Lisa Perrotti-Brown 98 Points
Deep garnet-purple colored, after a swirl or two, notes of crème de cassis, plum preserves, and licorice erupt from the glass, leading to hints of lilac, eucalyptus, crushed rocks, and sandalwood. The full-bodied palate is densely laden with concentrated black and blue fruit layers, framed by firm, fine-grained tannins and incredible tension, finishing with epic length and a beguiling perfume of purple flowers and exotic spices. Magnificent.
Robert Parker Wine Advocate 97+ Points
The 2022 Léoville Barton is performing brilliantly in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, pen ink, cigar box and spices. Medium to full-bodied, suave and velvety, it's dense and concentrated, with terrific energy and persistence. As readers will remember, it's the first vintage produced in the estate's new winery, which more than doubled the number of vats, permitting sub-plot by sub-plot harvesting and vinification, along with a number of other technical improvements that translate into enhanced purity and precision.
Jancis Robinson 17.5
83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.5% Merlot and 5.5% Cabernet Franc.
Very dark crimson. Wonderfully fragrant with stony/mineral black fruit. Powerful, really intense and surprisingly fresh. A very big, very powerful wine and yet still achieves balance. Thick, deep, firm but smooth tannins. (JH)
James Suckling 96 Points
Very polished and poised with blackberry and blueberry character. Medium body with tight and focused tannin tension. Lively finish. Harmonious for the vintage.
Wine Enthusiast 97 Points
96-98 Barrel sample. This is a beautifully textured wine, with its fruit and tannins in harmony. Its intensity is matched by its balance, giving a ripe, layered and elegant wine with a fine future.
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider 97 Points
With waves of sweet, perfectly ripe, luscious blackberries, you also find cassis, black cherries, creamy tannins, cigar box, lead pencil, and spice. The wine is deep in color with intensity, layers of fruit, and a finish that takes hold of your palate, and doesn't want to let go, leaving you with fruit that builds and resonates. The wine is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.5% Merlot and 5.5% Cabernet Franc, 14.1% ABV. The harvest took place September 8 - September 23. The yields were 30 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2028-2060. 96-98 Pts.
Winery Notes:
Château Léoville Barton is steeped in the traditions of the past but make no mistake -- the future for this brilliant estate is an exciting and promising one. With a remarkable history entrenched in a single-family dynasty, Château Léoville Barton boasts the longest familial legacy of a vineyard in all of Bordeaux. Château Léoville Barton has proudly been in the Barton family for centuries, starting in 1725 with Thomas Barton, an Irishman.
Château Léoville Barton was once part of the enormous Léoville Estate, consisting of Château Léoville Barton, Chateau Leoville Las Cases, and Chateau Leoville Poyferre The large property was sectioned off to nobility and fell into Thomas’ hands. Thomas had no choice but to hold onto the estate for the remainder of his life; if he passed away, the holdings would be given to the French Crown due to his Irish heritage. Eventually, the stubborn and unyielding Thomas passed it on to his son, Hugh. Hugh wanted to take over the family business and become a négociant or wine merchant. Hugh had quite the talent for working in the Wine Trade, and Château Léoville Barton thrived under his leadership.
The wines from this esteemed producer are unique to Saint-Julien due to their higher concentrations of Cabernet Sauvignon. This is reflected in the plantings of the vineyards at this 51 Hectare property. The gravely topsoil is planted with mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and dwindling percentages of Cabernet Franc. Since they’ve increased their percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon in the wine, they continue to plant more of this varietal in the vineyard. Interestingly enough, their oldest vines are Merlot – some of which are 60 years old.
Many wine drinkers are often taken aback by the strength and fortitude these wines possess, and stylistically they resemble the wines of Pauillac more than their softer Saint-Julien counterparts. Under the new ownership of Anthony Barton, the quality of these wines continues to skyrocket. The esteemed wine critic, Robert Parker Jr, considers the wines of Château Léoville Barton to be, “grossly underpriced,” and the quality level to be close to “Super Second Level.” The accolades continue to pour in. Get ready world – it is clear Château Léoville Barton has arrived.
