This wine has spent much of the last 10 years closed up and is just starting to come round, loosening the shackles of its tannins. Now reaching the next phase of its life, I like the unloosening of this previously tightly knit structure, and the dark heft of the cassis and bilberry fruit. The mid-palate is full of purpose with a great kick on the finish. Lovely potential. Drinking Window: 2018 - 2035
Tasted by: Jane Anson Part of The three Léovilles of Bordeaux: Full profiles and ratings

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London. The 2006 Château Léoville-Barton has a surprisingly rich and opulent bouquet at first, although it calms down with aeration, offering crushed violet and black cherry scents, reminiscent of a fine Margaux. The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle grip in the mouth. Here the class begins to appear with fine balance and poise, but like the Langoa, it lacquers the mouth with tannins and feels very backward, surprising given the vintage. Cellar this for another decade, folks. Tasted January 2016.

– eRobertParker.com, May 2016

obacco, cigar box, cedar wood and spicy red fruits make up the perfume. Still deep in color, there is some lightening at the edges of the glass that is becoming apparent. Austere in character, the Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh, crisp and tannic. This definitely needs several more years before it becomes close to user friendly. Tasted May 2016

Not surprisingly, this wine is closed, masculine, but super-rich, with a denser, more complete and full-bodied style than its sibling, Langoa Barton. Some toasty vanillin is apparent in the black currant aromas intermixed with tobacco leaf, cedar, and spice box. The wine is full-bodied and has a boatload of tannin, not unusual for this estate, as well as an impressively pure, long finish. Everything is here, but this wine, made with uncompromising vision, is meant to be cellared for an exceptionally long period of time. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2035.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #181, Feb 2009)