Chateau Léoville Barton, Saint-Julien 2016 IN BOND

Anthony Barton’s 2nd growth Léoville Barton 2016 is a top quality Bordeaux of classic proportions – it is one of the standout wines of the 2016 and in the opinion of most, a step up from their exceptional 2015. It is a beautifully structured cabernet dominated wine with extraordinary minerality which will improve by leaps & bounds as the years go by. "The 2016 Leoville-Barton is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot picked from 29 September until 13 October, matured in 60% new oak and delivering 13% alcohol. It has a more intense bouquet compared to the Langoa-Barton, plenty of intense blackberry and raspberry fruit, minerals, cedar and a hint of licorice. The palate is a little chewy on the entry with good grip in the mouth. This demonstrates the backbone of the finish, just the right amount of spiciness with excellent salinity on the long finish. It is not a once-in-a-lifetime Leoville Barton, but (as usual) it just seems to do everything right." 93/95 Points, Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate "The 2016 Léoville-Barton is superb. Precision, nuance and delineation are the signatures in a wine that speaks to class above all else. Eloquent and nuanced to the core, the 2016 is simply magnificent. There is a fair bit of tannin, but the grain is very, very fine. The 2016 is not a huge Léoville-Barton, but it is a wine of nobility and pedigree. Tasted two times." 93/96 Points, Antonio Galloni "Rich and ripe on the nose the fruit is sweet the palate has a mix of rich cassis and black cherry. Discreet tannins underpin the mid palate has depth and sweetness the back palate a rich mix of fruits. There is enough freshness to balance and although lighter toward the back it finishes with depth of flavour. 2026-40" 94/96 Points, Derek Smedley "Dark blackish purple. Less obviously aromatic than Langoa. Tea-leaf notes. Round texture with gloriously ripe tannins. Really a standout Barton. So unusually supple! Yet with masses of tannins underneath. This will surely be one of the vintage's longer-living wines. Glorious texture and flavour. Utterly minerally dry, but not drying. Very good freshness – much fresher than many of its peers. Real energy." 18, Jancis Robinson Click the banner to get it at ONLY: GBP62