Chateau Leoville Barton 2011

A Long-Lived, Top-Quality Saint-Julien

The Barton family has been prominent within Bordeaux, France since 1772. For three centuries and 10 generations, the Barton’s first started out as wine merchants and then purchased land in Saint-Julien, thus creating Chateau Leoville Barton. In 1821, Hugh Barton purchased Chateau Langoa, renaming it Chateau Langoa Barton. Then in 1826, he purchased one quarter of the land of the Leoville domaine, now known as Leoville Las Casse, which became the vineyard of Chateau Leoville Barton.

In the historic 1855 classification, the estate was awarded Second Grand Crus Classe and has remained a leading Chateau for top-quality age worthy wines.

Located in the heart of Saint Julien, the vineyards of Chateau Leoville Barton are made of outcrops of Garonne gravel and face the Gironde River. This gravelly clay soil is well suited for growing classic Medoc grape varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

The 2011 growing season was one of the more difficult seasons in recent history. While it started off normal, by April much of Bordeaux was experiencing summer conditions that led to early flowering. There was record heat with plenty of sunshine and little to no rain, which led to problems of drought, while some grapes were ruined by sunburn. July was also record-breaking in Bordeaux, but oddly for the coldest temperatures in over three decades. After two historic vintages, 2011 was one of the lowest yields but still produced strong wines despite less-than-perfect conditions. Generally speaking the wines are fresh, bright, aromatic and show good acidity.

The

Chateau Leoville Barton 2011 is refined and structured with notes of blackberries, plum, cedar and hints of vanilla. It is bright and lively, yet with plenty of tannins and grip allowing for a long-lived wine.