Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

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. — 9 days ago

Mark S.

9.2

Garnet transparent. Oak. Cherry, raisin, leather, spices, licorice. Tannic, acidic at initial. One hour, getting smoother. But lots of tannin. 2nd day, much better!! 3rd day, tannin is better than before. 4th day, still good. Quite robust and powerful. It should be good 10 years later to wait for tannins’ melt. Isole e Olena,Cepparello Toscana IGT 15 @2950, wine plus - Ambassador, 240604 — 2 years ago

Ericsson

9.5

History in a bottle from the wine ambassador himself. Very integrated Cab, balanced, round, with layers of complexity. Cheers. — 3 years ago

Paul K

9.1

Favorite of the tasting ambassador, but not quite mine. — 4 years ago

Jonathan Fuss

9.3

Picked up from ambassador after telling them I liked Akashi. Tastes similar. — 5 years ago

Jonathan Fuss

9.0

Good for cooking. Got it at Ambassador across the street for 13.99 — 7 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.8

So glad I still have some rare barrel to try. Even at 6 years the nose is bonkers. So much perfume. More floral, the carrot is less, vanilla and oak more, but there’s something so lovely bringing this all together. What an experience. — 4 months ago

Mark S.

9.0

Black berry spices Fruitiness M+ Sweetness M+ Acidity M Tannin M Smooth This is one of the directions in Ridge Zinfandel. Ridge Three Valleys 23 @1600, P9 - Ambassador, 251126 — 8 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I’ve had a number of Paul Bara N/V’s & a few vintage cuvées, all have been ok to good. This 2016 Special Club stands out as one of the very best I’ve had from this producer.

It is a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. Its dosage is 6 g, which makes it just into the lowest level of Brut, which is another reason why I probably enjoy it. Extra Brut has definitely become my wheelhouse. This right now is more 93 to 94. With 5-8 yrs of cellar time, it should improve another point or two.

Paul Bara is one of 28 or 29 special club members currently.

The nose shows; bright, lemon, cream, notes of honey, caramel, lime, zest, pineapple juice, honeydew, and tropical melons, beautiful, chalky powder, yeasty notes, spring, flowers, yellow, lilies and Jasmine.

The mouth entry shows beautiful, mousse and crisp acidity. Meyer lemon, frothed whole milk, cream, notes of honeysuckle & caramel, lime zest, green apple, pineapple juice, honeydew, tangerine, white stone fruits, yellow & red Rainier cherries and tropical melons, touch of fresh herbs beautiful, chalky powder, gritty, grey, volcanic minerals, white spice, limestone, yeasty notes, spring, flowers, yellow, lilies and Jasmine. The finish is; well structured & balanced, elegant, last nearly 2 minutes and falls gently on chalk, volcanic minerals and nice spring florals.

Definitely delicious!

Pairing - green, vinaigrette salad w/ honey crisp apple, pomegranate, heirloom tomatoes, walnuts & more.

Photos of; the Champagne House of Paul Bara, Paul Bara brand Ambassador, library cellar and Bouzy vineyard. — a year ago

Ryan Rek

9.7

Bought at Ambassador. Yellow wax top — 3 years ago

Norman

9.2

WhiskeyFest SF 2022 - High West Tasting. The ambassador did a nice job. Great information about the barrel making process. — 4 years ago

Jeff Clement

9.5

Joined club after tasting visit on our west coast trip w Laneville’s. Fun tasting room in warehouse district outside Seattle. Really enjoyed this blend as part of first shipment — 5 years ago

The Pretentious Gentleman

8.9

Did not improve my jumping ability. Once I got past the disappointment, what I was left with was a decent blend that was sort of mellow and understated with low acidity. It seemed as though it was trying not to provoke me but that, in itself, set me off a bit. It was a B-level ambassador of a wine. — 6 years ago

Mark S.

8.9

Tropical fruits honey vanilla. Chalk and minerals. Buttery. Calera Central Coast Chardonnay 21 @1350, P9 - Ambassador, 251126 — 8 months ago

Mark S.

8.9

Deep cherry red. Blue and black berry. Spiciness. Gentle. Fruitiness M Sweetness M Acidity M Tannin M Soft Duckhorn Decoy Merlot 21 @1275 P9 - Ambassador, 251126 — 8 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Red and black fruits - a savoury plum character - also a note of creosote and tar. A lovely medium to full bodied palate - reeks of old vine Barossa Shiraz. Drinks well now but will easily last until 2030. Malcolm Stopp is the Brand Ambassador for Peter Lehmann and his comments are worth repeating, particularly the last sentence, “The bouquet beautifully incorporates dark briary fruits, chocolate and a touch of aniseed, whilst the finish is firm yet finely grained. A wine of great dignity that will continue to improve with still many years of careful cellaring. If you don’t like this wine there’s bugger all we can do……!!! — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Pear and apple notes on nose and palate - a touch of ginger. M+ intensity on the medium bodied palate - low acid. Coincidentally, last night I was at the Yalumba dinner at the Downs Club and sitting near Louisa Rose, ex winemaker and now Ambassador for Yalumba. Nobody in Australia would know more about the Viognier grape than Louisa. Yalumba pioneered its use and “The Virgilius” would be the leading example in Australia but this Clonakilla is also outstanding. — 2 years ago

Norman

9.3

WhiskeyFest SF 2022 - High West Tasting. The ambassador did a nice job. Great information about the barrel making process. — 4 years ago

Norman

9.6

Wish I was their brand ambassador. — 5 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.5

This was on fire 🔥 Quintessential Rutherford juice - a brand ambassador, for sure. Dynamite nose, killer body. Loads of pure, ripe fruit, graphite, anise, and that classic Rutherford dust. — 7 years ago

with Cody