Over the years, this has taken on more weight. The colour is deep and there's no lack of rich, ripe blackcurrant fruit on the nose. Fleshy and compact, it is backed by assertive tannins. It's forceful and chocolatey without being extracted, and there are no rough edges. Although the acidity is moderate, the wine is not yet tiring. Drinking Window: 2023 - 2026
Tasted by: Stephen Brook (at London, 02 Feb 2023)
Part of Bordeaux 2013: 10 years on & 30 wines tasted

This is very pretty with currant, plum and chocolate aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, silky mouth feel and a savory finish. Bright and delicious. Drink now or hold.

Over the years, this has taken on more weight. The colour is deep and there's no lack of rich, ripe blackcurrant fruit on the nose. Fleshy and compact, it is backed by assertive tannins. It's forceful and chocolatey without being extracted, and there are no rough edges. Although the acidity is moderate, the wine is not yet tiring.

One of the more pigmented and denser colored 2013s, Leoville Barton is atypically forward and tasty at this stage of its development. It possesses a dense ruby/plum color in addition to abundant cassis notes, sound acidity, pure fruit, and a broad, savory mouthfeel. Medium-bodied and packed, it should drink nicely for 10-15 years, and will be one of the longer-lived 2013s.

The 2013 Léoville-Barton has a more backward bouquet compared to the Langoa-Barton 2013, but there is more perfume here with blackberry, a touch of sea spray and cold limestone. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannin, a crisp line of acidity with finesse and elegance on the finish, which is one of the best you'll find in Saint Julien. This finishes with a flourish after a conservative opening and it should yield a decade of pleasure, maybe more. This is a solid showing in a tough vintage.

Quite nice for the vintage, and it's going to drink well young, which is something you do not often find in Leoville Barton. The wine provides a medium bodied, early drinking, soft textured, cassis and plum character, with hints of cedar, tobacco and earth. A few years in the cellar should be about right. Tasted Feb 2016

Ruby-red. Aromas of plum, raspberry, coffee and orange peel. Bright and lively, with an enticing hint of woodsmoke complicating the red berry, citrus and herb flavors. Offers considerable immediate appeal, but the high acidity and strong dusting of tannins camouflage the little fruit that's present. Sexy notes of coffee and mocha emerge on the back end, but this is youthfully clenched right now and, much like Langoa, doesn't exactly stand out for its fruit concentration. Perhaps it will put on some weight with a couple years in bottle.

Dark red cherry, plum, violets and mint meld together in the 2013 Léoville-Barton. The style is feminine and delicate, with hints of dilution. At this stage, the 2013 looks to be a near-term drinker given its modest concentration. The 2013 is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot. I tasted the 2013 twice. Both times it lacked depth and resonance, even within the context of the vintage.

Tasted blind. Mid garnet. Savoury with a hint of oak char at first but a leafiness comes through thereafter. Firm and chewy but has reasonable fruit depth to balance. (JH)

Deep crimson still, with shading at the rim. Very light nose. Not as much tannin as usual but at this stage, and not much sappy flavour to draw you in. A bit lacking on the finish too. (JR)