Chateau Leoville Barton, Cru Classe, 2015
Country: France Region: Saint Julien, Bordeaux
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot Blend
Vintage: 2015 Category: Red Wine Style: Dry
Producer: Chateau Leoville-Barton
Description:
The 2015 Léoville Barton has one of the richest bouquets in the appellation, boasting almost ostentatious blackberry, raspberry and bilberry scents on the nose, suffused with crushed limestone and light graphite aromas. The medium-bodied palate is taut and crisp, delivering a fine bead of acidity and freshness from beginning to end. Mainly black fruit here, with suggestions of leather and mocha toward the finish. Superb. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.
"The nose is concentrated with depth richness black fruits and the start of the palate has brooding power. The fruit on the mid palate is ripe with black cherry and cassis backed by dark chocolate. A hint of cedar wood at the back adds to the complexity with coffee beans and cassis on the finish."
"The 2015 Leoville Barton has a medium to deep garnet color. It is a little shut down and reluctant to play, eventually offering scents of baked blackberries, blackcurrant cordial, and cedar chest, followed by hints of crushed rocks and smoked meats. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound with bright, energetic fruit and compelling freshness, supported by ripe, grainy tannins, finishing long and lifted."
"Tasted blind. Blackish crimson. Polished and cool and smooth. Great job of tannin management! Very noble. But not the most concentrated. Drink 2024-2044"
"This is a very focused Barton with ultra-fine tannins that are so polished and chalky. It drives through the center palate with currant and berry character. Full-bodied, polished and straightforward with driving tannin. Love the texture. Class. Yes. Drink in 2021."
"I absolutely loved the 2015 Léoville-Barton and this has everything you could want from a Left Bank Bordeaux. Cassis, smoked earth, graphite, tobacco leaf, and thrilling amounts of minerality all emerge from this inky colored, full-bodied, power-packed, brut of a Saint-Julien that holds everything together and stays pure, balanced and elegant on the palate. It has a lot of tannins, yet more than enough fruit. The 2015 is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot, brought up in 60% new French oak, and it needs 7-8 years of bottle age and will shine for 2-3 decades. Bravo! 2026 - 2056"
