1990 Chateau Leoville Barton 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien

Absolute brilliance from Bordeaux, the 1990 Château Léoville Barton is mature yet still youthful, offering awesome darker currant fruits as well as forest floor, cedarwood, smoked tobacco, and subtle earthy nuances. Full-bodied, concentrated, and just about flawlessly balanced, it has a beautiful mid-palate, ripe, still present yet sweet tannins, and a great finish. I don't see this getting any better, but I also see no reason it shouldn't evolve gracefully for another decade from cold cellars. It's another classic, incredibly classy wine from this château.

Believe it or not, the 1990 Leoville Barton can actually be drunk - something that cannot be said about the broodingly backward, still excruciatingly tannic 1982. The exceptionally concentrated 1990 reveals more polished, sweeter tannins along with a big, sweet kiss of black currant, forest floor, cedar, and spice box notes. While it still has some tannins to shed, this full-bodied, powerful, long wine is approachable. It should continue to evolve for another two decades. Release price: ($350.00/case)

Wine Advocate June, 2009

Believe it or not, the 1990 Leoville Barton can actually be drunk - something that cannot be said about the broodingly backward, still excruciatingly tannic 1982. The exceptionally concentrated 1990 reveals more polished, sweeter tannins along with a big, sweet kiss of black currant, forest floor, cedar, and spice box notes. While it still has some tannins to shed, this full-bodied, powerful, long wine is approachable. It should continue to evolve for another two decades. Release price: ($350.00/case)

Still backward, tannic, and formidably endowed, but beginning to budge from its infancy, this opaque/garnet purple-coloured wine offers up notes of licorice, damp earth, sweet black currants, wood and some underbrush. Very full-bodied, with huge amounts of glycerin and concentration backed up by some impressive levels of tannin, this wine is one of the more backward 1990s but is just beginning to move out of infancy into adolescence. It is an exceptional winethat seems to have gotten even better than I predicted it would be from the cask and from its early life in the bottle. Anticipated maturity: now – 2030. (94)

Dark ruby color with a red edge. Subtle aromas ofblack cherry and plum, with hints of mineral andsmoke. Full-bodied, with a compacted fruitstructure, firm tannins and a long finish. Asoutstanding as it should be. Needs time.--1990Bordeaux retrospective. James Suckling

This is a glorious Leoville-Barton, even if I have experienced some bottle variation in the past. This one has a deep garnet core with russet rim. The bouquet is firmly entrenched within its secondary aromas, evolving a Pomerol-like personality with black truffle, scorched earth, damson and roasted chestnuts. The palate is medium-bodied, as if it has lost a little weight over the last couple of years, but very well balanced with good delineation. Wild mushrooms, a touch of cracked black pepper, sous-bois, hints of Provencal herbs and cedar towards the finish. Just a lovely Leoville-Barton to cherish. Drink now-2020. Tasted May 2009.

Deep healthy color. Lively, subtle black cherry and cassis aromas, with a floral topnote. Impeccably balanced and very rich, this wine already displays lovely intensity of flavor and loads of personality. Fresh acids give it a juicy quality. Delicious, ripe finish, with discreet tannins. Excellent value.

Dark garnet. Complex nose. Sweet and maybe just a notch riper than ideal for Léoville Barton but giving lots of pleasure now. Bone-dry finish but very Léoville Barton! Lovely nose and some freshness on the palate suggests there is no hurry to drink this. (JR)