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Langoa Barton 2020

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

Léoville Barton's smaller sister château has been producing increasingly excellent wines in recent vintages. Grape varieties, viticulture and vinification are similar to those of Léoville. Quality is often very similar too. Classic St Julien is produced here with real Cabernet Sauvignon "grip" and class. There are currently 20 hectares in production, with an average vine age of 37 years. Langoa is a fantastic source of "proper claret" at sensible en primeur prices.

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Label

Tasting Notes

The 2020 Langoa Barton has turned out superbly in bottle, offering up generous aromas of black cherries, crème de cassis, licorice and pencil shavings deftly framed by classy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, deep and fleshy, its concentrated core of ripe but vibrant fruit is framed by sweet, powdery tannins and lively acids. Beautifully balanced, it's somewhat more open out of the gates than the excellent 2019 and will offer an especially broad drinking window. Drink 2028-2060.

94
William Kelley, Wine Advocate, April 2023

The 2020 Langoa Barton has quite a plush, violet-tinged bouquet, higher-toned than the Léoville Barton, though without the same unerring complexity. This just wants to go out and have fun. The palate has an irresistible rondeur, velvety smooth with black plum, hints of cassis and a sweet and persistent finish. Joyful.

93
Neal Martin, vinous.com, February 2023

This is very linear and structured, with blackcurrant, pine-needle, graphite and cedar aromas and flavors. Intense. Full-bodied, chalky and intense. Superb. Best of the trilogy. Drink after 2027.

97
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, May 2023

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2020 Langoa Barton comes bounding out of the glass with eager-to-please notes of kirsch, juicy blueberries, and cassis, plus wafts of fallen leaves, underbrush, and allspice. The medium-bodied palate is plush and juicy, with open-knit black fruits and plenty of freshness, finishing with a spicy kick. It's fabulously delicious right now, but give it another couple of years to fully integrate and then drink it over the next 20 years+.

92
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, June 2023

Restrained and serious, in keeping with the character of the vintage. Lovely silky tannins, unrolls slowly, with plenty of black fruits, mint leaf and pencil lead, this is delicous, restrained power, building on their success of recent vintages. 34hl/ha yield, harvest September 14 to 28.

94
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, February 2023

Full bottle 1,345 g. Cask sample taken 6 April. 53.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 8.5% Cabernet Franc.
Healthy deep purplish crimson. High-toned, fully ripe nose that is rather seductive before a glossy, polished-tannin dry finish. Promises well for the future while being relatively charming even now. Not the most concentrated 2020 but everything is in balance. Well done. Sappy, dry finish. Very St-Julien. Some restraint despite the initial seduction. 13.5%
Drink 2028 – 2046

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2021

The 2020 is a blend of 53.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 8.5% Cabernet Franc that will be aged in barrel for 18 months. This will be the last vintage produced in the current cellar with a new one close to completion. Deep ruby-purple in the glass. Dark fruited, with cassis and sweet cherries on the nose, laced with nutmeg, vanilla and cedar. The palate is fleshy and full of the same dark fruit. Despite the ripeness, there is an elegance and balance with dried herbs and savoury spice. The tannins are mouthcoating but fine and ripe. Intense yet harmonious, this long, juicy wine is another excellent performer from Langoa Barton.

93/95
Farr Vintners, Farr Tasting, April 2021

(54% CS, 38% M, 8% CF; 34hl/ha, 13.5% ABV; 60% new)
Light redcurrant and gravel nose; beautifully balanced, with a nice concentration, fresh in acidity, firm in very fine-grained tannins; dense, dry, red-fruit ripe flavor, even and elegant, with excellent length. Taut but not austere, beautifully cut, aromatic, complex, and very good indeed. Complete, restrained, but classy wine. A ripe red fruit and gravel classic. 2028–40+.

90/92
Michael Schuster, The World of Fine Wine, May 2021
Read more tasting notes...

The 2020 Langoa Barton has a really gorgeous, very pure bouquet of crushed violets infusing black cherry, blueberry and black plummy scents. The new oak seems a little more pronounced compared to recent vintages and yet it is in sync with the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins that disguise the structure underneath, the counterbalancing acidity line keeping everything focused and fresh. This is quite an audacious Langoa, and you what? It pulls it off. Drink 2026-2055.

92/94
Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2021

Very pretty blackberry and blueberry character with blackcurrants and mint. It’s medium-to full-bodied with linear, tight tannins that are polished and fine.

93/94
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2021

Sporting a deep purple-black color, the 2020 Langoa Barton needs a little swirling to unlock youthfully muted scents of warm cassis, black cherry preserves and boysenberries, plus hints of menthol, graphite, tilled soil and bouquet garni. The medium-bodied palate is delicately played with impressive freshness delivered by the red berry and herbal sparks within a black-fruit core, with grainy tannins to support, finishing long and invigorating. 2026 - 2050

93/95
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, May 2021

Not quite as generous as Léoville Barton, replaced with classicism and subdued tannins, as we see the impact of a slightly cooler terroir. Juicy finish, black fruits, plenty of life and lift through the palate. Enjoyable, but closed in with clove spice that is very clear on the finish. Tasted twice. A yield of 34hl/ha. Harvest September 14 to 28.

Drinking Window 2027 - 2042

92
Jane Anson, Decanter.com, May 2021
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.