Château Léoville Barton Saint-Julien (Grand Cru Classé) 2019

A top notch selection from this tasting, unveiling a graceful balance of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Aged 18 months on French oak barrels, with 60% new, the wine offers a rich, full-bodied discovery with suggestions of dark fruit, savory undertones, and a rewarding finish. A delightful wine, but perhaps best suited for its age, rather than its signature cedar notes. A pleasure to discuss with Lilian Barton Sartorius, and I look forward to visiting the chateau in the near future.

Rich, full-bodied wine with a deep, plush texture, exhibiting intricate black fruit flavors, elegant nuances of iron, earthy undertones, and a nuance of spicy wood. Its robust mouthfeel is characteristic of a traditional, uncompromising style, making it a impressive example of its varietal. Expected to age well, this wine is a testament to its quality and authenticity.

2005 Right Bank wine was picked, but its quality was compromised by a TCA taint, making it difficult to assess properly. Despite its full black fruit and oak undertones, the wine lacked clarity and was marred by soft acidity and rustic tannins. The Right Bank variant was similarly affected, with the Left Bank variant being less affected, although this may have been due to a flawed bottle. The wine's quality was compromised by a pre-session blind tasting, which may have introduced errors in the evaluation process.