2006 Leoville Barton
By Chateau Leoville Barton
2006 Leoville Barton from Chateau Leoville Barton, St-Julien, Bordeaux
In the pantheon of venerable Bordeaux estates, the 2006 Leoville Barton from Chateau Leoville Barton occupies an honoured place, reflecting a vintage not merely of distinction but of captivating complexity. This remarkable offering captures the essence of its storied terroir in the St-Julien appellation with supreme eloquence.
An Exceptional Year for a Bold Character
Despite 2006 not being heralded with the same unbridled enthusiasm as the adjacent 2005 and 2009 vintages, it stands out for its admirable structure and balance. The 2006 Leoville Barton exudes an inviting bouquet teeming with blackberry, cedar and subtle hints of leather, which testify to the meticulous vinification process and precision ageing from this esteemed producer. On the palate, it unveils layers of dark fruit and spice, accented with refined tannins that suggest a wine of both immediate appeal and significant staying power.
Investment Worthiness: A Vintage to Watch
When considering investment-worthy wines, one must acknowledge the fascinating potential of the 2006 vintage. It encapsulates both the sophistication expected from Chateau Leoville Barton and a unique character forged by that year's climatic idiosyncrasies. The virtue of its slower-paced evolution in comparison to more exuberant years has made it one to observe closely for those seeking maturity without compromising on vivacity.
The 2006 Leoville Barton embodies an investment-grade claret with a proposition that combines intrinsic quality with sheer drinkability. As it reaches the plateau of its drinking window, its potential for graceful aging remains eminent. A splendid addition to any discerning investor's collection, this wine promises not only to enhance a cellar’s prestige but also offer an enviable journey through time with each forthcoming tasting session.
Comprehensively, this vintage epitomises how a somewhat understated year can rise through the ranks to present an offering that delights both connoisseurs and investors alike. The persistence and emerging secondary nuances make the 2006 Leoville Barton from Chateau Leoville Barton a laudable subject for discussion amongst those who appreciate the fine tapestry of St-Julien wine craft.
Market price (USD)
$850.00
12x75cl
Highest score
95
POP score
46
Scores and tasting notes
Not surprisingly, Leoville Las Cases has produced another classic, potentially long-lived wine in 2006. Among the St.-Juliens, it, Ducru Beaucaillou, and Leoville Barton possess the potential for the greatest longevity. Interestingly, when I visited this chateau in January, proprietor Jean-Hubert Delon offered me two samples, one where the cork had been pulled immediately prior to tasting, and another that had been decanted four hours earlier. Both were superb, but the wine that had had extended aeration was clearly the finer offering. The opaque purple-hued 2006- only 40% of the crop made it into the final blend- exhibits a personality that mimics the superb 1996. Classic aromas of sweet black raspberries, kirsch, cassis, and subtle toasty oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine displaying moderately high tannin. This cuvee can often resemble a Pauillac wrapped in the St.-Julien appellation, and the 2006 is no exception. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, it will require significant cellaring before consumption. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2035+.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #181
Tasted blind at Southwold ’06 Bordeaux tasting. The nose has opened up since 2008, the fruit very vibrant and lively with aromas of black cherry, kirsch, briary and a touch of blueberry, though it would benefit from more delineation that should develop with time. The palate is rounded on the entry, quite opulent and seductive compared to Gruaud ’06, slightly lower acidity, plush in texture, but very pure with a dense, slight herbaceous finish that needs time to meld together. Tasted January 2010.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Sep 2010
Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London. The 2006 Château Léoville-Barton has a surprisingly rich and opulent bouquet at first, although it calms down with aeration, offering crushed violet and black cherry scents, reminiscent of a fine Margaux. The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle grip in the mouth. Here the class begins to appear with fine balance and poise, but like the Langoa, it lacquers the mouth with tannins and feels very backward, surprising given the vintage. Cellar this for another decade, folks. Tasted January 2016.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 29 May 2016