Jen Resnick

9.1

Excellent summer wine! Tangy and flavorful and not too sweet. — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

There are a number of things I can say about Leoville Barton. For me, it is a storied property and experience.

To this point, I have had quite a few 2000 Bordeaux’s, none of them ready as this one. Given what I know about Anthony & his legacy, most of his good vintages were made for your children. So, color me surprised.

While this 2000 is drinking well, it is far from its precipice. There is another 20 yrs plus of road here.

Sofia and I have had the pleasure of dining at the same table with Anthony Barton and his wife in the teens of 2000. He is a salt of the earth gentleman. His wife, lovely. At dinner that night, he told us a story I will not forget. He and his wife drove from France to Switzerland. They were stopped at the border and asked to get out of the car as they had a case of wine with them. At that time and maybe still now, you can’t take wine over the border into Switzerland. The border guard called the powers to be and recanted the story of them trying to bring wine into Switzerland. He told them their name. The person on the other end of the phone said, who? They said, Anthony Barton. The reply, was let him through. That’s respect!!!

His daughter Lilian has taken the helm. She is also salt of the earth and a great Bordeaux Ambassador. May Anthony RIP.

This 2000 is classic Bordeaux in every way.

The nose shows steeped & candied fruits that are; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, black cherries, purple & blue fruit hues (classic Barton). Graphite, dry tobacco, dry leather, dry limestone bits, dark Asian spices, dry herbs, dry river stone, dark, rich, forest floor, anise to black licorice, mid colas, fresh, candied to withering florals that are; dark, red, blue and violets.

The palate shows, M+ rounded, fine grain tannins. The nose mirrors the palate in many ways. Steeped, candied, ripe, juicy fruits that are; brambly blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, black cherries, raspberries, purple & blue fruit hues. Leoville Barton shows purple & blue fruits more than most other left bank producers. Graphite, dry tobacco, cedar, dry leather, dry limestone bits, dry top soils, saline, caramel, mocha powder, German chocolate cake, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, dark Asian spices w/ some heat, dry herbs, touch of black pepper, grilled meats, dry river stone, dark, rich, forest floor, anise to black licorice, black tarriness, mid colas, fresh, candied to withering florals that are; dark, red, blue and framed in liquid violets, acidity is grand, well balanced/structured, highly toned, elegant & smartly polished finish that lasts minutes and settles on earth & dark spice.

Decanted 90 minutes and enjoyed over nearly three hours.

95-96. — 7 hours ago

Austin Hohnke

9.2

Worth a check in at 10 years. Always an outstanding nose. Needed hours of air and still pretty shy, fruit in particular is closed. Paired with NY strip tonight. Have half a case left of this vintage and will check in again in a couple years. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet with a translucent core and burnished orange rim. Some signs of sediment. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, cherry lozenges, Corinthian leather, rich mahogany, old books, espresso, baking spices, desiccated flowers…like something that reminds me of my great aunt’s potpourri, and bit of umami. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium (+?) tannin which is well integrated. Medium acid. The fruit and non-fruit characteristics are confirmed. The finish is laden with dried fruits leather and earth. I felt that the wine was old with 15+ years of age and leaned a little more towards its fruit character than its structure…so I called Barossa Valley Shiraz, 2005, from a quality producer. But then, someone said 2012 CdP and I was like…”ooooohhhh, I like that CdP call”. But if that was the case, it would have to be older…from a great vintage like 2001. Well…I was on the right track. Who cares, this was an awesome showing and the oldest Chateau de Saint Cosme I’ve ever had. Drink now and enjoy. — 4 years ago

LM Segal

9.7

This Pichon-Baron was in the earliest peak of its window, pure ✏️ and graphite cigar box nose, rich, intense, leading cassis, tar and a mineral and wonderfully tannic trip over the palate and a long, 40 second finish that was reminiscent dry red clay. Good news: I have 11 more in the case I cracked last night. Bad news: I’ll be in my 60’s before these open up and the secondary stuff really starts to show. — 6 years ago

Steven Comfort

9.1

This was the last bottle from a case I bought in about 1997. Over the 29 years since the wine was made, the noteworthy tar and tobacco notes that Pontet Canet is known for softened to an ashy-ness that is a softer version of a Mouton Rothschild. Still plenty of life left in this outstanding vintage, but the wine won't improve much (if at all) from this point. I enjoyed this bottle with Lucas Comfort, a day after his 29th birthday (1990). — 7 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2012 vintage. Last tasted (and bought) 9.6.23 (9.4). Nothing has changed within that note from that day. Picked up a case then. Picking up a case now. 6.24.26. — 10 days ago

Pooneet K

9.3

The final bottle for our annual Valentine’s Day and carbonara tradition (this time one day early). We skipped last year as my wife was pregnant, nice to be back. Very good, but definitely in an advanced stage - the nuttiness really comes through. There is still great acid, lemon curd, crispness, soft bubbles.

After the full case, I’d say the ones from 2021-2023 were the best.

On to Krug 2004 next year!! — 5 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

1990 vintage. Last tasted 12.11.22 (9.6) and 8.20.16 (9.2-slightly off bottle). Tasted side by side with the 1989 (9.4) version of this wine. Ridiculous 1-2 heavyweight punch. Opened but not decanted. Tasted at the conclusion of lunch after an hour open. Not much in the nose but bringing it in the flavors. Still heavy bits of ripe plum and cherry with a substantial mid-palate. Larger format of this wine likely clocks in as a 9.6/9.7 but this was a 750ml. In the 750ml format, not improving and it's drink now and until 2028. Still, most likely, the best wine this producer has ever made. The 1989 has a case as well. Like the Lebowski rug, this one just tied the late-80's/early-90's BDX room together. 10.10.25. — 9 months ago

Robert Gaines

10

Last bottle of a case bought in 2010 — 4 years ago

Jose Lorenzo

9.1

My favorite beach Prosecco — 5 years ago

Raff

8.9

Pale garnet. Grapefruit, red cherry, and unripe plums on the nose. Medium acidity with light body, and light tannins. Red jolly ranchers, with red cherry, pink grapefruit and a little herbaceous on the palate. There's also a hint of bitters at the end of a medium finish. Really nice, more character than the other red cuvée that comes in the litre format, but still highly drinkable. Best chilled — 5 years ago

Nicole Dias

9.2

Tart, funky, refreshing, delicious — 7 years ago

Suneal Vishnupad

9.3

Good. Expensive for what it is — a month ago

with Kayla

Alan Snitow

9.3

98, 96, 09, 05 pegosos - in order of pref — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.5

This bottle was opened several hours prior to dinner. The 2001 Riserva pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe Morello cherry, red flowers, leather, black tea, and a lovely mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, slightly savory and super complex. A textbook Brunello Riserva that leans on the more elegant side of the spectrum. A fabulous pairing with lombo di agnello. Drink now with patience through 2041. — 6 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I think my posts on this producers Napa Cabernets with this kind of age have been clear. 2005 not the shinning star vintage of Napa Valley, yet non the less very consistent & punches above its price point. Pretty sure I bought this in the $35ish range. She is smooth with no bittiness on the palate.

The nose shows; used coffee grounds, dark currants, brambly, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, melted dark chocolate, caramel, mocha powder, baking spices, black licorice, steeped black tea, sandstone,moist clays, fresh & dry herbs, dark, fresh & withering flowers.

The palate is elegant & still fresh; dark currants, brambly, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, melted dark chocolate to pudding, caramel, mocha powder, baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, black licorice, mid to dark berry cola, steeped black tea, dark spice with palate heat, sandstone, moist clays, fresh & dry herbs, dark, fresh & withering flowers framed in violets, very round acidity with balance, evolution, structure/ tension & elegance for minutes and lands on earth & spice.

Still has 7-10 yrs ahead. You could make a case for 94 here. — 9 months ago

Greg Gosselin

9.3

Sold Caymus as a wholesaler in the late 90’s finishing up a grad degree at UofWisconsin-Madison. Invested in a case of the stellar 94 vintage. Still on its game. — 5 years ago

Donald Williams

9.1

May have to buy another case. Hope the next vintage is this good — 5 years ago

with Bonnie

LM Segal

9.8

Last and best bottle of the 12-case. Aromatically insane - licorice, roses, Rutherford dust - ahead of a fully resolved, velvety palate of saddle leather, dark chocolate, dark red and purple fruit and completely melted tannins. 60 second tail (or more). As previously noted, more than acceptable bottle variation in the case, but this gem was worth it all... — 6 years ago