The Grand Vin is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc picked between 3 and 15 October at 32hl/ha. It is more introspective than the Langoa at this early stage, but perhaps more complex with subtle tertiary and pencil lead scents infusing the black fruit profile. The palate is superbly balanced with fine tannins, delineated black and red fruit infused with graphite borrowed north from Pauillac. It exudes focus and precision and should be one of the finest Saint Julien 2012s. – eRobertParker.com, May 2013

Dense ruby/purple, with cassis licorice and forest floors notes in the aromatics, Léoville-Barton’s 2012 is a relatively big, rich, masculine style of wine. This full-bodied wine needs 5-8 years of cellaring and should evolve easily for 25-30 years. 92 points – Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #218, April 2015)

Dense ruby/purple, with cassis licorice and forest floors notes in the aromatics, Léoville-Barton’s 2012 is a relatively big, rich, masculine style of wine. This full-bodied wine needs 5-8 years of cellaring and should evolve easily for 25-30 years.

The 2012 Leoville-Barton is laced with dark red and blue-fleshed stone fruits, spices, sweet spice, mint and licorice. This is a decidedly understated, forward Leoville-Barton that will drink well with minimal cellaring. The classic Leoville-Barton signatures aren't fully developed. Perhaps I caught the 2012 in an awkward stage, but today the wine is quite introspective and gives the impression of not being fully formed.

A more mid-weight, elegant expression from this château, the 2012 Château Léoville Barton is nevertheless an outstanding wine with plenty to love. Revealing a vivid ruby hue as well as beautiful cassis and darker currant fruits, it has lots of graphite, cedar pencil, and spicy notes, medium body, a light, elegant mouthfeel, and soft, ultra-fine tannins. This complex, elegant Barton shines with just an hour of air and will continue drinking nicely over the coming 10-15 years.

Floral and fruity red with hints of vanilla. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a crisp finish. Loosely knit. This needs three or four years to come together. Better after 2018. – jamessuckling.com, Feb 2015

(83% Cabernet Sauvignon/15% Merlot/2% Cabernet Franc)
Ripe fruit, dark chocolate, touch of violet. Good weight. Really nice ripe fruit, dark cherry and plum, vanilla; a wine which doesn't force the issue but expresses its terroir and the vintage. Honest, with real character.

[85CS/15M/2CF] A refined, freshly sweet blackberry fruit nose; elegant, medium full, fine textured tannin; a sweet ripe core of fruit, a really nice complexity, long across the palate and lovely sweet length to finish. Vivid, refined, discreet, complete. 2020-30 [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2013]

Features a chewy edge, with anise, blackberry and black currant fruit notes held together by an ample dose of roasted apple wood. A chewy feel holds the finish, with plum skin and singed wood details lingering. This feels like it may have dried out just a bit since the barrel tasting. Best from 2016 through 2022. 12,500 cases made. – James Molesworth (WineSpectator.com, May 2015)

Dark ruby. Delicately smoky nuances complement dark plum and fresh blackcurrant on the subdued nose. Lively flavors of red cherry, violet, minerals and bitter chocolate show less fat but more cut than those of the Langoa Barton, with a slightly edgy quality to the wine's acidity. The moderately long finish comes across as a little tart today. I did not find the usual ripeness of Leoville Barton.

Quality 820 | Brand 988 | Economics 786 | 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

Tasted blind. Sappy. Aromatic, even a bit racy on the nose! Very clever winemaking almost disguises the lack of ripe fruit. Solid, spicy, something to chew on. A wine with some potential and well-managed tannins. Drink: 2022-2035 – jancisrobinson.com, Jan 2016

More delicate and reserved on the nose than the Langoa. More fragrant and a touch leafier but still with sweet dark fruit. Delicious on the palate – has everything: freshness of fruit and acidity, tannins that are ripe and firm but in the background and a long juicy finish. (JH)