2021 Chateau Leoville Barton - Grand Cru Classe St. Julien

Decanter.com – 94 pts – GH: *Heady on the nose, perfumed and scented. The palate is alive and playful, delivering high acidity but also focused fruit so it's both lightly framed and fun, but also savoury and serious. Smooth and silky tannins give the gentle frame, letting the strawberry, creamy raspberry and red cherry fruit do the talking. It's unfussy, all the elements to the fore but all well balanced with a charming texture overall and persistence of high-toned red berry fruits with saline sides. Hints of green pepper, black pepper, slate and pencil lead on the finish. I like this a lot!* - 04/2022

Falstaff Magazin – 93 pts – PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Einladende dunkle Waldbeeren, reife Zwetschken, feines Nougat, kandierte Orangenzesten, facettenreiches Bukett. Straff, saftig, dunkle Waldbeeren, gut integrierte Tannine, mineralisch und frisch, gutes Entwicklungspotenzial.* - 05/2022

Vinum Magazin – 19,5/20 pts: *Superbe, vielschichtige Aromatik der grossen Weine; von immenser Tiefe, mit unendlich edlen, seidigen, eng sitzenden Gerbstoffen, nicht enden wollendes, lebhaft fruchtiges Finale; gehört zu den grössten, weil harmonischsten, exquisitesten Weinen des Jahrgangs.*

WeinWisser – 18,5/20pts – GL, TW: *84 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 11 % Merlot, 5 % Cabernet Franc, 13,1 Vol.-%. Delikates Bouquet, frische schwarze Johannisbeere, Preiselbeersaft, helles Graphit und verführerische Veilchen. Am subtilen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, betörender Extraktfülle, balancierter Rasse, engmaschigem Tanningerüst und durchtrainiertem Körper. Im konzentriert langanhaltenden Finale rot-, blau- und schwarzbeerige Konturen, tiefschürfende Terroirwürze und erhabene Adstringenz. Fast auf demselben Niveau wie in den letzten Jahren!* – 04/2022

JancisRobinson.com – 17++/20pts – JL: *84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Minerally and racy with a density that is often missing in 2021. Layers of fruit and plentiful but refined tannins. Structured and persistent, the quality of the vineyard appreciable. Fresh and well defined. Good balance. Definite potential!* - 04/2022

Vinous.com – 94+ pts – AG: *The 2021 Léoville-Barton is a gorgeous, classically built Saint-Julien. Graphite, leather, blue-toned fruit, spice, tobacco, licorice and lavender are immediately alluring. Medium in body and vibrant, the 2021 exudes finesse from start to finish. It is very much on the restrained side, with all the elements impeccably balanced. I would give this a few years in the cellar. It really blossoms with air, but the best is clearly yet to come.* - 12/2023

Vinous.com – 94 pts – NM: *The 2021 Léoville-Barton marks the first vintage with Cabernet Franc in the blend, which Damien Barton explained was thanks to the smaller vats recently installed in the /cuverie/. There is a sense of airiness on the nose, very focused and well-defined with blackberry, bilberry and crushed stone aromas. The palate is medium-bodied and sappy with ripe black fruit and a fine bead of acidity, showing a touch of spice box and cinnamon on the finish. Superb.* - 11/2023

Thewinecellarinsider.com – 93 pts – JL: *Fresh, vibrant and energetic, there is a crispness to the red fruits that perfectly balances classy and classic. You also find ample notes of cigar wrapper, cedar, flowers and savory-edged, red currants in the nose and on the lifted, medium/full-bodied, crisp palate. The wine blends 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2027-2060.* - 03/2024