Château Léoville Barton Saint-Julien 2020 - 2nd Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

Under Anthony Barton's sober, honest and passionate management, this cru has joined the Médoc's supreme elite, without driving up its selling prices too much. The wine's current quality can be explained by the age and location of the vines, which combine quantity and quality, and by the desire to preserve and optimize the most classic Médoc style. The mystery of its character remains, for this cru de grande garde is born ready-made, with an almost creamy consistency that makes it immediately noticeable and loved. The new generation of the family has little to change...

Guide Hachette des vins

About the domain :

Although Irishman Thomas Barton set up his trading business in Chartrons in 1725, it wasn't until 1821 that his grandson Hugh acquired Château Langoa, and then in 1826 part of the former Léoville estate, which was created in the early 17th century and split into several parts during the French Revolution. Since then, the estate has remained in the Barton family (Lilian Barton-Sartorius since 2006), which extends its 51 ha of vines south of the village of Saint-Julien. No home or winery here, vinification and ageing take place at Langoa.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

Since 1985, under the guidance of Anthony Barton and his daughter Lilian, the cru has gone from strength to strength. Success has become triumph, as Léoville Barton has consistently risen to the highest level of Bordeaux's grands crus since 1998. Apart from an obvious taste for work well done, the secret of this success lies in the high age of this ancient vineyard, which allows for ripe, concentrated grapes. Fleshier and fruitier en primeur than Léoville Las Cases or Léoville Poyferré, Baron enchants with its fatness, its supreme balance, which it owes to its terroir, and a profound naturalness of expression. More open in its prime, the wine often goes through a phase of austerity, then gradually takes on its definitive form, displaying one of the Médoc's most complex and elegant bouquets as it ages. What's more, given its quality and consistency, prices are always very affordable.

Wine Spectator

About the wine:

A bold, robust young wine, with lively notes of plum, blackcurrant, kirsch and black licorice that melt steadily as they progress, carried by a dash of graphite and finished with a flourish of violet, anise and apple wood. The finish is very greedy. Built for the cellar. Best from 2030 to 2045.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

Dense with velvety tannins, this wine has great structure and concentration without being too heavy. This solid wine is sure to age. Drink from 2027.

Vinous A. Galloni

About the wine:

Léoville Barton 2020 is fascinating. It offers a magnificent blend of 2020 vintage intensity, married to the classicism to which Léoville-Barton is accustomed. Blackberry, graphite, dried herbs, menthol and dark spices abound. While many Saint-Juliens are exuberant in 2020, Léoville-Barton is shy, showing just a hint of playfulness that lets you know the best is yet to come. 2030-2060

James Suckling

About the wine:

Aromas of black fruit, ash, tar, cassis and lead pencil follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate, with firm, integrated tannins and a chewy, medium finish. Needs 4-6 years to soften and blend. Very tight and nicely structured. Try from 2027.

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

An initially heady nose, with notes of black fruit, which lightens as it opens up to something more floral. Full-bodied on the palate, with aromas of kirsch, licorice and cut grass. 2030-2055

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Finesse, complexity and depth. This line has been applied for a long time, with exceptional precision, but also with a subtle way of displaying it... it's not obvious to the eye (or nose, rather), but it's well established! The bouquet displays nuances of dark berries, sweet spices, cocoa beans and graphite. The wine is full-bodied, with fine-grained tannins. These ensure the wine's power and harmony, as they go hand in hand with its acid structure and freshness. Another Barton that combines finesse, vigor and depth. 2027-2047

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

Deep in color, this powerful wine contains as much ripe, fresh black and red fruit as you could hope for, along with nuances of tobacco leaf, cedar, flowers, cigar box, espresso, smoke and creme de cassis. It's the perfect blend of class and classicism, with ripe, elegant tannins, length, purity, vibrancy and complexity that guarantee this wine will be fabulous to drink for decades to come. Drink between 2027 and 2060.