still red, but dull. Excellent initial fruit, blackcurrant and cedar, but thinning on finish. Drink up
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10/11/2011 - bibendumrrb Likes this wine: 93 Points
Hard to believe this is 21 years old. Needed hours to open up, then wow! Full of fresh fruit - cherries. Smooth and balanced all across the palate. The tannins are very much in control. Thought there would be more action on the nose - but on the tongue, this baby dances.
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10/7/2011 - rupertg wrote: 93 Points
Cork sound, only coloured first quarter. Sediment well settled. Surprisingly dark, core black, edge still red with trace of brick. Initially mute and stark, but opening out after two hours. Classic cedar and tobacco nose, vanilla and fruit on palate. Plenty of body, good for at least another five years. Beautifully structured. Finish is like a vanilla cream with blackcurrant coypus, but superb tobacco leaf aftertaste. Worth the wait. Best decant next time.
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9/18/2011 - Zweder wrote:
Don’t know what to think. Yoghurt in the bouquet, oxidized impressions and chocolate on the palate. Still juicy and drinkable, but this must be an off bottle. No score.
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9/8/2011 - Rupert wrote: flawed
Langoa v Leoville (Les Deux Salons, London): Milky, hot and oxidising
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9/8/2011 - SimonG wrote: flawed
Les Deux Bartons (Les Deux Salons): 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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8/20/2011 - BradKNYC wrote:
TN: A few wines at Paul's baconpalooza (Paul's): This bottle showed poorly. Also served double blind, it was disjointed and a bit harsh with the tannins and acidity seemingly at odds with each other. This wine normally shows a good amount of black fruit, but I found the fruit in short supply here. A little bit of tobacco, but a too strong bitter green note dominated the wine and while I've never noticed any woodiness in this wine previously, this bottle showed a good deal. A C+, but I don't think this is a representative bottle, though it's not corked or cooked.
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8/17/2011 - pilot360 wrote:
Excellent, smooth tannins, well integrated and long finish. I was getting a lot of oak, tobacco and dark fruit, but ultimately a wine that did not show complexity.
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8/8/2011 - Topper wrote:
Have had this several times over the past few years (all from the same case) and this was the first that seemed tired. Hope it is an isolated example.
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7/12/2011 - Sleepy Dave wrote:
1990s Bordeaux Retrospect: Alcohol :: 12.5%
Opened for 2hrs. Dark ruby core with bright rim. Very fresh and intense, still pretty young compared to the first bottle that display layers of wood, meat, sweet dark fruits with savory scents along with strong note of earth and spices, very complex. More mint and perfume black currant note appeared with time. Very powerful, mouth coating and palate staining intensity yet remained beautifully balance, expansive and fresh. The wine is getting smoother and more polished in the glass. The succulence, lush sweet dark fruits and chewy tannin form the unctuous texture that complex with dark chocolate and coffee note. This fabulous Barton delivered remarkable length and persistent on the sweet, juicy finish, with underlying sense of elegance. This is as delicious as the Las Cases but today, the Las Cas is the winner for the overall completeness. I’m splitting hair here. While this can be drunk now, this need at least another 5-7yrs to hit the full maturity and while it does, this should stand shoulder to shoulder to the Las Cases. Buy - Yes.
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7/4/2011 - jcoleman wrote: 93 Points
delightful st. julien which is at its peak now. very elegant
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6/30/2011 - Papies wrote: 92 Points
Bordeaux Vertizontal (88,89,90 - Palmer/Leoville Barton/Cos/Mouton) (Roberson Wine, South Ken, London): A bit of caramel on th enose. Lush red fruit, big wine with lots of life in it. Unfortunately it feels a bit one dimensional, and could use some more depth and complexity. Enjoyable though . Good time to drink. 92
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6/17/2011 - fekfouri wrote: 95 Points
Lovely. Elegant, open, supple, very smooth tannins, mature to the point, long finish. Excellent wine!
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6/10/2011 - Marc wrote: 93 Points
Gorgeous wine. Very plummy fruit - merlot to the fore tonight, lovely cedar, fresh fennel, farmyard, and textbook blackcurrants. I would even go so far as to say a hint of lead pencil. A wonderful left bank nose. Certainly mature - but an extremely involving nose. In the mouth, medium body at most with a strong tannic structure. The cabernet drives the flavours .This wine has a great food-friendly proportion about it. This wine has moderate intensity and length. Not a heavenly wine but certainly a brilliant example of a 1990 that is ready now but will hold for another decade, at least. Most enjoyable.
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4/22/2011 - MRichman wrote:
Dense with sweet mature fruit, iron and a long, dark, burnt finish. Roasted oak and strong dark fruit. Largely dark character. Lively acid. Ready to drink now and for years to come.
B+
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4/17/2011 - CainFiveO wrote: flawed
Cork was mush, and wne was simply red water.
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4/8/2011 - rdsboca wrote: 92 Points
Georgeous wine that had the whole package. Started a but tight on a pop and pour. Nice cigar box component with red mature cherries. Wellintegrated oak. At peak for my tastes.
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3/26/2011 - KristianT wrote: 95 Points
This nights is getting better and better. When I had the '89 of Léoville served blind I had a similar experience as with this 1990. It comes across much more like a Californian Bordeaux blend than an actual Bordeaux. It does have all the elegance that you could wish for, but at the same time it exhibits a concentration and density you would normally associate with a now world wine. Incredible complex - mature, yet youthful. Fabulous wine.
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2/6/2011 - patrickrains wrote: 92 Points
cork came out so easy i was a little nervous at first. But wine looked, smelled, tasted fantastic. still very dark in color, nose came alive after decanting. smooth cherry, cassis, with leather and something, maybe a little chocolate. went great with the onion, sage, sausage and bacon risotto I made.
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12/28/2010 - pinotwok wrote: 91 Points
Nach ca. 6 Stunden Belüftung überwiegend Sekundäraromen mit Zedern, Tabak, Pfeffer und einer salzigen Mineralität, ein wenig reduzierte rote Frucht. Am Gaumen dann eingekochte rote Beeren, Pflaume, mehr Tabak, Leder, Röstaromen und auch hier jede Menge feinste Mineralität, die einen den nahen Atlantik schmecken lässt. Etwas Frucht im Abgang, die dann von der Säure überlagert wird. Ein guter Wein, aber mit 85 Euro (Auktion) zu teuer. Zumindest aus dieser Flasche schon etwas über seinen Zenith, ich sehe aber im Gegensatz zu der Mehrheit hier auch für kühler gelagerte Flaschen keine große Zukunft mehr voraus. Wer noch welche hat, besser jetzt trinken.
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12/11/2010 - markjahnke wrote: 93 Points
Leave it to Dee to bust out some mature Bordeaux that she always says is over the hill, and that she is always so nervous about opening. LOL! You gotta love her, and as always, she was again proved wrong here! Decanted for sediment, showing a gorgeous dark color in the decanter. Gorgeous nose of dark currants, cassis, cherry, tobacco, and spice. There was just a bit of bret on the nose, but this blew off with a few minutes of swirling in the glass. On the palate, this was some great classically aged Bordeaux. I wish I had a cellar full of stuff like this, as it is drinking so well. Very nice, mature palate with a bit of prune, plum, blackberry, and black cherry. Nice lingering finish made this an absolute joy to drink, and this was definitely up there as a wine of the night contender. Very nice after drinking a bunch of new world pinot noir tonight. 93 points! Cheers!
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12/11/2010 - Khamen wrote:
This one was officially called iffy, although it may just have been an excuse to get the rather excellent reserve Pontet Canet 1994 drafted in as well! Certainly not corked and was actualy rather nice, but there was just a tiny hint of something not as it should be. Perhaps a little mustiness lurking up the back somewhere. Odd really, as it's like looking at your perfct partner but today they've got a big spot on their nose! Not enough to drive you away but not quite perfect...
Having said that I enjoyed it, despite the slight wobble
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11/25/2010 - tbabes wrote: 87 Points
The fill was well into the neck, and the cork was sound; popped and poured, and then evaluated over the next six hours. A much more advanced color than I was expecting, with some amber at the rim. Pretty straight-forward; lacking in terms of complexity, texture and grip. This wine is either going through an awkward stage, or is cracking up and on the downslope.
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8/25/2010 - SteelerFan wrote: 95 Points
Great. Deep dark inky color. Decanted for about an hour. Smooth tannins and deep, viscous cherry and berry flavors with earth, tar and cassis. Long finish. Just a terrific mature Bordeaux at its peak with many years ahead of it. No sigh of age. Drank with '89 Beaucastel, and although very different styles, this was my preference. Just a delicious bottle of wine.
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8/15/2010 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
Opens with a white pepper note, followed by red currants, green tobacco and spice; has a pruny/raisiny undertone. Dark fruit flavors on the palate; but also a pruny quality. Guessed older Zin.
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8/13/2010 - JamesTye wrote: 93 Points
Drunk alongside 90 Troplong Mondot and 90 Forts de Latour. Decanted 1hour before serving. Colour was rich red with no hint of brown. Brightest colour of the trio. On the nose, plenty of St Julien freshness, spices and a trace of mint. Taste was complete, rich fruit and still plenty of tannin on the end. Lovely wine but lacking a little complexity and finish because it was not completely evolved. This one is a keeper it will last another 10 years at least. Classic claret with a great future still ahead. My WOTN but nobody else agreed! Perhaps it's because I love LB wines so much.
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6/25/2010 - canan wrote: flawed
Misc Bordeaux 1990 tasting - Martin: Nose: warm/boiled fruit with some cabbage and to much alcohol.
Palate: burnt sugar and boiled plums.
Sadly defective!!
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6/25/2010 - Terkel wrote: 91 Points
Bordeaux 1990 - 20 years later (Martins office): Dark color with a browning hue. Sweet cherry, marzipan, tobacco, turpentine and cabbage on the nose. Juicy blackcurrant and red berries on the attack, turning into fruit tobacco and a touch of burned sugar as it fades over the mid palate and finish.
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6/2/2010 - LeatherPalate wrote: 95 Points
Lots of earth tones on this nose. Tons of dried shrooms,rich leather,tobacco,cigar box,door county cherries,and herbs.
Wow-balance and depth. Cherries,tobacco,leather,dark berries,lead,lots of youth yet.
Elegant and deep.
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5/22/2010 - tooch wrote: 96 Points
Keith's Birthday Dinner (Lula Cafe - Chicago, IL): A serious claret. Compared to the other wines of the night, this had a more distinct roasted mushroom component that I really enjoyed. In addition to the boomers, this had an attractive earthiness that I really enjoyed.
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5/21/2010 - KeithAkers wrote: 94 Points
Celebrating my 30th birthday with 1990 Bordeaux (Lula Cafe, Chicago IL): nose: This was lovely and refined, very english in a way with well balanced tones of leather, cassis, bits of barnyard, dark red cherries, cedar, and a good bit of pipe tobacco. Excellent depth and quintessentially bordeaux, this did get a bit lost in the company of everything else and being the last of the reds. A real lovely nose that needs attention
taste: elegant and smooth medium/full feel with good supporting tannins and refined tones of leather, cassis, dark red cherries, cedar, tobacco and bits of spice box. Still seems a slight bit young, but has a real smooth and refined feel to it with excellent balance
overall: This came off as very english. A beautifully refined wine and is what claret is about. Well balanced, this is a classic bordeaux for bordeaux lovers with great depth on both the nose and palate. This is a bottle that would be fun to track all night
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5/21/2010 - beachbum wrote: 91 Points
classic restrained Barton, this is solid wine, but needs time as i found the tannins/acids the highest on this, not as deep as the others, but very pure lad pencil and black fruit
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5/18/2010 - MRichman wrote:
1990 Left Bank Bordeaux Horizontal: Pruney, black, tight with acidic tannins. Some light sweet floral notes. Long bitter nut finish.
B
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5/9/2010 - tbabes wrote: 91 Points
The fill was well into the neck, and the cork was pristine; this bottle looked like it had just come off the line! So the expectations were high. A youthful appearance, with no signs of age on the rim. Classic (but restrained) St Julien bouquet, with scents of ripe dark fruits, cedar and earth. Good concentration, with a firm structure and hefty tannins. Not the opulence or velvetyness that I usually associate with the top 1990 Medocs, but I think it will evolve for years to come. At least I hope so, as there is a half case sitting in the cellar!
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5/7/2010 - jcoleman wrote: 96 Points
just spectacular! really hitting its stride now. great cedary bouquet, lovely complex attack, great mid palate and long long aftertaste!
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4/18/2010 - rjonas Likes this wine: 94 Points
Superb example of a classic. Deep ruby color, faint funk at opening, big nose and long, satisfying finish... Decanted for 1 hour and consumed over the next two hours... Exquisite...
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4/11/2010 - City Wine Journal wrote: 94 Points
Vinfolio purchase, held two years. No decant. Mature color; integrated, balanced, long, and beautiful. Medium-full, roasted mushrooms, leather, and tobacco. Elegant texture. Great bottle. 12.5%. Open and enjoy now. And if you can, roast and salt bone marrow and spread on toast to enjoy with this classically aged Bordeaux. Just do it, you'll be happy.
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4/4/2010 - SHarvey wrote:
Delicious, at or just beyond peak. Should drink the other bottle this year.
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3/25/2010 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wine dinner with Chateau Leoville Barton & Langoa Barton during ProWein 2010 (Dusseldorf): A rather fresh bouquet of rhubarb mingling with cherry, cassis and leather. The palate was fine, smooth, with melted tannins, but less energy than that of the 1996 and far less foreboding power than the Leoville 2000 or 2005. The finish was shorter than I would have expected. I recall liking the 1989 much more when tasted back in 2006, but have not tried that vintage since then. For the 1990 in March 2010, a disappointment, given the vintage's reputation.
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3/23/2010 - ed-d wrote: 86 Points
Tasted blind. Big VA stink on the nose. Good attack of red currant & then the tannin kick in with a distinct Bordeaux herbaceousness. A little light & getting very tired.
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3/6/2010 - psmith wrote:
Still very young. Black fruits. Some tar and earth. Firm structure. Nice wine, in need of time.
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2/28/2010 - AllRed wrote: flawed
Opens with a weedy vegetable quality - think stewed asparagus just beginning to rot -- but luckily that blew off. However, lurking underneath was a dominant wet straw/horse blanket tone - brett. There's a bit of red fruit on the palate, but also the horse blanket quality. Flawed.
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2/5/2010 - Khamen wrote: 94 Points
Bemused by the Caymus SS 2005 we embarked on something a little more classical for round 2 (and yes ok not fair comparing a 2005 with a 1990 so I won't. Well not much). 1 hour decant.
Not showing much age at all tbh - the merest hint of bricking. Beautiful evolved nose and the kicker is the fact that the core acidity so missing in the Caymus is laid bare here. Round, expressive and earthy. Classic aromas of cedar and graphite (actually I'm not sure it is cedar and graphite, but someone coined the phrase for these things and as it's now part of the canon who am I to argue?). Complex, deep, classical and compelling nose.
Attack is drying before a starburst of elegant and refined fruit with a little touch of nutmeg-attacked -by-a-nail-file. Sorry I'm going back to the Caymus SS 2005 again. That's a bouncer outside a trendy club, the L-B is a gentleman assassin. The balance here is impeccable, and it's still flashing that supporting acidity. Layered, complex finish. A beauty. I think wine Spectator heralded the 2003 as "the greates L-B ever". Guess again.
Now and over the next 10-15. Enjoy it, this is special.
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1/3/2010 - Jason wrote: 90 Points
The bottle and cork are in perfect shape. The nose is relatively faint but shows some wet earth and black fruit. The palate is softer than I expected. The highlight of the wine, however, is the velvet like mouthfeel. Based on prior experiences with this wine, this bottle is not the best example. The mouthfeel, however, made it enjoyable.
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12/20/2009 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Still backwards and with boatloads of tannin, this traditionally styled, masculine, tannic wine demands another decade of sleep
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12/10/2009 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
thirsty man does Dallas (Suze in Dallas, TX): WIML92
Tasted December 10, 2009 at an offline.
Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of roses, berries, cherries and a bit of cigar box. Flavors of black berries and black cherries. Medium acidity and tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold.
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11/12/2009 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
mattach visit Dallas (Suze in Dallas, TX): WIML92
Tasted November 12, 2009 at an offline.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of tobacco, smoke, pencil shavings, a bit of Kirsch, berries and light pepper notes. Later some a note of sandalwood. Solid flavors of black berries, black cherries and plums. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink or hold.
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10/17/2009 - ricknat1 wrote: 95 Points
Fruit forward nose, cherry and leather. Very well balanced, medium sweetness with a taste of raisins and leather. Tannins still a little strong, but drinking nicely. Will get better. Delicous, very well balanced, much more forward than the bottle we ha
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9/29/2009 - nskelsey wrote: 93 Points
Notes not taken at time but was part of a meal that included the 1990, 1989 and 1988 Barton. This wine has it all, but is still very much in it's youth. Everything about it is balanced and in harmony and has one hell of a life ahead of it. Twenty years old and barely out of the starting blocks. I last tried this wine 18 months ago and it hasn't budged an inch. If anything it is more restrained. This has an impressively long life ahead of it. Wonderful wine making.
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9/28/2009 - Khamen wrote: 94 Points
A 2 hour decant for this beauty, and with no apologies the cliches are coming out in abundance. This example is a little bretty but this doesn't detract in the slightest from this extremely classy wine. A real archetype of fine mature claret - delicate but meaty nose with plenty of secondary notes of pencil-lead, earth and cigar box. This wine has balance other wines can only dream of. Sensitive, elegant and lean as a prize fighter this is a great claret by any stretch. Fruit bomb lovers need not apply, but if you want a true glimpse of that elusive beast "terroir" then look no further. Drinking beautifully now. To 2015+?
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9/27/2009 - G Kapoor wrote: 93 Points
Dark color with no sign of bricking. Nose of cedar, black currants and asian spices. On palate it has a silky entry with sweet tannins, not fully integrated but not harsh at all, cedar and black fruits. good weight and full bodied with a long finish. 93 pts, W+A suggested that I hold the last bottle for another 5 years.
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9/24/2009 - Javachip wrote: 89 Points
Lovely bouquet, offering much more fruit than 1985 Mouton tasted the same evening. Full bodied, robust, well balanced. I did notice a hint of mustiness on the palate, and a minimal rough edge, which may resolve with more cellaring, or perhaps simply with longer decanting.
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8/15/2009 - Dave Canada wrote: 96 Points
nose if graphite, cedar, pyrazene and such pure dak berry fruit. Palate has gorgeous black currants, cedar, cassis, wet leaf, earth and is so seemless, weightless and elegant. Finish is long and complex....quintessential bordeaux!
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8/10/2009 - Rich S wrote: 95 Points
Crimson color in the glass. Nose of graphite, forest floor, with some green notes. More graphite and earthy notes on the palate along with some beautiful cherry, cigar box and plum flavors. Medium tannins, silky mouthfeel and long lingering finish. Gorgeous aged bordeaux.
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7/16/2009 - reichken wrote: 92 Points
Rainy London BBQ- decanted for 4-5 hours before dinner. dark color still smelling of mostly dark cherries, some earth. lush and round in the mouth, medium weigt wine. very youthful, not really showing its age at all. silky tannins, long finish, it went really well with the thick T-Bones and enjoyed it very much, almost didn't notice the rain
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7/3/2009 - ricknat1 wrote: 93 Points
Side by side 1990 Leoville Barton and Cos At 1 hour Barton very closed, darker in color, nice bright fruits and green on the nose Cos more approachable, smoky, but in need of more time At 90 minutes Both ready to approach, 2 hours probably op
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6/13/2009 - KeithAkers wrote: 91 Points
judgment of chicago-California Cabs vs Bordeaux (Chicago IL, Ward's): nose: took a slight bit to get going as there was a slight dis-jointedness at first, but then came together well with rich tones of black currants, leather, dark cherries, and cedar
taste: excellent medium/full feel with good tannins in support, but still present with rich tones of black currants, dark cherries, leather, cigar wrappers and some cedar box tones
overall: this grew very well in the glass over the course of about 45 minutes. It most likely would've shown better if decanted for a bit and then poured as this was another random blind wine
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6/12/2009 - Spencer wrote: 96 Points
Another stunning bottle of this wine. Still very young, but immensely enjoyable. I think I'll let my remaining bottles sleep another five to ten years.
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6/9/2009 - Templegrafton wrote: 90 Points
Opened two bottles with rack of lamb. Bottles consistent, only slight hints of aging and great example of a mature Bordeaux from a decent vintage, earthy, leathery, tobacco - rewarded patience and opened beautifully over a couple of hours, certainly worth decanting.
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6/1/2009 - hargy wrote: 91 Points
this wine caught me completely by surprise - quite an even colour still with only a hint of brown - bouquet of coffee and chocolate and then a lovely subtle wine of sweet berries and fully intergrated tannins - delicious! - I would guess at its best - drink now or in the short term (2 to 3 years)
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5/4/2009 - King JR wrote: 92 Points
Poured from a 375ml. Initial nose was musty, dank, unpleasant. This blew off quickly in the glass. First taste right out of the bottle seemed all over the place. Smoothed out after an hour in the decanter and glass when the beautiful blue and dark berry fruits emerged, although not as present as I was expecting. Overall an outstanding, lively, smooth wine - but it took a while. Definitely decant, at least 1-2 hours - you will be rewarded. The acid test for me is by the time the 1/2 bottle was finished, I wanted more ! Very nice, long finish.
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4/30/2009 - cdunn wrote: 91 Points
Very characteristic of a fine aging Bordeaux. Earthy tobacco and cassis on nose, slow to open up. Lively, even a bit pungent, on the palate. Medium-bodied, forest floor, ripe dark fruit with an edge that was appealing; wonderful persistence through finish. This wine has further development ahead, but was a great pairing with the rib-eye.
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4/25/2009 - cweiss wrote:
Russian dinner. My first taste of 6 bought as futures, and starting to develop into a nice classic Bordeaux. Plenty of structure, dark fruit still needs some coaxing, startng to develop some nice secondary bouquet.
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3/30/2009 - Topper wrote: 92 Points
I "discovered" a case of this last year hidden behind other things in the cellar. Made a vow to open one a year from 2008 on. This was the second one and, just like the first, seems to be a beautiful, fully mature, slightly soft, classic bordeaux that would be an education for anyone trying to see how a fine but not overly powerful bordeaux from a very good year can develop. Mostly secondary earth and leather flavors with a slight sharpness to the tannins that lend definition to the wine. A nice match for a less powerful meat dish such as a pork roast but might be overpowered by that sirloin. This is not blockbuster, just delicious.
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3/20/2009 - LWI wrote: 94 Points
Mouton Rothschild versus other first growths and second growths (Oslo): Slight development in color. Not much oak, lovely balance and length, fresh. Slightly exotic, not among the most concentrated. 94p Group average: 3.8
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2/14/2009 - jreis wrote:
Refined earth, white pepper, licorice and tobacco on the nose. Beautifully balanced grape flavors on the palate – like perfect grape jam. Elegantly and opulently textured with a precision from start to finish. My WOTN, #6 for the group. Much better than the last bottle I had!
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1/17/2009 - jeffm_fla wrote: 85 Points
Rich purple color, but a little smell of funk. Taste initially seemed ok (but not great), but died in the glass quickly. Maybe corked or badly handled over its nearly 20 years?
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12/25/2008 - bmckenna wrote: 93 Points
Had for thanksgiving, reviewing late. Really stunning. As I recall, the nose was all Brussels sprouts and broccoli and this huge green pepper, this blast of vegetables mixed with some very nice fruits, and the palate was very thought-provoking and complex. Didn't particularly go well with the turkey only because it was so much more than the meal, which was itself quite lavish. A delight and I'm glad our friend shared with us.
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12/22/2008 - cdunn wrote: 91 Points
Beautiful bouquet of earthy aromas (forest floor, cedar, leather, dried tobacco). Less thrilling on the palate. Medium-bodied,this wine is losing some of its weight. The mid-palate was elegant and nuanced with dried herbs and still some cassis and tobacco, but all more subtle than other recent bottles. I don't know if this was bottle variance or signalling a rapid entry into another phase of maturity. Ruby color extended to rim. Fine finish, but not extensive.
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11/28/2008 - Pre-emptive wrote: 91 Points
This bottle seems a little fatigue and maybe past its prime. I need to open another bottle to verify.
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11/20/2008 - KimberlyDo wrote: 94 Points
This bottle was perfect! Great nose of oak and fruit, dark purple with no brown on edges, and the palate was long, really smooth and full of fruit. I think Parker's score of 92 is low. Note this was a half bottle.
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11/8/2008 - loverboy wrote: 90 Points
Light brownish red color which is surprisingly old consider the vintage. Clean classic nose of mineral, red fruits, tobacco, mints, and herbs. This medium wine has passed it's prime. After 1-2 hours the fruits started to catch up a little but not quite as much as it should. High acidity with fine smooth tannin. Aftertaste stays for quite a while. Drink it nowww
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11/1/2008 - La Grappe wrote: 92 Points
Still quite fresh, with plenty of vigour. Attractive, mature fruit, elegant and long. The fruit started to turn slightly bitter after and hour or so, but this is still a wine with some years to go.
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10/18/2008 - jreis wrote:
Asian spices, limestone, tobacco, smoky black cherry and blackberry fruit with a pronounced green pepper note. Very elegant on the palate, with smoothly integrated tannins and elegant structure but not a ton of fruit.
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10/9/2008 - MRichman wrote:
Leoville Barton vs. Leoville Poyferre (Morton's NYC): Firm and dense. A solid wine with some acidic backbone. Not as smooth, developed or as good as the Poyferre.
A-
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9/11/2008 - jaylew1 wrote: 94 Points
Remarkably vibrant. Purple color. No brown. A little barnyard out of the gate quickly blew off to reveal lovely balance and great blackberry fruit flavors. Can't see it getting a lot better.
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7/19/2008 - La Grappe wrote: 92 Points
The colour is now mahogany with a touch of brown; fully evolved nose and palate, with ripe blackcurrant fruit and a herby element. This has been better and is perhaps just starting to decline, although it will should hold on for a few years yet.
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7/18/2008 - ricknat1 wrote: 90 Points
Ruby in color. Medium rim variation. Slow legs. Black currant (cassis), Red Currant. Full bodied. Silky texture. Short finish. A beautiful wine, needed 2 hours of air to come into its own. does not match the 82
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7/15/2008 - brynmair wrote: 95 Points
Quite enjoyable and drinking very well at this point. Very dark color and the aromas suggested dark fruit, a touch of leather, and a little cedar. The palate was classic and the finish was quite integrated. I really liked the complexity of this wine and how it all meshed together. I may have to hunt for a few more of these.
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7/9/2008 - G Kapoor wrote: 93 Points
Drank with CJ and GK at Pinot right after polishing off a bottle of 1970 Bejor. Inital nose of barnyard funk quickly wore off with an hour of decanting. The dark fruits jumped from the glass with strong aromas of milk chocolate and wet earth. On Palate it held pure with dark fruit, milk choc with a exceptionally long finish, over 40 sec, with hints of black pepper. Very nice wine indeed. The main thing lacking was the freshness and vigor of the fruit one would expect from a fine vintage such as the 1990 but still a very fine bottle of claret indeed.
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7/8/2008 - keelegl wrote: 92 Points
Enjoyed at dinner with friends, from the cellar of gk. Decanted for about an hour before serving. Gorgeous nose full of dark fruits with a strong background of earth and smoke. Wonderful balance on the palate with a nice complexity of flavors, young tannins and a super long finish. The fruit was not thin, but it was lacking a little punch on the palate that would have really put this wine over the top for me. Still has the structure to age gracefully for another 5 to 10 years.
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6/17/2008 - cadamson wrote: 91 Points
Purple (dark), classic Bordeaux nose but not as expressive as I would have hoped. Saddle leather, dark fruit, some lead, ceder, etc. Very good taste of blackberry, mocha and spice, though fruit not up to the 1994 Quilceda Creek. Probably being a bit harsh on the score, but was expecting more.
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4/22/2008 - Rupert wrote: 90 Points
Leoville Barton vertical 1863 - 2005 (Institute of Directors, London): Another one with a shy nose, very powerful and rich, but a bit monolithic
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4/12/2008 - sdr wrote: 87 Points
Maybe unfair to rate, since I had a head cold, but this seemed awfully simple yet sound. I would expect more from a second growth in a great vintage at age eighteen.
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3/12/2008 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
Dallas 2nd Wednesday - March 2008 (Lola's, Dallas, TX): WIML91-92
Tasted March 12, 2008. Opened and served immediately. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of dried herbs, wet stones, white pepper and thistle. Flavors of plums, black berries, Bing cherries, black currants and bitters on the finish. Medium to vibrant acidity, firm tannins, full body. Drink now with a decant or continue to hold.
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3/12/2008 - wineamateur wrote: 95 Points
Jeroboam Club: Ch. Leoville Barton Vertical (Averys, Bristol): Deep plum colour, hints of maturity. Sweet cassis on the nose, malty, quite high-toned, lots of red fruits. Full-flavoured in the mouth, round and mouthfilling, red fruits again, with a gorgeous milk-chocolatey mid-palate, and a long elegant finish. A point.
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3/10/2008 - nskelsey wrote: 94 Points
Deep red; glorious nose of tobacco, cedar, spice and blackcurrant. I could have spent all night smelling this. Rich, powerful wine with classic fruit flavours of cherries, blackberries and blackcurrants. Beautifuly balanced and crafted this wine is still very youthful, but just about ready and has a long life ahead of it. A fabulous effort. Estimated maturity 2008-2025+
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2/26/2008 - CLDWLL wrote:
Decanted this wine for three hours and it needed every second.
A lovely nose -the highlight being some wonderfullly sweet tobacco scents.
Nice body and texture but still a big bunch of tannins on the finish. This wasn't bothersome to me because the wine is so masculine it works if one anticipates it. If I had a few more bottles, I'd let them rest a while longer. I taste enough fruit here to give the tannins more time to resolve.
Significantly better showing than the bottle I had exactly a year ago this month. Would love to revisit but not at current pricing.
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1/26/2008 - Harry Cantrell wrote: flawed
corked. Pisser!
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1/23/2008 - Dave Dalluge wrote: flawed
Dinner at Chris Palm's: Off bottle, although I didn't think this was nearly as bad as Siggy did (although he was probably more coherent than me at this point in the tasting).
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1/23/2008 - Siggy wrote: flawed
Tasting Group Dinner - Paella, White Burgundy, Steaks, and Bordeaux (Chris Palm's House, Minneapolis): Stinky, nasty, maderized, VA-riddled nose. Off bottle.
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1/3/2008 - BradE wrote:
Still somewhat reserved, but a better than expected showing from this bottle. Its all there, and likely will improve somewhat - will never be a mindblower, but is and will be a solid drink.
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1/2/2008 - Siggy wrote: 93 Points
Tasting Group Dinner - Bordeaux at Heidi's (Heidi's, Minneapolis): Second time I've tasted this. Seemed a touch closed down compared with the previous bottle. Nicely ripe dark berry fruit, black truffle, coffee, cedar, and lead pencil. Well-balanced with nice supporting minerality, and ripe fine tannins on the finish. Still young.
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1/2/2008 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 94 Points
Wednesdays at Heidi's: Double decanted about two hours before serving. Dark red/black color. The nose is a stern and brooding blend of dark fruit, cedar and mineral. The main thing you notice while tasting is the structure. This is extremly concentrated but compact on the palate. The taste is mainly blue/black fruit with a ton of minerality and some carmel. Great texture, although much rougher than the Cheval Blanc. The finish is tannic, concentrated, and lingering. This is a beautiful wine that needs additional cellar age.
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12/26/2007 - Marco68 wrote: 93 Points
Red ruby colour with brick rim it's very complex on the nose,black mature fruits,cedar,pencil lead,meaty,this a burly wine.
It improve in the glass considerably during the tasting.On the entry, silky tannins, full body with a long finish.Awesome
93 points
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12/23/2007 - pgordon62 wrote: 91 Points
Primary characteristics of licorice, cigar smoke and an edgy minerality. Shockingly youthful and tight. Medium bodied with the tightness restraining the finish. After a couple of hours it developed a pronounced rose petal note and showed a little sweet currant fruit and leather. Needs another 10 years but will the fruit last?
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12/21/2007 - Jason wrote: 95 Points
I splash decanted and poured. At first it was very tight and a touch thin. After about 2 hours of air, it greatly improved. The palate really opened and became silky smooth. The seamlessness and weight of the mouth feel was tremendous.
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12/4/2007 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WIML92-93. I thought this wine was just a hair behind the 1990 Lynch Bages we had at the same tasting but we'll give it the extra point at 93. Solid wine. Recommended. Hold.
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11/4/2007 - IAMVLAD wrote: 90 Points
i believe that this wine was still young and will get better. i found it very closed and am offering a 90 rating on what i suspect is lurking beneath the surface.
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8/8/2007 - winecat9 wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic aromas. Perfect balance. Still young.
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6/26/2007 - sdr wrote: 89 Points
Lovely polished classical Bordeaux; more developed than the heartier '89; smooth and silky. Smells and tastes like blackberry pie and it's so ripe it seems almost sweet. Soft tannins and ready now. Delicious for sure, but lacks the concentration and length to be rated outstanding.
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6/15/2007 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Beffy, chewy and masculine in style with a big, tannic backbone. Tight. Lacks charm and elegance.
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5/19/2007 - jonggj wrote: 95 Points
Audouze for 5 hours before drinking. This was an exceptional fine example of classic St. Julien
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5/4/2007 - VDLT Wine Likes this wine:
Enormous wine. Dark and brooding. Mint, cedar and dark fruit. Tannins clamp down but remains elegant and regal. A great future.
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5/2/2007 - Redzed wrote: 94 Points
Fabulous! One of the best Bordeaux's I have had for months. Imported from France to LA, California. Purchased on auction in Sydney Australia. Clearly it travels well!
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4/23/2007 - Matthew&Elizabeth wrote: 94 Points
At Wd50 with alex and crew. pretty darn good. still has some life, wish I had some more. I don't think it will get any better, but should drink well for next 10 years
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2/21/2007 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 95 Points
Dinner with Craig, Chris, and Steve (Chez Moi): Dark red/black color. The nose is a stern and brooding blend of dark fruit, ceder, and an undelineated smoke/tobacco/earth. Primordial, but promising. The main thing you notice while tasting is the structure. This is extremly concentrated but compact on the palate. The taste is mainly blue/black fruit with a ton of minerality. The finish is tannic, concentrated, and lingering. Too bad the 1982 was corked, as it would have been very enlightening to try these side-by-side. I gave this 95 points, but I suspect it has the potential to exceed this given enough time. Buy up.
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2/21/2007 - Siggy wrote: 94 Points
Steaks a la Manlin w/ The Dalluges and Friends (Dave's House): Single decanted about 3 hours. Classic Left Bank nose of cedar, lead pencil, and tobacco. The palate shows rich, slightly sweet, smoky blackberry fruit, forest floor, and licorice. Excellent length and balance. Probably just at the beginning of its optimal drinking window. Delicious.
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1/28/2007 - bsherwin wrote:
Bordeaux on the Hudson (Peter Pratt's Inn): This wine has opened quite a bit in the last few months, but it still a massive wall-of-wine. A reserved nose of currant and tobacco that opened up to some licorice and leather with some violent swirling. The midpalate has firmed up quite a bit and there is some compact spicy fruit and earth that hints at what awaits when this hits its stride. The finish is clipped off by the tannins, but was of a reasonable length. It would be interesting to sit with this a whole night and see the layers of the onion peel away, but that was not going to be at a big tasting. I still have very high hopes for this to be a great wine and glad that I have a couple sleeping soundly.
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1/1/2007 - jmoore431 wrote: 94 Points
Nice deep ruby color with slimmest clear rim; nose of tobacco, plums, minerality and hint of smoke; soft texture on entry but some astringency of tannin takes hold with large load of dark fruits weighing heavily throughout. Long, lingering fruit finish. Seeems "only half way there" in development. Quintessential red bordeaux, speaks well of this as best vintage between '82 and 2000.
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12/25/2006 - padapuma wrote: 96 Points
This bottle was kept at warmer than ideal temps from release. The aromas literally filled the room after the glasses were poured for Christmas dinner. The taste was classic leoville.
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12/25/2006 - mark_m_owen wrote: 91 Points
The poorest so far from the case. Suprising lack of integration of the tannin, lots of tobacco making it more like the 1985 than the other 1990s we've had from this box. Cedar, plenty of red fruit, a little flint, chocolate in the middle. Very good but other bottles have been better.
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12/4/2006 - Spencer wrote: 97 Points
Wow - was this a pleasant surprise. This blew away the '82 and '85, my favorite vintages of Barton. Incredibly deep, seamless, balanced. This had the great texture and mouthfeel that I find in most top '90s, and a finish that seemed to go on forever. This is already a complex and complete wine, bit it may even have some room for further improvement, and should age beautifully. Perhaps (one can only hope) the '03 will be similar to this in 15 years.
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12/4/2006 - ERoss wrote: 96 Points
Leoville Barton Vertical; 12/4/2006-12/5/2006 (Spencer's): My wine of the night. Luscious black raspberry, Asian spices (allspice?), and very subtle oak meld into a seamless, solid, and exceptionally well balanced package. Plenty of mid-palate depth and fine yet assertive tannic backbone. A real treat.
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11/26/2006 - PinotDude wrote: 94 Points
Opened and decanted. Fully open by the time I tried it at two hours. Rich ruby-purple with no signs of browning on the edges. Complex berries, cedar and an earthy layer on the nose. No old barnyard. Rich silky smooth taste, with a taste profile predicted by the nose. Rich and well balanced, finishing with just enough soft tannin to give it some grip. We had this with dinner (pork roast) and it paired beautifully. Since the wine was too "strong" for my grown children, I got about half the bottle to myself. I even had about two ounces left for dessert...pumpkin pie. It was a surprising good pairing. I've added a point for the great experience.
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10/12/2006 - bsherwin wrote:
Sweet 16 Party for our Bordeaux (Triomphe): A nice wine, but a little angular at this stage. The nose was pretty reserved, albeit not unpleasant, with currant and tobacco notes. There wasn't a tremendous amount of weight to this and it felt a bit thin on the midpalate, although all the elements of a fine wine were there. The prevalent tannins lead me to suspect that this one isn't quite ready to show its stuff. It was not unimpressive, but I think patience will be rewarded with more power and finesse than we saw tonight.
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4/5/2006 - MRichman wrote:
RFG Dinner (David Wainwright event) (Triomphe, NYC): Nice sweet fruit. Clean. Needs time. Not extremely complex, but silky smooth.
B/B+
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3/14/2006 - CamWheeler wrote: 92 Points
Sydney 1st Growth Bordeaux/Grand Cru Burgundy Dinner (Marque Restaurant): Showing an intense, surprisingly open/forward nose of tobacco, earth and flint. The palate delivers a rush of flavour across the length of the wine. I thought it had the structure to age further, but I quite liked drinking it at this stage of its life.
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1/21/2006 - wcork wrote: 95 Points
Well done! I don't know if it was the mood I was in or what ,but this Wine roocked.Lot's of fruit great mid pallet and 40sec finish.This Wine is dark in color and brings out lots of intrest to the nose and pallet......
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12/11/2005 - CSteefel wrote:
San Francisco Bay Area Leoville Barton Vertical (Moraga): Medium ruby red. Tasted against the 1989, this wine showed a more aggressive, tannic mid-palate and a more subdued nose, both suggesting this wine needs some more time in the bottle. Perhaps most similar in style to the 1982, but lacking just a bit of the sheer power and grip on the mid-palate and finish that that wine shows and showing a little less finesse at this stage.. Could be quite impressive in 5-10 years, but right now showing a little below its perennial competitor, the 1989...
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11/14/2005 - MRichman wrote:
1990 Bordeaux Horizontal (Tribeca Grill): Rich, thick, port-like. A bit simple
B++
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10/18/2005 - jfroklage wrote:
1990 Leoville Barton: This has opened up enough for current enjoyment, but it promises a long life with continued d1990 Leoville Barton - 93+ points, consumed by my wife and I over 2 1/4 hours
Color is ruby red, with just the slightest hint of bricking at the edge. The nose is immediately open for business and very complex -- notes of currants, tobacco, saddle leather, and a slight smoky air about it. No veggie notes present in the nose. Nose continues to build during the evening, with consistent aromas.
The wine takes about 45 minutes to open up on the palate, with initial notes of smoky currants, berries, and leather leading to slight notes of toffee and licorice later on. Interestingly, the acid profile remains prominent, supplying nice balance to the '90's power, with a 30 second finish.
I think the wine still somewhat young, perhaps getting to its peak in another 5 years. That said, it's very nice tonight. A 95 nose and a 92+ palate, and one of the best LB's I've tasted.evelopment. Richer and more structured than the 1989. Also with leather notes that may be evidence of some brett.
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9/18/2005 - The Wine Bum wrote:
Some Recent Notes: Tuscany, Burgundy and St Julien; 8/11/2005-9/22/2005: Drunk at Chez Bruce with their fantastic as ever cheese board. Blackcurrant compote and pencil shavings, generous and exotic, especially by buttoned up Barton standards. Lovely two-times.
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7/30/2005 - The Wine Bum wrote:
A Hot Streak: Dauvissat, Poyferre, Barton, Mortet, Grivot, Clos des Papes; 7/24/2005-8/3/2005: This was from a half bottle and was perfectly mature. Barton is so cool, always makes cracking wine and keeps it real on the price front. I'm not sure if a 750 would be as mature as this is at it apogee. Classic Barton nose of cedarwood, cassis and St Julien dirt. The palate is smooth with just a hint of ripe tannin that has all but smoothed out, rich 1990 blackcurrant fruit that's sunny without being baked. It shows excellent complexity and depth, with some nice earthy notes, hints of bitter choclate, pencil lead and simply packed full of meaty goodness. This is a great half bottle of wine.
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5/31/2005 - Dteng wrote: 91 Points
Dark garnet in color, this delicious wine offers aromas of cedar, cherries and the slightest bit of funk, just enough to make it interesting and fun. Though tannic, there is plenty of fruit to back it up. Finish is long and while it has the stuffing to go another decade (best guess), this is drinking very well. I did not decant, a la Hudak. What a super wine with some age on it. Thanks again Bruce Maddox!!
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5/15/2005 - jonnyoro wrote:
Decanted for 5 hours; we drank this with prime dry-aged lobels strip steaks and fries... color was purple with ever so slight bricking on the edge; right out of the bottle and into decanter it almost had a peanut butter like odor but this went away rather quickly. Nose of berry, cherry and smoke; medium bodied with very nice structure but the tannins are resolving nicely adding to some maturity- this is at the beginning of its "ready to drink" stage. classic bordeaux palate with sweet tannins and a beautiful finish with cherry, berries, and cassis; I could've finished the whole bottle by myself! this was a great QPR in 1993 (i think it was like $30/bottle- now over $100 but a good value)
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4/14/2005 - jfroklage wrote:
1990 Leoville Barton Yummy and good. Here is a very nice 1990. Good cassis fruit with oak and earth in a typical St Julien profile. nice and tannic in the mouth. Nicely balanced and fun to drink!! This wine would garner more points from me, I suspect, were I to sit with it by itself all night long. BTW- this wine is hardly ready to fall apart but it is at its peak- no need to hold on to it for the sake of just holding on to it. 92+ points
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3/22/2005 - cassetta wrote: 95 Points
From a half bottle. Decanted for over two hours. Bright garnet with slight fading on the edge. The exotic nose of tobacco, forest floor, leather and a hint of eucalyptus is really captivating. When first opened the tannins really stood out, now they are smooth, sweet and fully integrated. Full bodied with nice structure. Concentrated flavors of dried cherries and minerals on the palate with long smooth finish that lasts for over 40 seconds. This wine is finally entering maturity and is much more approachable than the last time I had it a year and a half ago (also from ½ bottle). This half bottle appears to have entered maturity and should hold for another 5-8 years. I would think that for 750’s you could add another 3-5 years before maturity.
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3/16/2005 - IanL wrote: 92 Points
Christie's Wine Department Open Evening & Tasting (Old Brompton Road, London): Dark ruby-purple core. Classic bdx nose - cigar box and blackcurrants, with a smattering of secondary aromas. Still some brooding prescence and plenty of life left. Nice.
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2/19/2005 - BradKNYC wrote:
Dinner at Abood's. (Michel's.): This wine has really started to show nicely the past couple of years. While still youthful, it is fully out of its dumb stage. Classy, textbook Bordeaux that shows focused cassis flavors and aromas, with earth and herb notes and tobacco joining the party later in the evening. No hurry to drink it, but I like where it is now. Solid A-.
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2/9/2005 - Jeff W wrote:
Linden vertical.
Lovely ruby-purple, slightly faded. Intense, ripe blackcurrent and cedar. Delicious, but still quite austere (and greeen?). Piquant acidity and lots of sweet tannin. Opens out with air, but it may still be too young to approach. When are you meant to drink Leoville Barton!
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12/15/2004 - CSteefel wrote: 90 Points
A relatively subdued nose of tobacco and cassis, but growing slightly stronger with time in the glass. In the mouth, a fuller but softer feel than the almost painful Sociando, but lacking somewhat the structure to provide a long finish. Some debate arose at the table as to whether this was a wine that had not fully opened up (i.e., that it would be considerably better in a few years), or whether perhaps it was one that really lacked the stuffing to improve much more than marginally.
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3/12/2004 - Eric wrote: 91 Points
Seattle Tasting Group does 1990 & older Bordeaux (Seattle, WA, USA): Stunningly tannic and primary. On the palate this is sweet with some cranberry. Very long. Very young. Almost painful right now.
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2/7/2004 - Eric wrote: 94 Points
Dinner at Lampreia with Amy & Justin. Oh wow, this is gorgeous and just barely approachable. The palate shows dominant notes of lead pencil with tobacco, dark fruit and a beautiful earthiness. OMG, on the palate this shows mountains of sweet, black fruit yet is brooding, tannic, massive and masculine. This is just so deep and powerful and with a few hours this became much more approachable. This has so much time ahead it is scary, but if you don't mind some structure it is awesome right now. Delicious!!!
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2/3/2004 - Nuray wrote:
Setting: Offline
Appearance: bright, almost opaque garnet core
Nose: sweet oak and vanilla on the nose, with cherry and mineral notes
Palate: palate is dry, medium + body and a long finish, this is a chewy, tannic wine with black berries, sour cherry and mineral components
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11/1/2001 - PSide wrote:
A magnificent wine, with a strong red colour to the rim and a nose packed full with jammy rich black cherry fruit, vanilla and spicy tones. Eventually opened up in the mouth to give a succulent perfectly structured drink. Magnificent, but clearly not yet fully mature.
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7/27/2001 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 92 Points
Vineyardgate Wine Dinner at Park Hongkong restaurant in San Francisco (5322 Geary Blvd.): 2004-2025. 92+/100.
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4/1/2001 - Charlie Carnes wrote: 95 Points
I am amazed by the vanilla and cassis nose and the sweet ripe plum and cassis liquor palate of this wine. I have never had a less than stellar bottle of Leoville Barton. This wine explodes in the mouth with sweet, long, and ripe fruit, and a very long finish. Good tannin structure, but very balanced and harmonious. I love 1990 Bordeaux. 95+
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5/8/1999 - mdefreitas wrote: 91 Points
Insignia Vertical @ Surf Village (Milford): Good purple color. Closed and tight. Shows concentration, but not much else at this point. Save in the cellar.
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11/7/1998 - mdefreitas wrote: 94 Points
CT Group does Bordeaux vs Cal Cabs @ Jeff S: Tight and young. Still needs more time, but the massive tannins cannot hide the sweet fruit and chocolately notes. Put this baby away and pleasure will await...
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