2006 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien
SKU #1046801
94 points
Decanter
Intense, luxurious, fresh yet also very classically Bordeaux on the nose. Loads of dark berry and currant fruit, allied to a touch of oaky spiciness. Density on the palate but also refined, elegant, and smooth. (panel tasting)
(10/2020)
94 points
Jeb Dunnuck
From one of my favorite estates in Saint-Julien, the 2006 Château Léoville Barton is now fully mature (yet certainly youthful) and has a complex, layered profile that includes ample red and black fruits as well as perfumed notes of leafy herbs, cedar pencil, tobacco, and hints of crushed stone. Medium to full-bodied, nicely balanced, and textured, it has the more focused, straight, classic style of this château front and center, with integrated yet still present tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. A classy, layered, complex, textbook Bordeaux, it's going to continue drinking nicely for another two decades, with a gradual decline after that.
(5/2023)
94 points
Wine Enthusiast
Right at the top of its form, this 2006 is one of the finest wines to come out of the vintage. The wine is structured and dense, but with such heartwarming ripe fruit that the tannins are almost submerged. There is just a hint of wood, but juicy black currant continues right through to the end. In a year, the fruit will lessen, and long aging begin. *Top 100 Cellar Selections of 2009* (RV)
(3/2009)
94 points
Wine Spectator
There's a great dark color to this, with intense aromas of cedar, wood, new leather and crushed blackberry. Fullbodied,with loads of fruit and a firm, powerful palate. Long and mouthpuckering. A muscular baby. *Top 100 Wines of 2009, Highly Recommended* (JS)
(3/2009)
92 points
Wine Advocate
The 2006 Château Léoville-Barton has a surprisingly rich and opulent bouquet at first, although it calms down with aeration, offering crushed violet and black cherry scents, reminiscent of a fine Margaux. The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle grip in the mouth. Here the class begins to appear with fine balance and poise, but like the Langoa, it lacquers the mouth with tannins and feels very backward, surprising given the vintage. (NM)
(5/2016)
91 points
Int'l Wine Cellar
Good bright ruby-red. Pretty aromas of black cherry, cassis, tobacco leaf, minerals, licorice and violet. Chewy, rich and deep, with good dense mid-palate fruit and excellent concentration. Fuller and sweeter than the Langoa. Finishes long and delineated, with powerful tannic clout and terrific mineral thrust. A serious 2006 for the cellar. (ST) 91+
(6/2009)