2015 Leoville Barton

The 2015 Léoville Barton is one of the few Saint-Julien wines to show a bit of sur-maturité on the nose. Hints of tinned prune infuse the black cherry fruit. The palate is ripe, very sweet and plush in style. It has a note of peppermint toward the finish that is rather distracting and otiose. Given how this has shown before, I will not rate this. Tasted blind at the 2015 Bordeaux Ten-Year-On tasting at Farr Vintners.

Elongated tannins, a slow build through the palate, showing the finessed side of Barton compared to the monumental 2016. Plenty of deep brambled cassis and blackberry fruits, a crunch of pomegranate, crayon and graphite, and a juicy finish that is standing of the edge of its drinking window, and will deliver for the next decade. Tasted separately to the rest of the horizontal. 60% new oak.

The 2015 Léoville Barton has one of the richest bouquets in the appellation, boasting almost ostentatious blackberry, raspberry and bilberry scents on the nose, suffused with crushed limestone and light graphite aromas. The medium-bodied palate is taut and crisp, delivering a fine bead of acidity and freshness from beginning to end. Mainly black fruit here, with suggestions of leather and mocha toward the finish. Superb. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.