Reserve De Leoville Barton St.Julien ’14

Details

La Reserve de Leoville Barton 2014,

1722 – Thomas Baron left his native Ireland to settle in Bordeaux, founding a wine merchant company. In 1826 – His grandson, Hugh Barton, purchased 50 hectares of vines located in the Saint Julien appellation. In the historic 1855 classification the chteau was to be awarded the rank of “Second Classified Growth”. The property was managed by the various generations over the years until Anthony Barton raised Chteau Loville Barton to the level of international recognition it enjoys today. The Barton story continues with his daughter, Lilian, and her two children, now writing the chapter of the 10th generation.

The vineyard nestles in the heart of the St Julien terroir among the most beautiful slopes of Garonne gravel, facing the Gironde river. The clayey gravel subsoil allows excellent growing conditions whatever weather the vintage brings. The plowing is traditional, without weeding or herbicide. The grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon
(74%), Merlot (23%) and Cabernet Franc (3%).

This second wine of Chateau Loville Barton comes from young vines and plots that have not reached the high level of requirement to enter
in the Grand Vin. The wine is then aged between 16 and 18 months in French oak barrels, in a cellar maintained at 15.

The 2014 is Intense garnet color, depth and dense with a beautiful brightness. Opulent nose with spicy, peppery, roasted notes and a touch of strawberry jam. The attack is frank, ample with a beautiful tannic structure. Delicate notes of vanilla and cherry stand out in mouth.

“The 2014 Rserve de Loville Barton has a little jamminess on the nose. It feels a little volatile and lacks some cohesion. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red and black fruit, voluminous and smooth, quite enjoying to drink even if it is not an intellectual prospect. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Drink 2019 – 2026.”
86 points.”
(Neal Martin, vinous.com, Mar 2018)