Chateau Leoville Barton 2006, 2eme Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Julien, Original Wooden Case

Sold out. A dozen of the grand vin in its original wooden case, twenty years old. Tell me what you are after and I will go and look for the next one. The Château was built in 1758 by Monsieur de Pontet. Beneath the private apartments lie the crypted vaulted cellars in which silence reigns eternal.The most renowned vintages of Léoville Barton are left to age in the peace and quiet of these cellars to reach their ultimate potential. After the French Revolution, and thanks to the Droit d'Aubaine (Windfall Law) in France, Hugh Barton, an Irish merchant of Bordeaux wines, fulfilled his dream of becoming a landowner in Bordeaux when he purchased vineyards in the Médoc region. Pierre-Bernard de Pontet sold the ''Langoa'' estate to Hugh Barton in 1821 which the latter renamed ''Château Langoa Barton''. This was some time before the famous 1855 classification and it was in fact the building's architecture, elegant façade and harmonious proportions that won Hugh over. Four years later, in 1826, Hugh purchased a quarter of the former Léoville domaine, the collapse of which was due in part to the French Revolution and in part to a complex inheritance settlement. In buying what would later become Léoville Barton, Hugh only actually purchased the domaine's vineyards since he had no need for the winemaking facilities, already having those at Langoa. Terroir & vineyard The vineyard nestles in the heart of the St Julien terroir among the most beautiful slopes of Garonne gravel, facing the Gironde river. The clayey gravel subsoil allows excellent growing conditions whatever weather the vintage brings. The plowing is traditional, without weeding or herbicide. The grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon (74%), Merlot (23%) and Cabernet Franc (3%). Blending 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc Alcohol12.5° Dates of manual harvest From 21th September to 1st October New barrels60% Tasting The first impression of severity here is due only to its youth. The components will soften with ageing. Meanwhile the profile that is developing shows a rich complexity, with aromas of fruit stones and cherry, highlighted by discreet hints of oak. In the palate, density and depth are the main character traits, with solid tannins and lingering liquorice on the finish. Main appreciations Jane Anson 94; Jancis Robinson 18; James Suckling 94; Robert Parker 91+ From one of my favourite estates in Saint-Julien, the 2006 Château Léoville Barton is now fully mature (yet certainly youthful) and has a complex, layered profile that includes ample red and black fruits as well as perfumed notes of leafy herbs, cedar pencil, tobacco, and hints of crushed stone. Medium to full-bodied, nicely balanced, and textured, it has the more focused, straight, classic style of this château front and centre, with integrated yet still present tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. A classy, layered, complex textbook, Bordeaux, will continue drinking nicely for another two decades, with a gradual decline after that. Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com (May 2023) Drink 2023 - 2043