2005 Château Léoville Barton (Magnum)
From magnum, the 2005 Léoville Barton feels remarkably youthful, its structure expanded and its energy undimmed. The nose is deep and resonant — blackcurrant, blackberry, graphite, and cedar rise in controlled, powerful layers, joined by subtle tones of cigar leaf and crushed rock. On the palate, the wine moves with confident precision: concentrated yet perfectly balanced, the fruit cool and dark, the tannins firm and architectural. Everything feels stretched out in slow motion — the acidity brighter, the finish longer, the progression more deliberate. It concludes with a lingering impression of cassis, smoke, and stone. A magnum that speaks in decades, not years.
2005 Château Léoville Barton (Regular Bottle)
In standard bottle, the 2005 Léoville Barton has begun to unfurl its classical Pauillac poise. The aromatics are beautifully integrated — blackcurrant, plum skin, and cedar lifted by hints of graphite and dried tobacco. The palate shows a touch more softness and approachability compared to the magnum, though the vintage’s firmness remains. Dark fruit is wrapped in finely grained tannins, the structure still taut but increasingly harmonious. The finish is long, savoury, and composed, echoing cassis and subtle earthy spice. A beautifully evolving bottle, showing the first shades of maturity while preserving its precision.
2019 Guado al Tasso, Bolgheri Superiore
The 2019 Guado al Tasso is polished, deep, and impressively balanced — a Bolgheri wine that marries plushness with precision. The nose is layered and expressive: ripe blackberry, cassis, wild herbs, and a touch of violet, framed by graphite and warm spice. On the palate, the wine is sleek and powerful, the fruit rich but never heavy. Silky tannins carry flavours of dark berries, cocoa, and subtle Mediterranean herbs across a long, vibrant line of acidity. The finish is persistent and elegant, with a cool mineral undertone emerging beneath the richness. A confident, finely crafted vintage with years ahead of it.
2018 Morey-Saint-Denis “Cuvée Aux Petits Noix”, Stéphane Magnien
The 2018 Aux Petits Noix offers a beautifully unadorned, terroir-driven expression of Morey-Saint-Denis. The nose is delicate yet quietly complex — red cherry, raspberry, and rose petal interwoven with forest floor, crushed herbs, and a subtle mineral edge. On the palate, the wine is supple and finely detailed, its fruit pure and gently lifted by bright acidity. Tannins are subtle but authoritative, giving the wine a graceful framework without hard edges. As it opens, savoury and floral notes deepen, revealing the nuanced charm of Morey without excess weight. The finish is long, refined, and quietly persistent, echoing red fruit and earth.
