2016 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien

Terrific intensity of dark berries, almost peppery blackcurrants and violets with attractive and integrated, spicy oak and an earthy edge. The palate has a super powerful and long, linear core with plenty of fruit flesh strapped in tight for a long and thrilling ride into the finish.

We've adored 2016 Léoville-Barton since en primeur, and it has more-than fulfilled that promise at every turn since then. With wonderful aromatics that highlight classic Left Bank Cab (graphite, cassis), the palate bursts with energy, showing bright red fruit note that leads do deeper flavors of baking chocolate and black cherry. Extremely fine tannins give it immense structure and delineation, but there's still a luxuriousness that makes it hard to put down. It hits all the notes that make folks flock back to Léoville-Barton again and again over the years, and the vintage just seems custom-fit for the estate. This will probably be considered a reference-point rendition of St-Julien for a long time to come.