1996 Château Léoville Barton
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Tasting notes
Open, expressive, esoteric nose where fruit is joined in equal intensity by vegetal and herbal notes, and oak spices. Retains that formal tannic feel during the very long finish. There's a farmyard note that is typically old-fashioned, but it all works in context. (RH)
Critic scores
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
The 1996 Leoville Barton appears more youthful than the 1996 Langoa Barton in the glass with a healthy deep garnet core. The aromatics unfurl gracefully in the glass revealing briary, wild hedgerow, black truffle and sandalwood scents -- firmly in secondary aroma stage but with appreciable presence and intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin that form its firm and classic structure, spice, white pepper and cloves infusing the slightly animally red berry fruit. This is an adorable Léoville Barton that is occupying a very "happy" place at the moment -- superb precision, old school claret at its best. Decant for an hour no more, then enjoy. Tasted July 2016.
Dark crimson. Sweet, evolved, almost elderly nose. Aromatic fruit. Still the vestige of a backbone. A lady of mature years who is a stalwart of the Conservative party? (If this wine were a person…) Slight lack of concentration on the mid palate. (JR)