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. — 6 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

This was showing beautifully with good richness, balance, red & black fruits, earth, spice box, cedar, leather & tobacco notes — 19 days ago

Jan A

9.8

Surprise, surprise... Picked from the list of the restaurant to replace a corcked Mouton 1995, this was the positive surprise of the day for me. From a modest vintage, and a modest price point of around 35€, this blew away many multi 100€ bottles from the table today!

Profile was very round and sweet. Most of the tasting group placed this in napa valley when presented blind. — 2 months ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Soft and pretty. Plum and cherry and lighter notes. Medium bodied and bright on the palate — a month ago

with Paul and Ara

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

vintage 2021 | Classic with potential, cinnamon, fine earth — 2 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2022 vintage. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. One of the rare unclassified Saint-Julien estates, owned by the Meffre family, that started in 1961 with a small vineyard that was part of Saint-Pierre, and was gradually expanded with parcels bought from Lagrange. The quality is on the rise here, and the Meffre family believes this is the best wine the estate has ever produced. Ripe black fruit,a fresh floral note, and very subtle oak. There is a little heat from the high alcohol (15% abv.), but there is fresh acidity to keep the balance, and that prevents the wine from getting jammy. Solid smooth tannic structure and serious length. An estate to watch. — 8 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2022 vintage. From a 375ml bottle. The St. Estèphe exception that proves the rule. Super-delicate cocoa powder with sumptuous richness throughout. Light-medium body. Cos is an outlier on the right. This is on the left. Nearly everything else is in between, hammer and nail 3D BDX...dry, dirty and distinctive. Excellent quality BDX to woo initiates with. 6.26.26. — 13 days ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

vintage 2019 | Cigar box. Great intensity. Rondeur, beautiful balance. Very reliable for pleasure 🫶 — 8 days ago

Kay Mills

8.9

Total wine — 4 days ago

Conrad Green

9.6

A big brooding breast. Intense and slightly feral. Powerful deep fruit, ferrous notes, pepper and a hint of band aid. Really present and powerful but still refined. A great wine — a month ago

with Paul and Ara

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

vintage 1986 | Brushwood in smell, soft taste, a point — 2 months ago

Dave

9.2

This is very nice wine.
Listening to The Strokes and wondering where rock n roll went. It's completely vanished. I mean new rock bands- they don't exist. The charts are dominated with this disgusting pop/rap/country mashup. Somebody please name a solid rock band (that the masses know about) that has formed in the last 5 years. — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2020 vintage. Last tasted 5.13.26 (9.3). Another bottle picked up at $34.99 USD. Tasted over two days. Plenty of sumptuous, complementary oak in the early going that dissipates with time. Damned tariffs slid this offering from the upper $20's to the mid-$30's but still one helluva BDX bargain and a great introductory BDX for Napa/Brunello converts. Meyney killing it for affordable BDX for years. Get you some. 7.7.26. — 3 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2020 vintage. From dedicated parcels, Marquis de Calon Ségur is very different from the grand vin, with Merlot dominating the blend. Immediately expressive, with abundant red fruit and flowers. Impeccable purity of fruit and a silky mouthfeel. Good value at one third of the price of the grand vin. Abv. 14,5%. — 4 days ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

vintage 2020 | Totally in balance, a cedarwood charmer, laurel. Roundness. Had the swallow factor when I tasted it. — 8 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.2

2024 vintage ( just before bottling). — 3 months ago

Thijs Hendriks

9.3

Late release — a month ago

Ericsson

9.4

This Bordeaux is drinking very well. Cheers. — 3 months ago

Peter Stern

8.9

Lovely rich flavor! ((Jarretts) — a month ago

romo

9.5

It’s nice to be born just inside of a great vintage across Europe. Sound and fim, still. at Laurelhurst — 3 months ago