Mike Saviage

10

From a gorgeous bottle with 4cm of ullage. Slow-ox'd for 3 hours, then gave it 45 min in a decanter, then back in the bottle for consumption and debauchery over 5 more hours. Reddish tawny with amber rims, translucent. Gorgeous nose from the get go. Notes of raspberry jam, cola, cool slate rock, gravel and tan spice. Silky, velvet glove in the mouth. Has some solid structure that balances the ton of fruit this wine still has. The impact of this wine is both its elegance and the energy in the background that makes each sip memorable. This bottle was even better than the year-ago birthday bottle, and tonight it eclipsed my previous favorite 61 Bordeaux of all time (the 61 Palmer). (Bday 9 of 13) — 6 days ago

Mike Saviage

9.7

Wanted to put up a future all-time great against two all-time great HBs... the 45 and the 61. Opened and decanted this 9 hours before serving. Light tawny color, translucent and darker than the other HBs. Intense nose with notes of black cherry, black raspberry, hickory, gravel, moist soil, some mocha and some menthol. Huge and powerful in the mouth. Still tannic and young at age 31. Almost port-like. This is easily a 75 year wine, like the 45 sitting next to it - a wine that it can probably surpass as it gains more age, weight, advanced notes and complexity. (Bday 11 of 13) — 6 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

The 89 Margaux is elegant, floral, lighter bodied & weight than the 90 showing a feminine style, red berry fruits, plum, leather, forest floor, vanilla, dried herbs spice, tobacco & rose petal. — 4 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2009 vintage. At that time this estate was owned by French Bank Crédit Agricole, but it was sold in late 2019 to the Perrodo family (owners of Marquis d'Alesme and Labégorce in Margaux). Considered very good terroir, fairly close to the Gironde with 30 years old vines and some very old plots. The blend in this vintage was 55% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 5% petit verdot. Very attractive nose after 30 minutes in the glass, ripe cassis and flowers. More elegance than sheer power, this is drinking well today with a nice balance between cassis fruit, good acidity and well-integrated oak and alcohol (abv 14%). With a little bit more depth and more fruit in the finish this could have competed with some of the crus classés. In any case very reasonable value at 29 euros and what you'd expect from a good Margaux at this price point. — 11 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

A blend of 65% Cab Sauv, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Dark Ruby with ripe fruit aromas & herb notes. On the palate black cherry & blackberry, currant-like, with tobacco, cacao and smoky oak notes. Dusty fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit and earthy mineral tones, just starting to drink well but will last for then next decade+. Tasting Sample! — 8 days ago

Clive McNish

9.4

This is excellent, one of the best Bordeaux I have tasted. Rich and dark purple in the glass, the nose reminds me of great Napa juice. Full of blackcurrant, cedar, leather and vanilla aromas. Palate is soft, rounded and just delicious with plenty of dark fruit, plum, tobacco and liquorice. The finish is long with some soft tannins and light acidity. I will go back tomorrow and pick up another couple of these, there is no better recommendation than that. If you love Napa Cabernet and modern style Bordeaux this is perfect. — 8 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

The first harvest at this estate was in 1252. Property owned by Bernard Magrez, a wine, art, culture and gastronomy patron Ruby with aromas of aromas of berry fruits and rich spices. On the palate cherry and blackberry flavors with cedar and earthy spices, well balanced. Fine firm tannins, long complex depth, ending with elegant fruit and slight mineral notes. Just starting to open up and will develop over next decade. — 5 days ago

Frank Kuo

9.4

Color of deep purples, different shades, pretty dark, and a bit cloudy. Nose of cocoa, dark fruits, aldehyde, spice, powerful alcohol and acidity. Taste of refined soft tannins, thick and silky, refined sweet flavors, medicinal notes, and some berries. Aftertaste is medium long with some more warmth. Pretty good. — 2 days ago

Brian Messineo

9.4

Definitely on the young side, but gave it a whirl after one hour in decanter. It was definitely open for business with plushness and more fruit forward characteristics of its youth. A really good Pomerol and one that I will continue to seek out. — 4 days ago

! !Yarivyo Wine Score!

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.1

Leoville Barton Saint Julien Grand Cru Classe is a lovely Bordeaux that shines again again over vintages. It seems to me that it never surrendered to the Parker impact and stayed true to its old school nature of restrained power and complexity at a good value.
This wine needs time to mature, it’s not made for early drinking and it requires patience and this patience pays of!
The 1998 is simply singing these days and I am so happy I secured a case! The wine is earthy with notes of dry leaves, dump forest floor, coffee, licorice, black currents and cigar box, the body is full and complex with lovely dry tannins that add a nice touch of sophistication and complexity, the finish is long and elegant. Old school and delicious!
My score 91, drink to 2024 — 13 days ago