Chateau Leoville Barton   Leoville Barton

2014 Leoville Barton

By Chateau Leoville Barton

2014 Léoville Barton from Château Léoville Barton, Saint-Julien, Bordeaux

In the tapestry of Bordeaux vintages, each weaving its unique pattern, the 2014 Léoville Barton from Château Léoville Barton bestows upon us an intriguing expression from the storied terroirs of Saint-Julien. The vintage unveils a narrative shaped by its climatic resilience and the deft handiwork at this acclaimed estate.

 

Resilience Turns Remarkable: The 2014 Growing Season

The 2014 vintage in Bordeaux was far from straightforward, with a relatively cool and wet start to the growing season testing the vines and vignerons alike. Yet, as if orchestrated by Bacchus himself, an Indian summer arrived just when needed, gilding the grapes with optimal ripeness without sacrificing their vital acid backbone. It is precisely this rescue by late sunshine that has granted the 2014 Léoville Barton an admirable blend of freshness and maturity.

 

A True Saint-Julien: The Wine's Distinctive Attributes

Matured reverently in oak barrels, this wine confers upon the oenophile a composition of robust blackcurrant and plummy depth with exquisitely integrated tannins. A coalescence of tobacco and cedar nuances ring through its structure, brought to life on a stage set by that fateful summer reprieve. Furthermore, there's an earthy minerality that carries whispers of the gravelly soils iconic to Saint-Julien, linking each sip back to its origin.

The investment potential of the 2014 Léoville Barton flows from its vibrant yet accessible profile, exemplifying why Bordeaux remains a pivotal component in any serious wine portfolio. The producer's prodigious expertise has once more transformed nature's challenges into an asset with gratifying longevity; thus making it a prudent choice for both enjoyment and economic fortuity.

In summation, I find the 2014 Léoville Barton from Château Léoville Barton to be a reflection not only of its birth year's climactic narrative but also an emblem of Saint-Julien's tenacity. It brands itself as one of such distinct character, sure to evoke appreciation as it matures much like well-invested fortunes.

Current market price

£580.00

12x75cl

Highest score

94

POP score

41.43

Scores and tasting notes

94

No tasting note available.

Tim Atkin - TimAtkin.com (04/2015)

92-95

No tasting note available.

Wine Spectator - The Wine Spectator

94

The 2014 Leoville Barton is one of the must-buys of the vintage. Now in bottle, it has a very pure bouquet that gains intensity in the glass, laden with blackberry and raspberry coulis scents, cold wet stone, a wonderful mineralité that becomes more conspicuous with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannin, a fine line of acidity that lends this precision and nervosité. There is class and sophistication in situ, not a powerful Léoville Barton, but beautifully poised. This is just a brilliant forerunner to the 2015 and it should represent great value.

Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 31 March 2017

92-94

No tasting note available.

Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate

92-93

No tasting note available.

James Suckling - Jamesuckling.com (04/2015)

17.5

No tasting note available.

Jancis Robinson - JancisRobinson.com

Vintage performance