Chateau Leoville Barton 2022

WEINWISSER: "Verführerisches, vielschichtiges Bouquet, reife Heidelbeere, dunkle Kirsche, edle Cassiswürze und satter Veilchenstrauß. Am komplexen, samtigen Gaumen mit herrlich reifem Extrakt, perfekt balancierter Rasse und engmaschigem Körper. Im konzentrierten, geradlinigen Finale katapultiert sich der St. Julien nach vorne, eine volle Ladung blauer Beeren, heller Tabak, Estragon und erhabene Adstringenz. Gehört (wie immer) zu den besten Weinen in St. Julien und in die Top-15-Liste. 2030 – 2055."

VINUM: "Superbe Aromatik von Beeren und Gewürzen, blumige Noten sogar; voller Auftakt, gemächliche Entwicklung über Tannin von beispielhaftem Schliff, ewige, fruchtige Länge; sinnlicher, einmaliger Wein der Sonderklasse."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart schokoladig unterlegte dunkle Waldbeeren, reife Zwetschken, Brombeeren und Lakritze. Komplex, kühler, mineralischer Körper, integrierte tragende Tannine, Kirschen im Abgang, bleibt sehr lange haften, zeigt sicheres Entwicklungspotenzial, salziger Nachhall tolle Zukunft."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "With waves of sweet, perfectly ripe, luscious blackberries, you also find cassis, black cherries, creamy tannins, cigar box, lead pencil, and spice. The wine is deep in color with intensity, layers of fruit, and a finish that takes hold of your palate, and doesn't want to let go, leaving you with fruit that builds and resonates. The wine is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.5% Merlot and 5.5% Cabernet Franc, 14.1% ABV. The harvest took place September 8 - September 23. The yields were 30 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2028-2060."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "One of the stars of the Médoc and a wine likely to equal or surpass its 2019 and 2016 counterparts, the 2022 Léoville Barton unwinds in the glass with deep aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, spices and tobacco leaf, followed by a medium to full-bodied, deep and layered palate that's vibrant, pure and seamless, with beautifully classy tannins and a long, penetrating finish. The 2022 is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.5% Merlot and 5.5% Cabernet Franc; and it's the first vintage produced in the estate's new winery, which more than doubled the number of vats, permitting sub-plot by sub-plot harvesting and vinification, along with a number of other technical improvements which translate into enhanced purity and precision."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2022 Leoville Barton is composed of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.5% Merlot, and 5.5% Cabernet Franc, ageing in 60% new oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, the glass needs quite a lot of swirling to bring out evocative notes of black currant jelly, boysenberry preserves, and juicy plums, plus suggestions of pencil shavings, lilacs, crushed rocks, and cinnamon toast. The elegantly styled, medium to full-bodied palate is very tightly wound with layer upon layer of black fruits and earthy nuances, framed by super-ripe, fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and minerally. It will likely require some patience, but it promises to be a knock-out. Yields this year were 30 hectoliters per hectare, which isn’t too bad considering how tiny the berries were this year."

DECANTER: "Chewy, lively, bright, clean, intense, sleek, sharp and straight - this has it all. Excellent definition and poise, refined but still full of life and flavour. Appealing shots of milk chocolate, blackcurrant, black cherry and fragranced flowers. Not so dense or layered or plush, more lean, and straightforward but lovely detail and precision to the tannins balancing the density of fruit and energy of the lively acidity. Fun, serious, fruity, mineral - lots going on here. Simply gorgeous! I love it. Harvest 8-23 September. Yield of 30hl/ha."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Very polished and poised with blackberry and blueberry character. Medium body with tight and focused tannin tension. Lively finish. Harmonious for the vintage."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2022 Château Léoville Barton is another pretty, elegant wine from this talented team. A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.5 % Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, its ruby/purple hue is followed by a beautiful perfume of ripe red and black fruits, smoked tobacco, graphite, and violets. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it has fine tannins, a supple, elegant mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's surprisingly approachable yet I wouldn't be surprised to see this firm up over the course of its élevage."