Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The nose reveals, ripe, brightly floral dark & red fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruit heaven, black raspberries, baked strawberries & rhubarb, cherries, prune notes, and dry, slightly burnt cranberries. Mixed berry cola, steeped tea, vanilla, touch of clove, allspice, used leather, limestone minerals, dry stone, whiff of graphite, faint herbaceous notes, dry underbrush, old cedar, tobacco leaf, with withering red & dark withering flowers with violets.

The body is medium to full. The tannins round, nicely softened but still a little tarry. The structure, tension, length and balance are are harmonious and starting its climb to their peak. The mouthfeel is gorgeous and sexy. Brilliantly, bright, laced; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruit heaven, black raspberries, raspberries, baked strawberries & rhubarb, cherries, and dry, slightly burnt cranberries. Mixed berry cola, steeped tea, vanilla, touch of clove, dark medium spice with heat, allspice, used leather, some sweet tarriness, limestone minerals, rich dark soil, dry stone, whiff of graphite, faint herbaceous notes, dry underbrush, old cedar, tobacco leaf, with withering red & dark withering flowers with violets. The acidity was very good and the finish showed it’s Saint Julien elegance. It’s a beautiful wine now and over the next 15-20 years.

Photos of, Chateau Leoville Barton, the “Gentleman of Medoc”, Anthony Barton, harvest work of their Merlot and their barrel cellar.

An hour and a half in decanter.
— 6 years ago

Michael Gallegos

Sales & Hospitality Red Car Winery

9.1

2003 is still 10+ years young. Plenty of tannins from both oak and fruit, and gobs of ripe black fruit. A "manly" wine and has some metalicism, iron, plums, blackberries, violets, and pepper. — 8 years ago

Rebecca Fletcher

9.8

Black berries, savory, smoked meat, violets, M+ intensity. M+ acid, complexity and finish. M tannin. M+ acid. M body. A bit tart. Very fresh and elegant. Just awesome! — 9 years ago

Marla Shelton-Watts

9.3

Purchased in Bend, Oregon from local wine shop. What a surprise! Very smooth and light....not jammy at all. — 10 years ago

Nathaniel Jones

9.2

Delicious! Violets and berries. Hints of vanilla, intensely good — 11 years ago

Karen Daenen

9.7

Violets, aroma that jumps out and grabs you — 12 years ago

Emily Kresie-Harrington

8.9

2016 vintage. Black plum, black raspberry, black cherry, violets, little bit of sanguine-iron, dusty tannins. — 7 years ago

Jordan Wardlaw

9.1

Seems to be in a good stage of development- nicely softened tannins. Juicy blackberry, game and violets. Drink this with bloody steak or by a winter fire. — 7 years ago

James Forsyth

9.1

Violets. #RebouleduRhone — 8 years ago

michael pandolfo

9.0

Very good. Crushed violets/roses in the nose. Smoked meat with tea leaves on the palate. Would like to see it in a few years — 9 years ago

Michelle Steiner

9.0

Great wine - smooth, robust, affordable! — 10 years ago

Christian Broder

GM/Sommelier The Social Wine Company

9.0

Compost, pulverized stone, fresh violets, spruce, bell pepper, cranberry, black plum. Really lovely. — 10 years ago

Mike Kim

9.8

Chateau Marmont — 12 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The 14 Insignia out of 750ml.

On the nose, very dark currant/cassis. Expresso roast, nice backing spices; vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg & clove. Dark spice, black tea, red florals, violets, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, dry crushed rocks, black, rich soil, volcanic minerals and some black licorice.

The body is full. Tannins are big, rounded, sticky/chewy with a dusty dry long palate set. The fruits are ripe and less dark than the nose. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, cherries, dry crushed rocks, black, rich soil, volcanic minerals, black licorice, expresso roast, backing spices; vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg & clove. Dark spice, black tea with bright red florals & violets. Good waterfall acidity. The structure, length, texture and balance are well executed. The finish is beautiful, floral fruits and lasts minutes.

The wine is starting to close down and should slumber for 15-20 years. — 7 years ago

Brandon Thiessen

9.3

Funky delicious raspberries. Med-light body, sour cherry and violets. And funk. — 8 years ago

K J

9.3

Spicy Fruity. Violets. At Frenchie wine bar — 9 years ago

Peter Wassam

9.3

Lavender and cranberry. Very fine tannins. Violets Violets violets. Delicate and very approachable. — 10 years ago

Joseph C Burke

9.1

Do red w/ brick edges; nose of sweet red licorice, violets, and sweet tobacco; silky attack of dusty ripe cherry, with a drying but pretty fruit finish that lingers. — 10 years ago

Paul Hogan

9.8

Mad Men of Riesling 2012 great southern Australia — 11 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.3

Floral nose, with apple skin, blackberry, and violets, leather adds to the palate as this is drinking really well right now with youth and maturity playing tug of war with the palate. Best Mourvèdre ever for me so far! — 12 years ago