Leoville Barton 2019 (1.5L)

"The 2019 Léoville Barton has a gorgeous bouquet, very delineated and quite mineral-driven, offering blackberry and briary scents, a whiff of freshly rolled tobacco and a hint of orange rind. The beautifully balanced palate features sappy black fruit and fine acidity, quite gentle at first but developing wonderful poise and weight toward the finish. I adore the way this grows in the glass but retains an appealing spiciness on the aftertaste. Superb. A testament to the late, great Anthony Barton. 13.88% alcohol" 02/22

96 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2019 Léoville Barton is so impressive. Rich and heady in the glass, the 2019 offers up a beguiling mix of dark fruit intermingled with scents to tobacco, gravel, pencil shavings, leather, licorice, scorched earth and cloves. Today, Léoville Barton is decidedly virile, imposing and in need of cellaring. It is also hugely impressive. Léoville Barton is one of the first Bordeaux I tasted, many years ago. It remains a favorite for its combination of quality, personality and fair price, all values the late Anthony Barton championed during his long and distinguished career." 02/22

96 Points, James Suckling: "Currants, sweet fruit and fresh flowers on the nose. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, silky tannins that are chewy and powerful. Long and muscular, yet in a toned and polished way. Try after 2026." 02/22

96 Points, Jane Anson, Decanter: "Medium to full intensity in colour, this is glass-staining ruby and yet another hit from an estate that is making seriously great wine right now. Mint and eucalyptus are clear, tension and grip held through the palate. This has shoulders and swagger to the tannins, pure cassis hit of fruit and some lovely black chocolate and slate overtones along the way. Strays almost to Pauillac in terms of the weight of the tannins, but it's brilliant." 5/20

97-99+ Points, Jeb Dunnuck: "The vivid purple, almost blue-hued 2019 Château Léoville Barton is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated wine that includes 16% Merlot. It will spend 18 months in a mix of new and used barrels. Classic Barton notes of cassis, scorched earth, burning embers, new leather, and violets emerge from the glass, and this beauty is full-bodied, massively concentrated, and structured on the palate, yet it has a beautiful elegance as well as a plushness in its texture. Nevertheless, it's not for those seeking instant gratification and is going to need 10-15 years of bottle age to hit maturity. It reminds me of the 1990 and is a great, great wine in the making. If you love Léoville Barton, don't miss this wine!" 6/20