This was showing beautifully with good richness, balance, red & black fruits, earth, spice box, cedar, leather & tobacco notes — 24 days ago
Expressive nose with black fruits and leathery notes. Needs a decant but certainly approachable now. Nice firm tannins. — 3 months ago
Blend of about 65% Cab Sauv, 25% Merlot and rest Petit Verdot. Deep Ruby with aromas of berry fruit aromas and herb notes. On the palate black raspberry and blackberry, currant-like, with tobacco, leather and smoky oak notes. Fine tannins, medium finish ending with fruit and earthy mineral tones, drink now. — 4 months ago
I liked the uncharacteristic subtle sweetness from plum and dark fruits. Add a touch of leather and vanilla, soft tannins, and this one was smooth. Good stuff! — 4 months ago
There are a number of things I can say about Leoville Barton. For me, it is a storied property and experience.
To this point, I have had quite a few 2000 Bordeaux’s, none of them ready as this one. Given what I know about Anthony & his legacy, most of his good vintages were made for your children. So, color me surprised.
While this 2000 is drinking well, it is far from its precipice. There is another 20 yrs plus of road here.
Sofia and I have had the pleasure of dining at the same table with Anthony Barton and his wife in the early teens of 2000. He was a salt of the earth gentleman. His wife, lovely. At dinner that night, he told us a story I will not forget. A story prompted by a question from my wife. He and his wife drove from France to Switzerland. They were stopped at the border and asked to get out of the car as they had a case of wine with them. At that time and maybe still now, you can’t take wine over the border into Switzerland. The border guard called the powers to be and recanted the story of them trying to bring wine into Switzerland. He told them their name. The person on the other end of the phone said, who? They said, Anthony Barton. The reply, was let him through. That’s respect!!!
His daughter Lilian has taken the helm. She is also salt of the earth and a great Bordeaux Ambassador. May Anthony RIP.
This 2000 is classic Bordeaux in every way.
The nose shows steeped & candied fruits that are; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, black cherries, purple & blue fruit hues (classic Barton). Graphite, dry tobacco, dry leather, dry limestone bits, dark Asian spices, dry herbs, dry river stone, dark, rich, forest floor, anise to black licorice, mid colas, fresh, candied to withering florals that are; dark, red, blue and violets.
The palate shows, M+ rounded, fine grain tannins. The nose mirrors the palate in many ways. Steeped, candied, ripe, juicy fruits that are; brambly blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, black cherries, raspberries, purple & blue fruit hues. Leoville Barton shows purple & blue fruits more than most other left bank producers. Graphite, dry tobacco, cedar, dry leather, dry limestone bits, dry top soils, saline, caramel, mocha powder, German chocolate cake, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, dark Asian spices w/ some heat, dry herbs, touch of black pepper, grilled meats, dry river stone, dark, rich, forest floor, anise to black licorice, black tarriness, mid colas, fresh, candied to withering florals that are; dark, red, blue and framed in liquid violets, acidity is grand, well balanced/structured, highly toned, elegant & smartly polished finish that lasts minutes and settles on earth & dark spice.
Decanted 90 minutes and enjoyed over nearly three hours.
Appreciated the 12.5% ABV. Many would say that is not possible in the modern wine era. Anthony says otherwise w/ his 2000.
95-96. — 11 days ago
Always good ample aroma including black currant, berry and cherry. Leather. Slightly solid. Better to wait for years. Rafon Rochet 17 @3080, Galeri, 260518 — 2 months ago
Medium Ruby with aromas of black and red fruits with floral spice notes. On the palate flavors of cherry and blackberry with smoke and tobacco notes. Generous acidity on fine soft tannins with a long finish ending with fruit and floral spice. Drinking well now! — 3 months ago
Always great to stop through Hong Kong which is kind of Wine Tourism at its best out of region…. Picked up this very youthful bottle to evaluate: saturated almost black/purple in the glass; nose somewhat mute at first but after a day or so all blackberry and plum; first sip almost painfully intense, great acidity and velvet tannins. Long haul wine and great but not outstanding. I’m more in line with NM than AG’s 100 points. — 5 months ago
16 years old and kicking! This was one of the very first grand cru classés that I bought when I began my wine journey in the early 10's.
The nose shows tar, pine resin, mushrooms, damp autumn forest floor, cedar, old leather, dark cherries, black currant. Some many layers! The palate is complete with fully integrated tannins, a very smooth, silky mouthfeel, nice cherry and black currant notes all along, fully integrated tannins which caress the tongue in the rear, and a long and smooth finish, leaving a nice dusty layer amongst nice cherry and black currant touches. Some cedar, light oaky notes pop up as well as a nice saline touch which adds a layer of complexity. It's in a perfect place right now. Great wine! — 3 days ago
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Deep purple in color with a wide reddish rim.
Beautiful nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, licorice, herbs, chocolates, light earth, garrigue and peppercorn.
Full bodied and soft, with medium plus acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with black currants, black cherries, plums, light oak, spices, coffee, licorice, tobacco leaf, light earth, chocolates, herbs and peppercorn.
Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a very tasty Merlot based blend from Saint Emilion. Elegant and nicely balanced. Showing good complexity with a nice mouthfeel.
Needed 2 hours in the bottle to open up.
This 10 year old Merlot from the great 2016 vintage still feels young. Probably in its 'dumb phase' right now, and needs a few more years in the bottle to mature properly. Will continue to age nicely in the next 7 to 10 years.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, and better with food.
A blend of 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc. Aged in (50% new) French Oak barrels.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$125. — 2 months ago
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Fruity nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity and mouthfeel.
Showing black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, chocolates, toast, licorice, spices, earth, tobacco and herbs.
Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Merlot based blend from Bordeaux. Rich and extracted. Nicely balanced and complex.
This 16 year old is starting to drink at its peak now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.
Wine Advocate 96 points. Wine Spectator 96 points.
I've had the 2012 a few years ago, but this 2010 vintage is showing so much better.
Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, so be patient.
Good by itself as a sipping wine, or with food.
A blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 17 months in French Oak barrels. Unfiltered and unfined.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$180. — 4 months ago
"Odedi"
#AgedWineTuesday
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Nose of blueberries, black plums, cooked cherries, oak, licorice, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn and mediterranean spices.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, blackberries, light cedar, earth, herbs, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, light forest floor and black pepper.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 21 year old 4th growth Bordeaux is drinking beautifully now. Still showing enough fruits to balance the earth notes. Rich, elegant and very complex and engaging.
This iconic 2005 vintage is drinking very nicely now, and drinking at its peak. Will continue to drink nicely in the next 10 years. Nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel.
I had this vintage 2 years ago, and it is drinking much better now, and very approachable right out of the bottle.
Wine Enthusiasts 93 points. Wine Advocate 93 points.
Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food.
A blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot.
13% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$200. — 13 hours ago