Chateau Leoville Barton 2019

WEINWISSER: "Sattes Purpur mit rubinrotem Rand. Ein feingliedriges Parfüm nach reifen Schattenmorellen, Heidelbeeren und Brombeergelee. Im zweiten Ansatz Nougatpralinen, Lakritze und exotische Hölzer. Am erhabenen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, stützendem kakaoartigem Tanningerüst, salzigem Extrakt und tiefgründiger Mineralik. Dabei dicht verwoben, dazu kommen Holundersaft und Graphitspuren, der Wein kleidet den Mund ganz aus und endet im langanhaltenden Finale mit einer vollen Ladung an schwarzen Johannisbeeren. Das wird in der perfekten Trinkreife eine Offenbarung!"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Like its stablemate Langoa Barton, the 2019 Léoville Barton is a timeless classic, made for patient connoisseurs. Offering up aromas of blackcurrants, plums, pencil shavings and licorice, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, its deep core of fruit framed by a chassis of rich, powdery tannin that makes itself felt on the youthfully firm finish. While it's clearly built for the long haul, its structural seamlessness and mid-palate plenitude mark it out as one of the finest wines from this château in recent times. Could it be a more concentrated modern-day version of Anthony Barton's brilliant 1985?"

JEB DUNNUCK: "The flagship 2019 Château Léoville Barton is brilliant, showing both the style of the estate as well as the vintage beautifully. It's never the biggest or richest wine, yet it has a classic, vibrant, structured style that ages beautifully. Pure cassis, black currants, scorched earth, new leather, and graphite are just some of its nuances, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a lively spine of acidity, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. This textbook Léoville Barton demands a decade of bottle age and will keep for 30-40 years."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Currants, sweet fruit and fresh flowers on the nose. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, silky tannins that are chewy and powerful. Long and muscular, yet in a toned and polished way. Try after 2026."

DECANTER: "A dark nose here, savoury with animal tones, bramble fruits and leather nuances. The palate is excellent, grippy with tannins that just take hold and coat the mouth but underneath you feel there is such well defined fruit - a core of ripe blackcurrants and liquorice tinges. There is an elegance to this despite the mouthful of creamy tannins that are doing all the talking at the moment. This will be excellent in time. Sumptuous and utterly enchanting. Drinking Window 2024 - 2045"

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarter Ockerrand. Reife Herzkirschen, schwarzes Waldbeerkonfit ist unterlegt, ein Hauch von Gewürzen und kandierten Orangenzesten. Komplex, stoffig, extraktsüß, reife Pflaumen, eingebundene, seidige Tannine, schokoladiger Touch im Abgang, harmonisch und rund, süße Kirschfrucht, mineralisch und lange anhaftend, ein toller Speisenbegleiter für die Zukunft."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Powerful, concentrated, tannic, refined and almost muscular, the wine opens with tobacco leaf, cedar chest, cigar box, lead pencil, herbs and currants in the aromatics. Full-bodied, long and intense, with a black and red currant, spice and leafy, savory finish. This is an age-worthy vintage which is going to demand time in the cellar before it fully begins to soften and offer up all of its layers of nuance and complexities. Drink from 2032-2060."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "The wine is rich, complete. Its impressive structure is cushioned by the velvet black fruits and acidity. The wine's construction is powerful but never overpowering. It will age well, ready to drink from 2026."

WINE SPECTATOR: " A strapping young wine, offering notes of blackberry paste, plum preserves and black currant coulis that show energy throughout, with plentiful bramble, tar and licorice root accents. There’s a mouthwatering echo of apple wood at the very end, with a flash of violet adding a hint of purity. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2025 through 2042. 11,850 cases made."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Enticing purity, blackberry, chocolate, hardly any oak intruding. Finely balanced, savoury, rounded and satisfying – and unlike some 2019s, clearly too young."