2005 Leoville Barton
By Chateau Leoville Barton
The 2005 Leoville Barton from Chateau Leoville Barton, St-Julien, Bordeaux
The exalted 2005 vintage in Bordeaux is one which meticulously chronicled winemakers were rewarded with a constellation of climactic perfection. Within this illustrious year, the 2005 Leoville Barton from the venerable Chateau Leoville Barton materialised as one of the most compelling ambassadors for St-Julien terroir. This particular year has carved its own seat at the high table of vintages with the precision of a master cooper.
Sculpting a Masterpiece: The Season's Influence
The 2005 vintage was marked by its early budding, followed by an optimal blend of warm days and nippy nights - a weather pattern akin to the caress and then the slap of an enlightened monarch over its lands. These conditions invariably nurtured fruits boasting generous phenols and an acid structure signifying both longevity and immediate approachability. As a result, Leoville Barton's '05 is an exuberant expression that manages to retain a regal posture within its enlivening dance on the palate.
An Exemplar Investment-Grade Wine
With ample time in the bottle, the 2005 Leoville Barton has unfurled into a tapestry rich with cassis, interwoven with threads of ripe plum and subtle tracery of cedar and tobacco leaf. The tannins - once tightly wound and formidable - have evolved into the very silk of nobility, presenting a structure that still promises years in the keep. The pedigree of Chateau Leoville Barton is writ large across this vintage, reflecting not merely a favourable season but articulating the deft handiwork of its artisans.
For those inclined towards wise investments in liquid luxury, the 2005 Leoville Barton from Chateau Leoville Barton stands as a tactile bench-mark for oenophiles and financial connoisseurs alike. Clasping layers of complexity with poised grace, it embodies both storied legacy and thriving potential - the requisite silhouette of significant portfolio enrichment.
A decanter's sojourn transmutes this 2005 offering into an orchestral suite primed to enchant novice enthusiasts and seasoned collectors; truly a St-Julien jewel crafted in one of Bordeaux’s finest hours.
Market price (CAD)
$1,880.00
12x75cl
Highest score
96
POP score
70.63
Scores and tasting notes
This offers aromas of spices, dried dark fruits, meat and berries. Full and muscular on the palate, with strong tannins and a long, long finish. This is very powerful and chewy, but a little bit tight. This is a wine for the cellar. Don’t touch this until 2018.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, December 8th 2010
Tasted single blind at Southwold. Again, this is showing a lot of extraction and unresolved new oak on the nose with cassis, blackcurrant, liquorice and a touch of fig. Very ripe supple black fruits, lush and generous, exotic almost with a lithe, toasty finish. Very seductive, but they a wall of tannins hits the back palate, then honeyed tones lingering on the aftertaste. Magnificent – I would love to contrast this against the 2003. Drink 2015-2035. Tasted January 2009.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jul 2009
Léoville Barton’s 2005 has an inky ruby/purple color and shows fairly high tannin levels, but the balance is slightly better that the Langoa Barton, which is very hard. This is probably a 30-year wine and needs at least another 20 years of cellaring, and while the tannins are high, they are balanced more thoroughly and competently. With deep cassis and red currant fruit, the wine is earthy, spicy, medium to full-bodied, and needs at least another decade. Drink it between 2025 and 2050.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 28 June 2015