Château Léoville Barton - Saint-Julien 2005

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

par Robert Parker le 30/06/2015

Léoville Barton’s 2005 has an inky ruby/purple color and shows fairly high tannin levels, but the balance is slightly better that the Langoa Barton, which is very hard. This is probably a 30-year wine and needs at least another 20 years of cellaring, and while the tannins are high, they are balanced more thoroughly and competently. With deep cassis and red currant fruit, the wine is earthy, spicy, medium to full-bodied, and needs at least another decade. Drink it between 2025 and 2050.

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

par Jancis Robinson le 09/02/2015

Blackish crimson. A much subtler nose than the Langoa. Rigorous, dry, sleek and polished although, as with the Langoa, there is a very slight hint of sweet oak. The finish here is completely dry, however. Very classic and no hurry whatsoever to drink this polished leathery wine. 

La Revue du Vin de France

18 / 20

le 20/10/2014

Une fois encore, il impose sa suavité et la rondeur de sa bouche qui ne manque pas de croquant ni d'éclat. Un vin très digeste qui arbore un grand équilibre et possède une belle allonge. La finale est déjà bien fondue.

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

par Neal Martin le 13/06/2009

Tasted single blind at Southwold. Again, this is showing a lot of extraction and unresolved new oak on the nose with cassis, blackcurrant, liquorice and a touch of fig. Very ripe supple black fruits, lush and generous, exotic almost with a lithe, toasty finish. Very seductive, but they a wall of tannins hits the back palate, then honeyed tones lingering on the aftertaste. Magnificent – I would love to contrast this against the 2003. Drink 2015-2035. Tasted January 2009.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

94 / 100

par Stephen Tanzer le 30/06/2008

Deep ruby. Wonderfully perfumed nose offers cassis, minerals, tobacco, flowers, mocha and truffle. Bright, mineral-driven and concentrated, with terrific underlying backbone giving energy and definition to the dark berry, mineral and chocolate flavors. There's a floral lift here that's exhilarating to find in the very ripe 2005 vintage. Finishes very long and classy, with a firm tannic spine. An outstanding vintage for this wine.

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

par Robert Parker le 07/05/2008

Another prodigious, but brutally tannic, offering from the affable Anthony Barton, the inky/blue/black-hued 2005 Leoville Barton exhibits a sensational perfume of charcoal, burning embers, underbrush, cedar, creme de cassis, and subtle toasty oak. Painfully concentrated (much like the 2000 was at the same stage), with full body, admirable purity, and several boatloads of muscular tannin, this St.-Julien is built for 50-60 years of cellaring. Its purity and precision are typical of today’s winemaking, but Barton is certainly not making a wine for near-term gratification. This is another 2005 that will require enormous patience. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2065

Wine Spectator

96 / 100

par James Suckling le 22/02/2008

La Revue du Vin de France

19 / 20

le 30/11/2007

Il confirme sa classe suprême. Dès le nez, il impose sa distinction et son raffinement. En bouche, il est précis, puissant et savoureux, avec une allonge énorme. Equilibre magistral.

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

par Jancis Robinson le 21/11/2007

Delicately smoky spice, fresh and fragrant - already showing elegance. Fine tannins, gently aromatic, long fresh finish. Mid crimson. Spicy nose and very opulent texture even if the flavours are etremely tight and backward. One of the youngest wines of this range. pretty tight on the finish. Still not sure that this is better than the Langoa - though it should certainly gave a longer life even if it will take many years to show much grace. 17+

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

par Robert Parker le 04/05/2007

What can you say about Anthony Barton? He has made yet another classic wine that will not be approachable for a decade, but will last 50 or more years. The inky/blue/purple-colored 2005 Leoville Barton offers up aromas of forest floor, cedar, spice box, black currants, and background oak as well as smoke. Boasting massive concentration, full body, and exceptional purity, but excruciatingly tannic and backward, this cuvee is meant for those with 19th century tastes, but also exhibits the purity and precision of modern winemaking. Patience is demanded with this beauty as it will take many years to approach any level of accessibility/maturity. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2060+.

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

par Robert Parker le 27/04/2006

A monumental beast possessing dramatic levels of concentration, tannin, and potential, Leoville-Barton’s opaque purple-hued 2005 reveals amazingly sweet notes of black currants, damp forest floor, and spice box. It is a deep, powerful, unctuously-textured effort with enough acidity to provide freshness as well as definition. Broader and more masculine than the 2000, and more classic than the 2003, the 2005 is a monster meant for long-term aging. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2055.

Wine Spectator

95-100 / 100

par James Suckling le 28/03/2006

Fantastic aromas of currants, black licorice and berries. Fresh flowers. Light smoke. Big and velvety with loads of fruit. Long. Gorgeous. Sexy. Love it. Seems like another 2003; wait and see. —J.S.