Château Léoville Barton - Saint-Julien 2004

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

byNeal Martinthe8/1/2014

Tasted at Bordeaux Index annual 10-year on tasting from an ex-château bottle. The 2004 Château Leoville Barton has a very composed bouquet with minerally black fruit, wild hedgerow, tobacco and dried blood, opening beautifully with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a precise opening: black fruit laced with tobacco and dried herbs. There is admirable structure here and good depth on the finish that to be honest, highlights that lack of weight on the Langoa. This was always a rather aristocratic Saint Julien and it continues in that mould. Tasted March 2014.

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe1/28/2009

This Leoville Barton has an entrancing cedar, wild hedgerow, smoke-tinged nose that is difficult not to immediately fall in love with and like the Langoa ’04 it has wonderful clarity. The palate is quite chewy on the entry, certainly weightier than at primeur with a dense, tannic entry. There are notes of blackberry, tobacco and a touch of bay leaf. It still has that balletic poise, although here it is very tight and backward. It will be intriguing to see how this develops alongside Langoa. Classy (still.) Drink 2014-2025. Tasted November 2008.

La Revue du Vin de France

18.50 / 20

the9/3/2007

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe7/2/2007

This is an impressively endowed vin de garde that should age effortlessly for 20-30 years. How Anthony Barton continues to fashion uncompromisingly primordial Bordeaux that are always among the biggest and densest of all the St.-Juliens is beyond me, but he does it year in and year out. Moreover, when it’s time to set the price, he appears to have the consumer foremost in his mind. The 2004 is a classic Leoville-Barton meant for long aging. Concentrated, with loads of smoke, creme de cassis, forest floor, and earthy notes emerge from this impressive, but oh, so backward wine. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030+.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

91 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe6/30/2007

Bright red-ruby. Deep aromas of black raspberry, black cherry, leather, smoke and flowers. Dense but juicy, with lovely finesse and flavor intensity. Notes of mocha, chocolate and leather linger nicely on the lively finish, which features substantial but rather fine tannins. This is excellent.

Wine Spectator

91 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/31/2007

Currant and dark chocolate, with hints of mineral. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, caressing finish. Balanced. A more delicate and refined style. Best after 2011. 21,250 cases made.

Wine Advocate

90-92 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe6/30/2006

A very successful vintage at this estate, the 2004 Leoville Barton offers a dense, opaque purple color, a big, deep, meaty nose of dried herbs, new saddle leather, licorice, a hint of toasty barrique, and plenty of black currant fruit. It is pure, ripe, slightly austere and tannic, but also substantial in a vintage that rarely produced wines of this size and power. This will be a wine for patient connoisseurs. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2025.

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/2/2005

Proprietor Anthony Barton continues to fashion beautifully elegant yet powerful, masculine, virile wines meant for long-term aging. In addition, he exhibits a humility in pricing that is both refreshing and noteworthy. The outstanding 2004 comes close to equaling the spectacular 2000. It boasts a dense purple color as well as aromas of forest floor, underbrush, creme de cassis, new saddle leather, and background oak. There is superb intensity for a 2004, wonderful sweetness, and a surprisingly fragrant perfume. However, the beautiful bouquet does not mean this wine will be drinkable young as it will require 5-7 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025.

TAST

17,5 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/28/2005

Le nez n'a pas la fraicheur de l'échantillon de Lagrange mais en bouche on reste impressionné par le corps profond, la texture ample et serrée et le volume d'un tannin à la saveur de grand tabac havane qui lorgne vers Pauillac. Un vin de grande étoffe, majestueux, complet.

Carnets de dégustation RVF

8,5 / 10

the4/22/2005

Après une robe très dense et un nez intense, réglissé, la bouche possède une attaque souple et dense, un très joli milieu de bouche et une splendide finale sur le cuir pour l'instant moyennement persistante. Sur des tanins fermes et racés, il ira plus loin que Langoa-Barton

Wine Spectator

89-91 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/30/2005

A lovely wine with a pretty balance of fruit and ripe tannins. Full-bodied yet refined . Silky and beautiful, with blackberry and mineral character. Gorgeous fort the vintage. You have to like this. Very close to 92-94.