2005 Leoville Barton

The 2005 Château Leoville Barton isn’t far off the style of the 1990, although perhaps it’s a touch more structured and concentration. Youthful ruby hued with classic currant, graphite, and crushed stone aromatics, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, rich, layered mid-palate, still present tannins, and a great finish. This in an inward, structured, powerful Barton that’s just now at the early stages of its drinking window, and has another 30 years of overall longevity if well stored.

Deep ruby red, this is great stuff, broad-shouldered, laced with aniseed, liqourice, touches of bitter black chocolate, muscular tannins and a luscious fruit core. Lip smacking stuff, with 2005 energy and excitement. Gets more serious as it opens, revealing black pepper spice, sage, rosemary and white pepper. A wonderful wine, one to sink into. You can easily wait to drink this, and it will reward another three to five years in bottle, then go for decades. If you do open it, give it a long carafe. 50% new oak.

The 2005 Léoville-Barton is clearly one of the wines of the vintage. Powerful and strapping in the glass, the 2005 is a big, big wine. Huge swaths of tannin wrap around a core of inky black fruit, new leather, spice, gravel, mocha and licorice. The wine's sheer density is impressive, but its balance is even more compelling. I might be temped to give this another few years in the cellar. Readers lucky enough to own it will find a thrilling, potent Saint-Julien that overdelivers big time. I loved it