Erik Longabardi

9.2

Compared to the ‘03 on a hot vintage this was also fire (but the ‘03 was the winner). — a month ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Leoville Barton is one of my favorite St. Julien producers and still one of the best values upon release of Left Bank Bordeaux’s. If my memory is correct, I think this was WS’s wine of the year a few years ago.

I haven’t had this since the release at UGC. It was so fresh then. It has definitely put on weight and showing some nice evolution. But, Anthony made his wines for the ages. This will rise 2-3 points with 20 years bottle age.

It is round and lush. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, purple fruits, blueberries, some creamy raspberries & dark cherries. Anise, light graphite, tobacco ash, leather, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dry river stone, limestone marl, dark spice, dry herbaceous notes, hints of black olive, black licorice, dry stems, mix of dry & candied dark flowers, very nice round acidity and a well; balanced, structured, tensioned and polished finish that last minutes.

Would open this in 2032 and beyond. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Flight #2 of our 1997 Retrospective and these were the thoroughbreds. Presented single-blind; no formal notes. Wine #2 had great color, was developing, fresh, focused, balanced; great structure. One of those glasses of wine you didn’t want to end and, for me, a tough call for favorite of the flight along with Wine #1. I vacillated between this being Dominus or Monte Bello; ultimately calling the former. This is in a beautiful phase of life. Monte Bello is one of those wines that needs decades to show its best. Drink now through 2040. — 3 months ago

Kaushal Kantawala

9.0

Great find at Costco — a month ago

Tom Garland

9.5

+2 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A wondrous dark garnet with bricking. On the nose: perfumed notes of stewed plum, currants, old leather, cigar box, smoked meat, truffles, and touch of mint. Taste: silky, exquisite wine with red cherry/plum, old leather, dusty chiseled granite, bitter chocolate, cedar, and a dry graphite/coffee long finish. YUM! Drinks beautifully and should hold for more years of awesomeness. — a month ago

with Brenda

Greg Andrew

9.4

Thanks for the great wine mom! - 2/16/24 — 2 months ago

Natalie Logsdon

9.3

Bought in Tennessee. Not too much of a metallic taste. Enjoyed this. — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium straw with green reflexes . Pear , quince , melon , with a sage and white pepper twist. On the palate a bit rounder than the nose would suggest , though with high balanced acidity. The palate shows pear, melon and fresh herbal notes with a touch of white pepper, blanched almond , lemon pith on the finish. Ok length with balanced alcohol . Drink now and over the next 5-8 years — 2 months ago

Julia Oktawiec

9.0

Delicious! Gentle creaminess, acidic at first then melts down. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Flight #2 of our 1997 Retrospective and these were the thoroughbreds. Presented single-blind; no formal notes. Wine #1 had great color, was developing, and probably the earthiest of the group but still had a lovely fruit profile. A really nice balance of fruit and non-fruits. Robust structure. Notably, this was the only bottle in the flight that had Brettanomyces…and while I found it to quite charming, this is what ultimately got me hung up on whether I thought this was the Dominus or the Monte Bello. Ultimately I called the later. I really dig this and wish I could afford more Dominus in my life. Drink now and through 2035. — 3 months ago