Released for sale en primeur this morning, 2024 Châteaux Léoville-Barton (£288 per six) and Langoa-Barton (£157 per six) have a long and consistent history of making excellent wines in even the most challenging vintages, which somehow manage to express their identity, whilst also capturing the character of the year. If you had to pick one wine for your cellar that represented the best characteristics of 2024, these would both be contenders, with Galloni describing Léoville as a wine "of classical build" but also "wonderfully deep and expressive (93-95 points)", whilst Suckling describes Langoa "as chewy and polished, suggesting well-selected grapes for the vintage (93-94 points)".
Offered en primeur, landing spring 2027.
Magnums available with £20 ex-VAT bottling surcharge per six, please enquire re other formats.
Producer Profile
Châteaux Léoville Barton & Langoa Barton
Château Langoa-Barton is a Troisièmes Grand Cru Classé in St-Julien. Château Léoville Barton is a Deuxième Grand Cru Classé, with adjacent vines, in the same appellation.
Irish Bordeaux merchant Hugh Barton (a friend of fellow Irish merchant Bernard Phelan of Phélan Ségur) first settled in Bordeaux in 1722. Pierre-Bernard de Pontet sold the ''Langoa'' estate (then named Pontet-Langlois) to the Bartons in 1821 and they renamed it 'Château Langoa Barton'.
The Château was built in 1758 by a Monsieur de Pontet. The vaulted cellars beneath the living areas of the château are a distinctive feature of visiting here. The vineyards which became Léoville Barton were purchased in 1826, formerly part of the larger Léoville estate, which encompassed what are now Léoville-Barton, Léoville-Poyferré and Léoville Las Cases. With no château of its own, Léoville Barton is made at Langoa and the property featured on the label is actually Langoa Barton.
The Barton's spent the majority of their time in Ireland until Ronald Barton took over. He became the first Barton to be based at the estate. His nephew Anthony Barton, who took over in 1983, did much to define the austere, classical style here, favouring traditional vinification and as little intervention as possible, to allow the wine to express its terroir. The estate is now run by Anthony's daughter, Lilian Sartorius-Barton.
Langoa is in a slightly cooler microclimate to Léoville. The 20 hectares are planted on gravelly with clay subsoil, to a mix of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. The vines are on average 37 years old. Around 7,500 cases are produced each year.
At Léoville-Barton, the 50 hectares of vineyards are planted to 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. The soils are gravel over clay, with a high proportion of old vines.
| RED | 2024 | Château Léoville Barton | 75cl | £288 per case of 6 | Château Léoville Barton 2024 / / 75cl £288 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2024 Léoville Barton was picked from September 24 to October 5 and contains just a little more Cabernet Sauvignon than previous vintages. Matured in 60% new oak, this has an open bouquet with black fruit, potpourri and light sous-bois scents—quintessentially Barton. The palate is medium-bodied, well balanced and sapid in style with slightly powdery tannins on the entry and a little sinew on the finish that should be abraded during barrel maturation. This is a finely crafted Léoville Barton that should age with grace. Drink: 2030-2060. 91-93 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2024 Château Léoville Barton is based on 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. It's a classic Léoville Barton that brings to mind the vintages of the 1980s and 1990s, but with greater purity and precision. Aromas of cassis, ripe cherries, graphite, spicy wood, and loamy earth all emerge from the glass. Medium-bodied and beautifully balanced, it has fine tannins, integrated acidity, and a seamless mouthfeel. 91-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com------"Stands out for the elongated and supple shape and texture of the tannins, builds complexity over the palate and this is well structured, with elegant, finessed, savoury but carefully extracted cassis and bilberry fruits, with cocoa bean and cigar. One of the wines in the vintage with definition and ageing ability, and retains clear Léoville Barton character. Harvest 24 September to 5 October. 60% new oak for ageing. 94 points" janeanson.com------"A serious wine that will delight patient purists, but which also showcases the new levels of purity and precision that this estate has been attaining since completion of the new winery, the 2024 Léoville Barton is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Unwinding in the glass with notes of cassis, plums, pencil shavings and violets, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and impressively concentrated, with a taut but nicely integrated profile, concluding with a pure, penetrating finish. 92-94 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2024 Léoville Barton is a very beautiful wine. Black cherry, plum, lavender, new leather, graphite, crushed rocks, mocha and spice all meld together. A wine of classical build, Léoville Barton is also wonderfully deep and expressive. Today, all of its energy is directed inwards, but there is a lot of wine here. I can't wait to taste this from bottle. Tasted two times. Drink 2034-2049. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A classic Bordeaux that shows finesse and poise. This is understated, with a medium body, lovely texture and acidity, freshness and brightness. It shows firm tannins that aren't chewy. Very long and honest, with pure fruit. 92% cabernet sauvignon, 6% merlot and 2% cabernet franc. 95-96 points" jamessuckling.com |
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