2023 Château Léoville Barton En Primeur
Released this morning, 2023 Château Léoville-Barton is offered at £336 per six bottles and scores 97 points from Jane Anson.
Once again, Léoville-Barton have managed to make a wine that tastes of the vintage, of the St-Julien terroir, and of its inimitable self. No commune shows off the cassis fruit of Cabernet Sauvignon better than St-Julien and in 2023 the quality of the harvest of this grape was superb.
This is not a blockbuster vintage, but 2023 Léoville Barton offered an enticing mix of succulent, plush cassis on the core and refined, aristocratic tannins to give beautiful texture. James Suckling describes as "cashmere-like. You can touch it, but at the same time it is weightless and beautiful."
Offered en primeur, on allocation. Landing spring 2026.
Magnums available with £20 ex-VAT bottling surcharge per six. Please enquire for other formats.
All previous offers of 2023 Bordeaux can be found here.
Producer Profile
Château Léoville Barton, St-Julien Grand Cru Classé
Château Léoville Barton is a Deuxième Grand Cru Classé in St.-Julien.
Léoville-Barton was once part of the great Léoville estate, which encompassed what are now Léoville-Barton, Léoville-Poyferré and Léoville Las Cases.
Irish Bordeaux merchant Hugh Barton (a friend of fellow Irish merchant Bernard Phelan of Phélan Ségur) first settled in Bordeaux in 1722. The Bartons first purchased Langoa and then in 1826 bought that part of the Léoville estate which was to become Léoville-Barton. With no château of its own, Léoville-Barton is made at Langoa. This is also the château featured on the label.
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.
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.
| RED | 2023 | Château Léoville Barton | 75cl | £336 per case of 6 | Château Léoville Barton 2023 / / 75cl £336 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2023 Léoville Barton was picked from September 12 to October 2 and aged in 60% new oak. This takes a long time to settle in the glass, unfolding with black fruit, wild mint and a subtle seaweed scent. This Saint-Julien gains cohesion with aeration—a bit of pep. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. A touch of dark chocolate infuses the black fruit, harmonious with a patina of new oak that will integrate with time. This is classic Léoville Barton from tip to toe, and whilst it does not match the imperious 2022, it is a very impressive follow-up due to its interwoven elegance. 92-94 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2023 Château Leoville Barton is another terrific wine from this château, and it plays in the fresh, vibrant, lively style of the vintage beautifully. Utterly classic blackcurrants, ripe tobacco, graphite, and cedar pencil notes define the aromatics, and this beauty is medium to full-bodied, has terrific concentration, the pure, focused, mineral-driven style of the vintage, building yet ripe tannins, and a great finish. It has plenty of acidity as well as tannins and is built for the cellar. The blend is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc, raised in 60% new oak. Harvest dates were the 12th of September to the 2nd of October. 93-95+ points" Jebdunnuck.com------"The 2023 Léoville Barton is a lovely classic in the making, unfurling in the glass with aromas of cassis and blackberries mingled with notions of pencil shavings, licorice and violets. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it's layered, concentrated and suave, with beautifully refined tannins, vibrant acids and a long, penetrating finish. Benefiting from the Barton family's new highly functional winery, as well as experimentation with more discreet cooperage choices, it's somewhat reminiscent of the estate's terrific 2016. The 2023 blend is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. 94-96 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The tannins here are cashmere-like. You can touch it, but at the same time it is weightless and beautiful. Medium- to full-bodied and textural. Soars at the end. This is really seamless and dialed in. Third year using the cellar. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot and 3% cabernet franc. 96-97 points" jamessuckling.com------"Step into the heart of what St Julien does best here, firm and muscular but thoroughly juicy tannins, concentrated blackberry and cassis fruits that are mature but full of finesse, with just the right amount of precision and tension. This is a wine where a single glass will not be enough, and reminds you that in 2022 the wines were exceptional but atypical for many Bordeaux lovers. Here you get an understated gloriously drinkable St Julien from long-term owners the Barton family that will go the distance. 60% new oak for ageing. 97 points" janeanson.com |
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