2005 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien

SKU #1044105 97 points Wine Enthusiast

Power and elegance merge effortlessly in this superb wine. Its pure black currant fruit is tightly coiled, supported by just the right amount of firm tannins. Great aging potential. A triumph. *Cellar Selection* (6/2008)

96 points James Suckling

This offers aromas of spices, dried dark fruits, meat and berries. Full and muscular on the palate, with strong tannins and a long, long finish. This is very powerful and chewy, but a little bit tight. This is a wine for the cellar. Don’t touch this until 2018. (12/2010)

96 points Wine Spectator

Delivers breathtaking aromas of blackberry, currant, licorice and flowers. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and supersilky tannins. Dark chocolate, currant, berry and licorice follow through. This is racy and beautiful. Best after 2015. (JS) (3/2008)

94 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Deep ruby. Wonderfully perfumed nose offers cassis, minerals, tobacco, flowers, mocha and truffle. Bright, mineral-driven and concentrated, with terrific underlying backbone giving energy and definition to the dark berry, mineral and chocolate flavors. There's a floral lift here that's exhilarating to find in the very ripe 2005 vintage. Finishes very long and classy, with a firm tannic spine. An outstanding vintage for this wine. (5/2008)

93 points Connoisseurs Guide

Deep, dense and optimally ripened curranty fruit is teamed with neatly fit oak and hints of dried flowers in the sweet and very involving aromas of this lovely young Saint-Julien, and, while is arguably shows a touch of 'California' ripeness, it is classically structured with finely fit tannins that will take time to resolve. It should be reaching its stride in five or six years, but it might not show its best face for twice that time. (3/2008)

92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Léoville Barton’s 2005 has an inky ruby/purple color and shows fairly high tannin levels, but the balance is slightly better that the Langoa Barton, which is very hard. This is probably a 30-year wine and needs at least another 20 years of cellaring, and while the tannins are high, they are balanced more thoroughly and competently. With deep cassis and red currant fruit, the wine is earthy, spicy, medium to full-bodied, and needs at least another decade. Drink it between 2025 and 2050. (RP) (6/2015)

Jancis Robinson

Blackish crimson. A much subtler nose than the Langoa. Rigorous, dry, sleek and polished although, as with the Langoa, there is a very slight hint of sweet oak. The finish here is completely dry, however. Very classic and no hurry whatsoever to drink this polished leathery wine. (1/2015)

K&L Notes

Barrel tasting notes: Absolutely stunning wine. Deep color. Sweet red licorice and cranberry nose. Very, very elegant. A lot of Merlot. More feminine style. Tasted four times with consistent notes.** (Clyde Beffa, K&L Bordeaux buyer)