Back to Calendar

Fine Wine: Chateau Leoville-Barton Vertical

Monday 12 November 2012

,

www.westlondonwineschool.com

Join is for another fantastic Bordeaux masterclass. This time we shall be discovering 3 decades (9 wines) of Château Léoville-Barton, a 2nd Classified Growth, which was one the first of the two Bordeaux wine estates bought by Hugh Barton in the 1820s, the other being Langoa-Barton, 3rd Classified Growth.

Hugh Barton settled in Bordeaux in the 18th century establishing a long and distinguished history in the region’s wine trade. Both Langoa and Leoville are still family-owned and run and together represent the longest tradition of unchanged ownership in the Médoc. Anthony Barton is the current proprietor but is gradually passing the reins to his daughter Lillian. Léoville Barton's 48 hectares of vineyards are located in the east of the St-Julien appellation and lie on gravelly-clay soils. They are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon 72%, Merlot 20%, Cabernet Franc 8%.

Both Langoa and Léoville wines are models of typical St Julien restraint and elegance, and Anthony’s fair pricing policy, always with an eye to the long term , has won him many loyal friends amongst his customers. Léoville Barton is tannic and austere in youth but with time develops the classic cedary character that is the hallmark of St. Julien, along with intensely pure blackcurrant and cassis fruit notes. Léoville Barton's wines are made for extended cellaring and tend to show at their best with 10-15 years of bottle ageing.

Wines on Tasting & ratings (9 wines):

  • 1982 – 16 CC, 17 JR (£150)
  • 1986 – 16 CC, 17.5 JR (£95)
  • 1990 – 18.5 CC, 18.5 JR (£125)
  • 1996 – 18 CC, 16.5 JR (£80)
  • 1997 – 18 CC (£55)
  • 2002 – 18 CC, 17 CC (£50)
  • 2003 – 16.5 JR (£80)
  • 2008 – 16.5 JR (£50)

Plus one mystery vintage tasted blind
CC – Clive Coates MW

JR – Jancis Robinson (& her team)

£ – price per bottle

Wine to look forward to – 1990 – 18.5 Points – "Very, very rich and velvety. Meaty and seductive. Rich, exotically floral. (It certainly seemed as though from a completely different century when served immediately after the 1961.) Very sweet and drinking beautifully now" (Jancis Robinson, Sept 2008)

"Classy, concentrated, complex nose. Excellent grip and harmony. A splended example. Full, rich, concentrated, intense and very harmonious. Splendid ripe tannins. Very integrated. Really long and classy – very fine" (Clive Coates MW Sept 2000)

Event details

Date
Monday 12 November 2012
Time
19:00 to 21:00
Type
Tutored tasting
Cost
£75
Booking required
Yes
Website
Venue details
The Wine Cellars, 71 Townmead Road, Fulham, SW6 2ST London London