In the glass
Aroma: blackcurrant, plum, pencil shavings, licorice, cedar
Palate: black cherry, tobacco leaf, cassis, fine powdery tannins, classic Médoc structure
Timeless Saint-Julien classic: a Cabernet-dominant blend with classic Médoc pencil shavings, licorice and cassis, built for patience with rich powdery tannins.
What it pairs with
-
Roast leg of lamb
The wine's structured tannins and cassis fruit are a textbook match for the minerality of slow-roasted lamb. -
Braised short rib with sauce bordelaise
Long braising softens the beef to mirror the wine's velvety tannins; the bone marrow sauce echoes cedar notes. -
Wild duck breast with blackcurrant reduction
Game bird's richness and the sauce's acidity dovetail with the wine's dark fruit and firm structure. -
Truffle-aged hard cheese board
Aged cheese sharpens the wine's fruit and integrates its oak spice.
How to serve Château Léoville Barton
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass. The bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Roast leg of lamb, Braised short rib with sauce bordelaise, Wild duck breast with blackcurrant reduction. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Hugh Barton purchased Léoville Barton in 1826 as part of the historic Léoville estate division. The Barton family, originally Irish négociants, have maintained unbroken ownership for nearly 200 years, vinifying at the adjacent Château Langoa Barton using traditional wooden fermentation vats dating to 1963.
- 1826 — Hugh Barton acquires the property from the divided Léoville estate
- 1855 — Classified as Deuxième Cru in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification
- 1983 — Anthony Barton takes sole charge; begins long quality-improvement era
- 2022 — Anthony Barton passes; Lilian Barton Sartorius and children continue stewardship
Facts
- Producer
- Château Léoville Barton
- Grapes
- Cabernet Sauvignon (74%), Merlot (23%), Cabernet Franc (3%)
- Classification
- Saint-Julien AOC, Deuxième Cru Classé (1855)
- Oak
- Approximately 50% new French oak barrels, 20 months
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Production
- 240,000 bottles
- Price
- €75-150 at retail
- Drinking window
- 10-30 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1826
Scores
- Wine Advocate 97 (2019 vintage, reviewed 2022)
- Wine Advocate 96 (2020 vintage, reviewed 2023)
Frequently asked about Château Léoville Barton
What does Château Léoville Barton taste like?
On the nose, blackcurrant, plum, pencil shavings, licorice, cedar. On the palate, black cherry, tobacco leaf, cassis, fine powdery tannins, classic Médoc structure. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. Timeless Saint-Julien classic: a Cabernet-dominant blend with classic Médoc pencil shavings, licorice and cassis, built for patience with rich powdery tannins.
When should I drink Château Léoville Barton?
Drink 10-30 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Château Léoville Barton?
Roast leg of lamb is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Braised short rib with sauce bordelaise and Wild duck breast with blackcurrant reduction. The wine's structured tannins and cassis fruit are a textbook match for the minerality of slow-roasted lamb.
What grapes are in Château Léoville Barton?
The blend is Cabernet Sauvignon (74%), Merlot (23%), Cabernet Franc (3%). The wine is classified as Saint-Julien AOC, Deuxième Cru Classé (1855).