1995 Château Léoville Barton
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Tasting notes
It has been a long time since I encountered a bottle of 1995 Léoville Barton. It has a mature, slightly fungal bouquet, a little smudged and certainly without the precision or complexity of the 1995 Ducru Beaucaillou. Yet it develops a heart-warming camphor note with aeration, allied with used tea leaves. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins, gentle grip, and is surprisingly youthful with hints of desiccated orange peel on the finish. This has much more to give. Tasted at the 1995 Bordeaux off-line at Piccolino in London.
Critic scores
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Very dark lustrous ruby. Quite evolved nose. Scented. Hint of linseed oil. Solid, well balanced, lots of stuffing and the tannins are well managed – almost imperceptible until the very end of the palate. (JR)
Less intense than the 1996. Very, very dry and youthful. A dry finish. Still very rigid. Needs lots of time. Very uncompromising. (JR)
About the producer
Ch. Léoville Barton is a Second Growth Saint-Julien estate, one of the three famous Léoville estates (along with Léoville Poyferré and Léoville Las Cases). Owned by the Barton family (along with Ch. Langoa Barton), it produces classically structured Claret that ages beautifully.