Château Léoville Barton - Saint-Julien 2008

Jamessuckling.com

93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe12/20/2011

What a nose! Chocolate, berry, meat and spice aromas. Full body, with soft and velvety tannins and a long, long finish. This is solid and rich for the vintage. A beauty. Try it after 2013

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/31/2011

Typically extracted and powerful (which is atypical in a vintage such as 2008), this offering may lack charm, but it is “locked and loaded” with plenty of background oak, huge black cherry and black currant fruit, medium to full body and a boatload of tannin. Forget it for 8-10 years and drink it over the following three decades. Drink 2019-2049

Wine Spectator

91 / 100

byJames Molesworththe12/15/2010

Alluring, with warm fig sauce, plum and currant paste notes liberally laced with espresso bean and dark roasted vanilla bean notes. Fleshy but focused, with the roasted edge adding definition and length. Drink now through 2019.-J.M

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

90-92 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe5/28/2009

Very deep purple-ruby. Floral aromas of blueberry, blackcurrant and violet. The palate offers lovely balance, with pure black fruit flavors in perfect harmony with fine acids and smooth tannins. Finishes long and pure, with a late mineral surge. Not the last word in concentration but a gorgeous, well-made wine.

Wein Wisser

19 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/7/2009

Sehr dunkles, sattes Granat mit violettem Schimmer. Königliches, tiefes Bouquet von Trüffel, Brombeeren, Cassis und dunklen Edelhölzern, pfeffrig. Im Gaumen perfekt, gross und erhaben, in Kraft und Aromatik einem Pauillac ähnlich, kräftige Adstringenz mit einer Garantie für 50 Jahre Genuss – am besten erst ab 2010. Ein grosser Klassiker, der zu den herausragenden Weinen des Jahrgangs gehört und mal wieder sensationell günstig angeboten wird. 2019 – 2050

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2009

Another blockbuster, long-term wine from proprietor Anthony Barton, this 2008 is among the biggest, most back-strapping efforts of the vintage. As with many vintages of Leoville Barton, it is best forgotten for another decade. An inky/purple color is followed by notes of forest floor, camphor, red and black fruits, and a hint of wood. This brawny, masculine-styled St.-Julien possesses huge body, massive concentration, and mouth-searing levels of tannin. However, the tannins are much sweeter than the 2005's were at the same stage, so that should not be an issue as long as potential purchasers exercise patience. This impressively pure, classic Bordeaux should be at its finest between 2020-2050.

La Revue du Vin de France

18.50-19.50 / 20

the4/29/2009

Léoville Barton livre un 2008 d'une rare denstié avec une expression de fruit mûr et une superbe structure d'une longueur aromatique sur les épices exceptionnelle. C'est l'un des grands millésimes du Château dans les dix dernières années et la grande réussite de l'appellation.

TAST

18 / 20

the4/23/2009

Grande robe, superbe nez de cèdre, matière riche, onctueuse, racée, excellente prise de bois, fidèle à lui-même : après découverte des caches je l’ai longuement comparé à Poyferré, c’est la règle du jeu, à qui je donne une toute petite longueur d’avance pour son supplément de tension dans le tanin.

Jancis Robinson

16.50 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/16/2009

Purplish with a lightish rim. Quite integrated nose. Well balanced. Some savour though no great intensity. Very fine tannins and good balance even if not a very firm imprint of personality. Marked tannins on the finish without a great weight of exciting fruit. 16,5+

Wine Advocate

90-92 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/14/2009

A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, similar to Langoa this is very ripe and rich on the nose – blackberry, a touch of cedar, fig and Xmas cake. Good definition. The palate is tannic, masculine, good level of ripeness with cedar, blueberry, cassis and blackberry. Very assertive, really lacquers the mouth although I cannot help but think it is a degree too sweet on the prune-tinged finish. Tasted April 2009.

Decanter Magazine

18 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/14/2009

Black-red, very good concentration of autumnal black fruits nose, impressively structured fruit, plummy ripeness on the attack, classic firmness on the finish, very good depth and persistence, powerful yet restrained. Drink 2018-30.

Wine Spectator

90-93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2009

Roses, blackberries, currants and wet earth. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and very pretty fruit. Long and juicy. A delicious wine, very balanced.