Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Consistently enjoyable throughout, but best after several hours of air and through Day 3. The wine pours, a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. No signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with expressive notes of ripe and dried cherry, plums, toasted coconut, fresh dill, cedar chest, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however, the fruit is much more tart. The finish is long and tangy. A textbook example of old-school Rioja. Lovely. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 2 months ago
2021 vintage. Old-school styled, Napa cabbage. The solitary nod to new-school is the medium-heavy body. Focused, dark fruit presence (not as much as Freemark Abbey but not far behind either). Plenty of value to be had here. Grip if you want it. Fruit if you so desire. Obvious balance. Nicely done. First Neal product visit/tasting but it won’t be the last. 1.24.24. — 9 months ago
Nicely matured and ready-to-go! Very old school Napa Cab nose with weediness and cassis wrestling for top billing. So velvety in the mouth. Tannins nearly all gone. Nicely concentrated, there savory and fruity flavors are in a nice equipoise. Lots of length! Very nice. — 25 days ago
The 2004 Léoville Barton is less opulent on the nose than the Langoa but offers a little more refinement and terroir expression. A touch of seaweed develops with time. The palate is fresh on the entry. It is one of the most saline Léoville Barton that gets the saliva flowing. It is classic old-school Anthony Barton with a judicious dab of black pepper and menthol furnishing the finish. Excellent. (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2024)
— 5 months ago
Special evening: school related celebration — 9 months ago
A robust berry aroma is enticing and tempting. I savored every sip. I paired this delicious port of the Ol’vine with a confectionery milk chocolate or White chocolate Orange (available at your grocer) during the Christmas holiday. Thanks dear Nick. — 10 months ago
Timothy Eustis
Wine Director, Red Lion Inn
Old school. Balanced tannins and fruit. Really great. — 20 days ago