Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

There are a number of things I can say about Leoville Barton. For me, it is a storied property and experience.

To this point, I have had quite a few 2000 Bordeaux’s, none of them ready as this one. Given what I know about Anthony & his legacy, most of his good vintages were made for your children. So, color me surprised.

While this 2000 is drinking well, it is far from its precipice. There is another 20 yrs plus of road here.

Sofia and I have had the pleasure of dining at the same table with Anthony Barton and his wife in the teens of 2000. He is a salt of the earth gentleman. His wife, lovely. At dinner that night, he told us a story I will not forget. He and his wife drove from France to Switzerland. They were stopped at the border and asked to get out of the car as they had a case of wine with them. At that time and maybe still now, you can’t take wine over the border into Switzerland. The border guard called the powers to be and recanted the story of them trying to bring wine into Switzerland. He told them their name. The person on the other end of the phone said, who? They said, Anthony Barton. The reply, was let him through. That’s respect!!!

His daughter Lilian has taken the helm. She is also salt of the earth and a great Bordeaux Ambassador. May Anthony RIP.

This 2000 is classic Bordeaux in every way.

The nose shows steeped & candied fruits that are; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, black cherries, purple & blue fruit hues (classic Barton). Graphite, dry tobacco, dry leather, dry limestone bits, dark Asian spices, dry herbs, dry river stone, dark, rich, forest floor, anise to black licorice, mid colas, fresh, candied to withering florals that are; dark, red, blue and violets.

The palate shows, M+ rounded, fine grain tannins. The nose mirrors the palate in many ways. Steeped, candied, ripe, juicy fruits that are; brambly blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, black cherries, raspberries, purple & blue fruit hues. Leoville Barton shows purple & blue fruits more than most other left bank producers. Graphite, dry tobacco, cedar, dry leather, dry limestone bits, dry top soils, saline, caramel, mocha powder, German chocolate cake, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, dark Asian spices w/ some heat, dry herbs, touch of black pepper, grilled meats, dry river stone, dark, rich, forest floor, anise to black licorice, black tarriness, mid colas, fresh, candied to withering florals that are; dark, red, blue and framed in liquid violets, acidity is grand, well balanced/structured, highly toned, elegant & smartly polished finish that lasts minutes and settles on earth & dark spice.

Decanted 90 minutes and enjoyed over nearly three hours.

95-96. — 6 hours ago

Harold Duverge

10

Now we are taking about a new level of Cabernet Sauvignon. Forget all the basics you've seen before... A great experience with moderated tannins and it is good to think about the terroir of US for this Cabernet, which provides a good level of finesse. — 3 years ago

John Roselli

9.0

2020 vintage — 5 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

When I lived in Houston in the aughts, I drank a few fragrant Cotes Du Rhônes from this estate, so I was eager to try their Giggie, even though I’ve grown tired of Southern Rhônes as the climate has warmed and Phillipe Cambie seemingly put a spell over the majority of producers. Well, this is a bit better than the typical blocky, heavy wines that seem increasingly prevalent there. It’s densely colored (of course), but the nose has a bit more elegance and nuance than the typical Gigondas estate these days, showing fresh dark berry fruit, really interesting almost chaparral-like garrigue/earth notes, warm stones, and meadowy wildflowers. In the mouth it’s dense, but a little lighter than the new norm thank goodness, with nice savory flavors and decent acids. Tannins are soft. It won’t make me forget Giggies from the early ‘80s, but it’s nice. — 5 years ago

Kathy Kroeker

9.2

Sempre Vive Petit Verdot is delicious. The dark fruits burst on the palette and the finish stays with you. Highly recommend for special occasions or just to forget about 2020! — 6 years ago

Eric Guido

9.6

The 2010 Auguste Favier Reserve is drop dead gorgeous with it’s fresh and bright ripe strawberry tones, giving way to zesty red florals, sweet smoke, white pepper and dusty cedar.  It’s velvety on the palate, yet not weighty, instead poised and remarkably fresh, as red and blue fruits cascade across the senses over a core of brisk acids, leaving a mineral twang with savory spiciness. The finish is long and structured, with youthful tannins still holding something back for the years to come, yet still so alive and focused on purity of fruit.  The 2010 is worth checking in on, but don’t forget to keep a stash in your cellar for at least the next five to ten years. Wow. — 6 years ago

Shefali Upton

9.0

Enjoyed and won’t forget the story that led to this bottle. Thanks Giri Uncle :) — a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2020 vintage. Wowzers. Unexpected structure and fruit to vault this into the Must Buy category. Medium body. Clocking in at $22.50...errr...$22.60 (don't forget that new $0.10 per bottle CRV cost here in California) a bottle. Picked up a case. Let's see where it goes-or doesn't. 7.17.24. — 2 years ago

Roberto Carli

9.9

This is “will never forget the first time I tried it” level. Definitely greatest wine I’ve ever tasted in its category, possibly best sweet wine. Starts much paler than I expected, light gold. Nose is a journey, surprises with freshness, liveliness though with the highest concentration imaginable. White peach, white nectarine, lychee, rose water, intense white florals, an after-rain sense of freshness. On the palate yet another surprise: so much minerality (!!!) that the intensity gets carried by bright, almost riesling-like acidity and the insane amount of sugar is so well balanced that it’s barely noticeable until the crazy long finish. What a ride!!! — 3 years ago

Kellin

9.8

Today was not a day I will soon forget. Getting to walk through Harlan Estate with the legendary Don Weaver is truly a highlight of my career (and life!). A kinder and more hospitable man does not exist, I’m sure of it.

To top off Don’s hospitality was having the 2017 and 2020 Vintages side-by-side. In a word: breathtaking. Both vintages are very emotional due to tremendous pressures felt from fires, the pandemic, and other factors. You can almost taste that tension in the wine. But the Masterful wine growers and wine makers at Harlan Estate were able to find harmony and balance with some help from Mother Nature with both vintages.

The 2017, having had some time in the bottle expresses more floral and aromatic notes of leather and asphalt. The pallet it is expressive, structured, and broad shouldered with herbaceous bay leaf and dark cherry flavors that find their way into parts of your pallet reserved just for things that taste so good you get chills. Undoubtedly a wine that will age gracefully over time.

The 2020, by contrast, was tasted out of the barrel. It already shows a tannin profile that is a hallmark of Harlan Estate; I can’t wait to drink it once it’s been in bottle for a few years; drink it to remember 2020, drink it to forget 2020? Either way, it will be representative of the special place that is Harlan Estate.

Grateful, grateful, grateful. — 4 years ago

Sam Friedland

8.9

Nice bubbly, some sweetness. Went well with deviled crab, — 5 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.4

Wow. Nose is wide open: raspberries, blood orange peel, rose, minerals and spice. Palate has so much zingy red fruit. Day two and this has gained intensity and white pepper spice. Forget that this is a rose- it’s really so much more than that. Crystalline and elegant! — 6 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.7

The Selosse flagship that uses a solera style blend with vintages dating back to 1986. May 2016 disgorgement is just superb, explosively aromatic and infinitely layered with magical depth of Selossien flavors and such a singular texture that you just can’t forget. It wraps around the palate with incredible volume and concentration before giving way to a salty mineral laced finale with stunning length and persistence. — 2 years ago

JeremyC

9.1

2016 in 10/23. From winery visit on our way to Sta Barbara in the cali yrs. Forget which one. Bought on faith. Didn't disappoint. Oak, acidity, fruit all played well w ea other. Love when new world chard holds up well. 14.5% — 3 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.0

Tasted too young and not airy enough. Nevertheless: exuberant nose, big matter in the mouth, omnipresent tannins, alcohol present, sweetness, acidity, aromatic bouquets, everything is marked! The breeding is already relatively melted. A wine carved for the guard. To forget a few years in the cellar. Very nice product!

Bu trop jeune et pas assez aéré. Néanmoins: nez exubérant, grosse matière en bouche, tanins omniprésents, alcool présent, sucrosité, acidité, bouquets aromatiques, le tout est marqué! L’élevage est déjà relativement fondu. Un vin taillé pour la garde. À oublier quelques années en cave. Très beau produit! — 3 years ago

Sean Trapani

Founder/Educator Wine Fluent, Consultant ABC Fine Wines & Spirits

9.2

This makes me forget other GSMs. Complex but finished fast. White pepper and blueberries — 4 years ago

Kate Chamberlain

9.0

French Laundry welcome champagne — 5 years ago

Matt Perlman

9.2

Still young and crackling with intensity after a little air exposure. Nose is herbal with fresh ripe peaches and creamsicle, palate is texturally supple with tangy tangerine, yellow pit fruit, apricot, pineapple, finish is stony and nicely bitter. I think it’s not too far away from peak given how quickly it opened up but could evolve a while longer. Going to forget about the next bottle for a few years — 6 years ago

Sailesh Jani

9.7

Quality and light, fragrant and easy to drink — 6 years ago

Tom Garland

9.3

2017 WS wine of the year. Purchased 6 bottles on release at a decent price...forget the retail price now though!!

One hour decant(min sediment). A forbidding dark crimson color. Served on the cool side. On the nose: smokey vanilla, dark cherry, baking spice, and a slight spearment menthol at the end. Taste: Hello!..not shy....cherry liqueur, cedar, graphite. A medium body, soft tannins, with a prune/vanilla dry medium plus finish. Tried a year ago, and working better for me now with some age. — 6 years ago

with Brenda