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Léoville Barton 1986

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

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Label

Tasting Notes

91+
Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (4), December 2003

In contrast to the elegant, graceful, finesse-filled 1985 (which may turn out to resemble the classic 1953 in 15 years), the 1986 is a great wine, but so, so backward and tannic. This huge, dense, medium- to full-bodied wine exhibits tremendously rich, classic, weedy, black currant fruitiness with airing, and boasts the judicious use of new oak barrels. The tannins are elevated, but then this is a seriously concentrated, old-style, intense wine for long-term cellaring. The more I taste the 1986 Leoville-Barton, the more impressed I become with the wine's extraordinary power, density, and richness. However, it is not a wine for readers seeking immediate gratification. Although spectacular, it requires another 5-6 years of cellaring. It will easily last for half a century. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030.

92
Robert Parker, Bordeaux Book (3), November 1998
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.