2011 Chateau Leoville Barton 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien

Chateau Leoville Barton 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien

Colour: Red

Vintage: 2011

Region: Bordeaux, Saint-Julien

Leoville Barton is a perennial favourite of the British wine drinker - hardly surprising when one gets to know the quality of this St. Julien. However the old ‘dependable workhorse’ label is sorely misplaced nowadays, with the precision and freshness making it a far more sophisticated wine than its outdated reputation might suggest. The blend is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), with Merlot (20%) and Cabernet Franc (10%) making up the rest. Whilst the wine remains traditional in style, tending to be backward in its youth and with the potential to be very long lived, it is certainly stylish and since 2014 has found a new level of elegance.

Tasting Notes and Scores

94 DR

Still young with tight tannins even at 10 years old. This has blueberry and raspberry juice running through it, and is a very classical St-Julien, with depth and power, but also this gentle push-pull of minerality and salinity that St-Julien does so well. Cedar smoke on the finish, this is excellent and will provide great drinking soon. A yield of 36hl/ha, 60% new barrels. Drinking Window 2021 - 2040
Blind tasted by Jane Anson (at Bordeaux, 19 Feb 2021)
Part of Bordeaux 2011: The top-rated wines tasted 10 years on

Decanter

93-95 NM

The Leoville Barton has a very elegant bouquet that takes time to unfurl. There are lovely notes of blackberry, dark plum and a touch of graphite. It unfurls beautifully if you lend it five minutes. The palate is very well balanced with fine tannins, good substance, very elegant and refined with a natural, slightly earthy finish that is long in the mouth. Superb persistency – this is one of the top Saint Julien wines. Tasted April 2012.

Neal Martin

92-93 JS

Very floral with blueberry and blackberry on the nose. Mineral undertones. Full body, with chewy tannins and long intense finish. Serious structure and balance for the vintage.

James Suckling

91-93 BI

Great nose on this - sweet, pure and perfumed with strawberry and blackcurrant fruit - perhaps almost a touch of malbec about it? Much more purity than you might expect, and surprisingly easier to penetrate than the 2010. A really good solid claret with that essential freshness which is often overlooked as a key part of the claret ‘mix’.

Bordeaux Index

90-93 WS

Focused blackberry, currant and cherry sauce flavors show notes of sweet tobacco and nicely roasted spice on the finish, with integrated grip.—J.M.

Wine Spectator

89-91 MS

[80CS/15M/5CF] Lovely freshly ripe fruit on the nose; elegantly balanced, moderately concentrated with a fresh acidity and, like the Langoa, also a fine, restrained tannin in the context of the year; long, gentle, even sweet cored St Julien, not big, but gently classy with very nice light length. Good. 2022-35 [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2012]

Michael Schuster

886 WL

Quality 858 | Brand 988 | Economics 773 | buzz brand
Quality: Predicted life of 14 years, one of the longest drinking windows in its peer group, which averages 9 years Brand: Strong restaurant presence, featuring on 33 of the world's top wine lists, including Amber - Mandarin Oriental Economics: Production: Higher production than its peer group average of 186,000 bottles

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017

Wine Lister

88+ RP

Firmly structured, dense and medium-bodied with moderate tannin, this austere and backward yet well-endowed 2011 needs 5-7 years of bottle age. Whether the fruit holds up to the tannic structure remains to be seen, but the dark ruby/purple color, purity and impressive depth as well as concentration augur well for future positive development. Forget this 2011 for 5-6 years and drink it over the following 15-20.
-Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #212 Apr 2014

(90-92+)
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 30/04/2012
Leoville Barton's 2011 is head and shoulders above its sister offering, Langoa Barton. Although not as backward as I expected given the general style that emerges from Anthony Barton''s beloved St.-Julien estate, this wine will need time in the bottle once it is released in several years. An opaque purple color is followed by aromas of damp earth, underbrush, black currants, cedar and hints of vanillin and incense. Medium to full-bodied and moderately tannic with good acidity as well as excellent delineation and purity, it should be forgotten for 4-5 years, and drunk over the following two decades. (90-92+)

Wine Advocate

16.5-1 JR

Drink 2018-2030 Very very dark and black core. Touch of oak char on the nose with sweet dark fruit hiding underneath. Cool and lithe and on the lean side yet fresh and fluid. Not forcing the vintage. Finishes fresh and really lively. (JH)

Jancis Robinson

Chateau Leoville Barton 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien