April 25, 2025
A modern version of 1985 - Leoville Barton 2019
Leoville Barton 2019: A Modern version of 1985
“Like its stablemate Langoa Barton, the 2019 Léoville Barton is a timeless classic, made for patient connoisseurs. […] Could it be a more concentrated modern-day version of Anthony Barton's brilliant 1985?” - Wine Advocate
We've long been a fan of Leoville Barton and we think the 2019 vintage belongs in your cellar, let us tell you why!
Classified as a Second Growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, just behind icons like Mouton, Lafite, and Haut-Brion, Léoville Barton has earned an exceptional reputation. Loved by wine enthusiasts worldwide, the estate is celebrated for maintaining consistent pricing while delivering top-quality wines. Often referred to as a "Super Second," it stands as one of the most sought-after wineries in its category.
The 2019 En Primeur campaign will be remembered for its timing, released amidst the economic uncertainty of COVID-19’s first wave. In response, Bordeaux estates set sensible pricing for their exceptionally high-scoring wines. We've secured a competitive parcel priced at €79.50 In Bond per bottle, with perfect provenance, still stored in Bordeaux.
In 2019, Léoville Barton shines as a prime example of this historic Saint-Julien estate’s mastery in crafting classic, structured wines. From a vintage renowned for balance and precision, this wine exemplifies the powerful yet refined qualities that have earned Léoville Barton a loyal following among collectors.
The 2019 vintage has been highly praised, receiving top scores in both En Primeur tastings and subsequent bottle reviews. With 97 points, this is the joint highest-scoring Léoville Barton, standing alongside the 2016 and surpassing other notable vintages like 2000, 2005, 2009, and 2010. Only the legendary 1945 vintage surpasses it with 98 points.
Comparison of the top-scoring vintages as scored by the Wine Advocate:
So if you missed it En Primeur, now’s the time to make it right—this is Léoville Barton at its absolute best, and it’s ready to reward a decade or more of patience. Grab them whilst stocks last!
"Like its stablemate Langoa Barton, the 2019 Léoville Barton is a timeless classic, made for patient connoisseurs." - 97 Points, Wine Advocate
"Big rich, powerful wine with pencil lead precision. This is a brilliant wine, I loved it En Primeur and it is delivering on expectations." - 97 Points, Jane Anson
"The flagship 2019 Château Léoville Barton is brilliant, showing both the style of the estate as well as the vintage beautifully. It's never the biggest or richest wine, yet it has a classic, vibrant, structured style that ages beautifully. " - 97 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
Leoville Barton 2019
€79.50* In Bond per bottle
98 Points | The Wine Independent, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2019 Leoville Barton is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a fait bit of swirling to coax out wonderfully pure notes of blackcurrant jelly, wild blueberries, and boysenberries, followed by hints of tar, lavender, crushed rocks, and fragrant soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is an exercise in elegance, with very fine-grained, silt-like tannins and beautiful tension framing the highly nuanced black fruits, finishing very long and fantastically layered.
97 Points | Wine Advocate
Like its stablemate Langoa Barton, the 2019 Léoville Barton is a timeless classic, made for patient connoisseurs. Offering up aromas of blackcurrants, plums, pencil shavings and licorice, it's full-bodied, deep and concentrated, its deep core of fruit framed by a chassis of rich, powdery tannin that makes itself felt on the youthfully firm finish. While it's clearly built for the long haul, its structural seamlessness and mid-palate plenitude mark it out as one of the finest wines from this château in recent times. Could it be a more concentrated modern-day version of Anthony Barton's brilliant 1985?
97 Points | Vinous, Neal Martin
The 2019 Léoville Barton has a powerful and comparatively rich bouquet with layers of black fruit suffused with minerals - wonderful delineation. This has an effortlessness about it. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, gorgeous satin-like texture, mineral-driven with hints of truffle and white pepper towards the exceedingly harmonious finish. I thought this was outstanding before - now I think it might be a benchmark. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.
97 Points | Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux
Big rich, powerful wine with pencil lead precision. This is a brilliant wine, I loved it En Primeur and it is delivering on expectations. It's big, as is Langoa in this vintage, with damson and black cherry fruits, and tons of gourmet notes from brioche to bacon rind to chocolate shavings. The tannins are going to need a good decade to soften, but when it is ready, this is going to be such a fun wine to share with friends.
97 Points | Jeb Dunnuck
The flagship 2019 Château Léoville Barton is brilliant, showing both the style of the estate as well as the vintage beautifully. It's never the biggest or richest wine, yet it has a classic, vibrant, structured style that ages beautifully. Pure cassis, black currants, scorched earth, new leather, and graphite are just some of its nuances, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a lively spine of acidity, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. This textbook Léoville Barton demands a decade of bottle age and will keep for 30-40 years.
97 Points | Decanter
A dark nose here, savoury with animal tones, bramble fruits and leather nuances. The palate is excellent, grippy with tannins that just take hold and coat the mouth but underneath you feel there is such well defined fruit - a core of ripe blackcurrants and liquorice tinges. There is an elegance to this despite the mouthful of creamy tannins that are doing all the talking at the moment. This will be excellent in time. Sumptuous and utterly enchanting.
*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.