Château Léoville Barton is one of the great traditional estates of Saint-Julien, family-owned since 1826 and revered for its consistency, restraint and classic claret style. Eschewing fashion in favour of longevity, the Barton family has built its reputation on Cabernet-driven wines that age with quiet authority rather than overt polish.
The 2010 Château Léoville Barton is a textbook expression of the château and the vintage, opening with aromas of blackcurrant, graphite and cedar, lifted by notes of pencil shavings, tobacco and subtle violets. On the palate it is firm, structured and impeccably balanced, with taut acidity, finely grained tannins and a long, focused finish that unfolds slowly with cassis, mineral and savoury nuances, clearly built for long-term ageing.
★★★★★★★★★☆
Rating: 7 out of 9 stars
Sommelier diary #82
