Château Léoville Barton is an exceptionally popular 2ème Grand Cru Classé property in Saint-Julien well-known for producing classically styled, Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wines with a superb track record for ageing. The `96 vintage is a beautiful blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Expect notes of hedgerow berries and elegant spice, together with truffled complexity.

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%).

The harvesting is done entirely by hand. After the de-stemming, the berries are carefully sorted, crushed and poured in wooden vats thermo-regulated, according to their plots. The alcoholic fermentation lasts from 7 to 10 days and the extraction is always respectful of the juice by adjusting the number of pumping depending on the cuvées and the vintages. The maceration is about 3 weeks then the juice is drawn in barrels, lot by lot. The wine is then aged between 16 and 18 months in French oak barrels of which 60% are brand new, in a cellar maintained at 15 °.
The wines are topped up 3 times a week to avoid any contact between the wine and the air, the racking is traditional using the so-called "à l'esquive" method.

The Barton family's passion for wine is reflected in the elegance and consistency of Château Léoville Barton. This estate was classified as a 2nd Grand Cru Classé in 1855 and lies within the iconic terroir of Saint Julien in the Médoc.

"The 1996 Leoville Barton appears more youthful than the 1996 Langoa Barton in the glass with a healthy deep garnet core. The aromatics unfurl gracefully in the glass revealing briary, wild hedgerow, black truffle and sandalwood scents — firmly in secondary aroma stage but with appreciable presence and intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin that form its firm and classic structure, spice, white pepper and cloves infusing the slightly animally red berry fruit. This is an adorable Léoville Barton that is occupying a very “happy” place at the moment — superb precision, old school claret at its best. Decant for an hour no more, then enjoy. Tasted July 2016. [28/09/2017] Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035" - 93/100 Robert Parker July 2016

"Ruby-red. Floral, cedary aromas of blackcurrant and licorice. Concentrated but quite pliant in the middle palate. Ripe tannins nicely supported by fruit extract." 89/100 Stephen Tanzer VINOUS 05/01/1999