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Langoa Barton 2003

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Langoa Barton

Label

Tasting Notes

A classic St.-Julien, the 2003 Langoa Barton offers notes of cedarwood, fruitcake, spice box and black currants as well as some light tannins still in evidence. This dark plum/ruby/garnet-colored, medium to full-bodied wine possesses sweet fruit, but no over-ripeness or roasted characteristics. Coming into full maturity, it should continue to drink well for another decade. Drink 2014-2024

91
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (214), August 2014

This is 2000 all over again but riper. Langoa is always good value.

92/94
James Suckling, Wine Spectator (April 04), April 2004

Dark glowing crimson. Brawny and positive. Quite confident in savoury classical mould. Layers here at last! There is a future. And a kick of acidity on the end. (Average group score: 16.1)

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, October 2010
92
Farr Vintners, Southwold Bordeaux Tasting, January 2007
15+
Michael Schuster, The World of Fine Wine (1), April 2004
Read more tasting notes...

This is often looked at as the second wine of Leoville Barton, but it is actually a separate estate, producing wines that are slightly softer than the more formidably endowed and broodingly backward Leoville Bartons. The outstanding 2003, a softer version of the Leoville Barton, exhibits a deep ruby/purple color, sweet black cherries intermixed with subtle herbal notes, roasted meats, juices, and black currants. In the mouth, it is expansive, savory, round, and seemingly on a much faster evolutionary track than Leoville Barton. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 15-18 years.

90
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (164), April 2006

Dense purple-colored, muscular, and virile, the 2003 exhibits high levels of tannin, a powerful, leathery, gritty texture, enormous concentration, medium to full body, low acidity, wonderful sweetness and richness, but sizeable tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2023. I seem to consistently underrate this wine when it is young.

90/92
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (158), April 2005

Always somewhat monolithic at this stage, this back strapping, saturated ruby/purple-colored 2003 does not reveal much style or personality at present, but it is muscular, rich, and concentrated with power to spare. Give it 5-6 years of cellaring; it will last for two decades.

88/90
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (152), April 2004

Lively crimson. Slightly burnt/stewed nose. Sweet palate entry and rather solid tannins. Distinctly stodgy. Even a hit of something green. Seems as though the phenolics didn’t ripen fully. Perhaps, alas, a typical 03..?

16
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2008

Thick, dense, intense note of cream-filled dark chocolate! Opulent, quite exotic. Crowd pleaser.

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com (April 04), April 2004
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.