Medium Ruby with quite wide garnet rim. More truffle , tobacco , violet , cassis and earthy notes. Takes a bit of time to get going and certainly shows a bit more age than the 2009. On the palate, more austere with dryer tannin than the 2009 , but very well balanced and classic in style . Cassis, blackcurrant , tobacco graphite notes . Some dry spices too . Quite fresh acidity , and slightly gritty tannin. Long , saline, graphite tinged finish. This is showing some development , but will improve further over the next 5 possibly 10 years and hold well a further 5-10 — 10 days ago
Competently made wine, but Leoville Barton is always my least favorite of the Leovilles. Just not very exciting or dynamic. Served with braised short-ribs in a savoy cabbage, with potato Napoleon, confit carrots, and a bitter chocolate jus. The chocolate actually helped the Leoville Barton significantly more than when it was on its own. — 10 days ago
I never would have anticipated drinking my birth year of Cheval Blanc out of a Solo cup yet, here we are. The ‘81 is ruddy still; deep garnet color with some browning towards the rim and loads of sediment. The nose shows some of the telltale green-ness of vintage but everything has found harmony: the fruit has blossomed and structure has integrated. Dark fruited with tobacco, dried purple flowers, mushrooms, herbs and soft eastern spices. Charming! No particular rush to drink these but lovely now. — 8 days ago
Spectacular We have stored this for 11 years and enjoyed it for our 5th anniversary, paired with lamb shank and lamb chops. opens beautifully perfect time to drink. Initially the finish had notes of leather, hint of dark fried fruit. — a day ago
Nice example from a troubled era of Ducru. No cork taint, thankfully. Started a little flat on the nose but really got going with time in the glass (had been double decanted earlier in the afternoon). Served with dry aged smoked duck breast with truffled grits, duck egg, fig, honey shimeji and braised endive. — 10 days ago
Great example of the 1989 vintage and Lafite delivers. Served with a Braised Oxtail Acquerello Risotto and a Barolo reduction. — 10 days ago
Shana B
Better day two cherry blackberry — 14 days ago