98pts Jane Anson

Deep ruby red, this is great stuff, broad-shouldered, laced with aniseed, liqourice, touches of bitter black chocolate, muscular tannins and a luscious fruit core. Lip smacking stuff, with 2005 energy and excitement. Gets more serious as it opens, revealing black pepper spice, sage, rosemary and white pepper. A wonderful wine, one to sink into. You can easily wait to drink this, and it will reward another three to five years in bottle, then go for decades. If you do open it, give it a long carafe. 50% new oak.

97pts Jeb Dunnuck

The 2005 Château Leoville Barton isn’t far off the style of the 1990, although perhaps it’s a touch more structured and concentration. Youthful ruby hued with classic currant, graphite, and crushed stone aromatics, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, rich, layered mid-palate, still present tannins, and a great finish. This in an inward, structured, powerful Barton that’s just now at the early stages of its drinking window, and has another 30 years of overall longevity if well stored.

97pts Wine Enthusiast

Power and elegance merge effortlessly in this superb wine. Its pure black currant fruit is tightly coiled, supported by just the right amount of firm tannins. Great aging potential. A triumph.

96pts James Suckling

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.

96pts Wine Spectator

Delivers breathtaking aromas of blackberry, currant, licorice and flowers. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and supersilky tannins. Dark chocolate, currant, berry and licorice follow through. This is racy and beautiful. Best after 2015.

93pts Connoisseurs' Guide

Deep, dense and optimally ripened curranty fruit is teamed with neatly fit oak and hints of dried flowers in the sweet and very involving aromas of this lovely young Saint-Julien, and, while is arguably shows a touch of "California" ripeness, it is classically structured with finely fit tannins that will take time to resolve. It should be reaching its stride in five or six years, but it might not show its best face for twice that time.

Winemaker Notes

Attractive deep violet color, closed nose, and powerful tannins. A wine with great aging potential.