2014 Château Langoa-Barton
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Tasting notes
Vibrant colour and this stains the glass a little. Pure on the nose: clean cool fruit with a touch of spice. And in the mouth this is perfectly weighted with lovely St Julien fruit. Rather good, and absolutely as it should be. Complete, with a foursquare St Julien character. Joss Fowler, FINE+RARE, April 2015.
Critic scores
FINE+RARE
Wine Spectator
More reviews and scores
Darker cherries, currants, tobacco, leafy herbs, and underbrush all emerge from the 2014 Château Langoa Barton, a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that continues to show well. Medium-bodied on the palate, it offers a layered texture, outstanding balance, and fine tannins. This juicy, elegant, and complex Saint-Julien will drink beautifully over the coming decade or so. Drink 2025-2037.
The 2014 Langoa Barton has a potent menthol-tinged bouquet that occludes the terroir expression and renders this a bit generic. The palate is powerful and lush, with candied red fruit, blood orange and allspice. The 2014 is a more modern-styled Saint-Julien, though it just about pulls it off. There's just a bit of alcohol lingering on the aftertaste, but I can abide that. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.
Tasted blind. Black core with garnet rim. Dark and smoky black fruit. Lightly leafy/cedary, too. Juicy fruit within very fine tannins. Lighter-bodied than some, harmonious and almost approachable. (JH)
About the producer
Hugh Barton purchased this estate, alongside Second Growth Ch. Léoville Barton, in the 1820s. Classified as a Third Growth and run by Lilian Barton with her children Damien and Mélanie today, the 20 hectares of vines produce some of the appellation’s most elegant wines – and at reasonable prices.