2020 Château Langoa Barton En Primeur
2020 Château Langoa Barton En Primeur
Released this morning, alongside its sibling Léoville Barton...
Moderate intensity, complexity, layered aromas, dark & red fruits, old furniture, inside of a tea caddy, peony; plenty of tannin but very smooth (not polished), excellent acidity, mid-weight (a notch above 2014) and very approachable, balanced. 2020 is showing like 2016+2014++. 16.5++ like.
"Cask sample taken 6 April. 53.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 8.5% Cabernet Franc. Healthy deep purplish crimson. High-toned, fully ripe nose that is rather seductive before a glossy, polished-tannin dry finish. Promises well for the future while being relatively charming even now. Not the most concentrated 2020 but everything is in balance. Well done. Sappy, dry finish. Very St-Julien. Some restraint despite the initial seduction. 13.5%. Drink 2028 – 2046. 17 points.” (JH), Jancisrobinson.com, Apr 2021
"Not quite as generous as Léoville Barton, replaced with classicism and subdued tannins, as we see the impact of a slightly cooler terroir. Juicy finish, black fruits, plenty of life and lift through the palate. Enjoyable, but closed in with clove spice that is very clear on the finish. Tasted twice. A yield of 34hl/ha. Harvest September 14 to 28. Drinking Window 2027 - 2042. 92 points" Jane Anson, Decanter Magazine
Producer Profile
Château Langoa-Barton, St-Julien Grand Cru Classé
Château Langoa-Barton is a Troisièmes Grand Cru Classé in St-Julien.
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. 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.
