Château Léoville Barton Saint-Julien 2019 - 2nd Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

A great, complete wine, even better selected and vinified with a little more virtuosity than 2018 or 2015. Noble cedar aroma, intensity and freshness at an almost ideal level, great length on the palate and obviously the best value for money of the Léoville.

About the estate:

Under the sober, honest, and passionate guidance of Anthony Barton, this wine has joined the elite ranks of the Médoc, without its prices skyrocketing. The wine's current quality stems from the age and location of the vines, which allow for a balance of quantity and quality, and from a commitment to preserving and optimizing the most classically Médoc style. The mystery of its character remains, as this wine, destined for great aging, arrives fully formed, with an almost creamy texture that immediately draws attention and affection. The new generation of the family has little to change...

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

While the Irishman Thomas Barton established his trading business in the Chartrons district in 1725, it wasn't until 1821 that his grandson Hugh acquired Château Langoa, followed in 1826 by part of the former Léoville estate, a property dating back to the early 17th century and divided into several parts during the French Revolution. This estate has remained in the Barton family ever since (Lilian Barton-Sartorius since 2006), which extends its 51 hectares of vineyards south of the village of Saint-Julien. There is no residence or winery here; vinification and aging take place at Langoa.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Like its stablemate Langoa Barton, the 2019 Léoville Barton is a timeless classic, made for connoisseurs. Offering aromas of blackcurrant, plum, pencil shavings, and licorice, it is full-bodied, deep, and concentrated, its profound fruit core framed by a structure of rich, powdery tannins that shows through to the youthful, firm finish. While clearly built for the long term, its harmonious structure and mid-palate fullness make it one of the best wines from this château in recent times. Could it be a more concentrated, modern version of Anthony Barton's brilliant 1985? 2029–2069

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

How can one resist its charm and elegance? Exquisitely refined, with a superb, silky texture. This delicate wine is also remarkably persistent and intense, with magnificent fruit expression. Superb!

About the estate:

Since 1985, the estate has enjoyed a string of successes under the guidance of Anthony Barton and his daughter Lilian. These achievements have become triumphs, as Léoville Barton has consistently risen to the very top of Bordeaux's great wines since 1998. Beyond an evident dedication to meticulous craftsmanship, the secret to this success lies in the age of this ancient vineyard, which yields ripe and concentrated grapes. More fleshy and fruity in its early years than Léoville Las Cases or Léoville Poyferré, Barton delights with its richness, its supreme balance—a result of its terroir—and its profoundly natural expression. More open in its early years, the wine often goes through a phase of austerity before gradually developing its final form; with age, it unfolds one of the most complex and elegant bouquets in the Médoc. Moreover, considering its quality and great consistency, the prices always remain very affordable.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

The wine is rich and full-bodied. Its impressive structure is softened by the velvety texture of dark fruit and acidity. The wine's construction is powerful but never overwhelming. It will age well and will be ready to drink from 2026 onwards.

James Suckling

About the wine:

Currants, sweet fruit, and fresh flowers on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied, with firm, silky tannins that are chewy and powerful. Long and muscular, yet in a vibrant and polished way. Best enjoyed after 2026.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

The bouquet of Léoville Barton still shows the influence of its oak aging, but this doesn't prevent it from revealing its complexity and beautiful fruit intensity. On the palate, elegance is paramount. The wine has body and breadth. Its tannins are fine, powerful, and perfectly in tune with the vigor of its structure. A wine that combines charm, elegance, and power, from the first sip to the finish. The latter is, moreover, intense and persistent. 2026-2049

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is elegant, refined, and sophisticated, offering power, delicacy, finesse, subtle intensity, depth, good structure, and a lovely, discreetly tight grain. It reveals notes of ripe/pulpy boysenberry, ripe wild strawberry, and lighter hints of bright black berries, along with touches of violet, lily, warm gravel/a sense of place, and subtle hints of caramelization, nutmeg, toast, and an imperceptible touch of salinity. The palate is fruity, elegant, and luscious, offering lovely definition, fine grain/structure, power, savoriness, and a refined minerality. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/pulpy boysenberry, vibrant raspberry, and lighter hints of bright blackcurrant, along with touches of violet, lily, toast, nutmeg, and subtle hints of chocolate, caramelization, and black tea (in the background). Good length and persistence. The tannins are elegant, fine, and refined.