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 early teens of 2000. He was 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. — 12 hours ago

Jayna Fontenot

9.8

Smells supe light. Barely there honeysuckle, wisps of green apple. Tiny bubbles, fresh and clean and like if champagne were made of cloud. Delicious, and my first Dom! — 8 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

Mike Saviage

9.7

Tasted blind. Dark tawny, opaque. Powerful nose. Notes of red and black fruit, leather and cassis, dark soil. Has the funk. We're all in the same camp of where it's from so there is lots of working out who made it. I go with a 59 Latour guess. Really good today, better than a bottle we had of this earlier in the year. Thanks Stan! — 4 years ago

Peter C

9.4

Wow. Love these old Napa cabs. Made in the old world ways before You know who cannot be named’s influence. Aged so gracefully and a beautiful wine! Like drinking an old Bordeaux but just with a slight ripe fruit and sweetness to differentiate its Napa origin! — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

I guess it has been a while since I experienced this one as I cannot find my previous rating here. This was a fun comparison made between this wine and a 2008 William Harrison Rutherford red, a Bordeaux blend made from grapes of Quintessa's immediate neighbor to the north. Styles were extremely different. Whereas the Harrison showed a darker side of Rutherford fruit with distinct Rutherford dust, this to me seemed to have more black cherry, herbal and youthful qualities to it but the backbone did still seem to be youthful blackberry. Still quite a bit of stiff oak astringency on the finish, but Rutherford dust did shine through. I was really amazed how youthful this wine was for 11 years. This thing could go another 15 to 20 years no question. This is a thoroughbred in a long race! Quintessa is always a treat!! — 7 years ago

with Bradley, Shay and 1 other

Matt Perlman

9.3

Wonderfully lively blend from volcanic soils in Lazio, lees aged, made by nuns! Chamomile, almond, fennel, green apple and citrus, salt and rocks…wasn’t long before there was nun left. — 5 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

I have posted a number of older vintage Jones Family Cabernets. Many 20 yrs and older. Three to four 97’s…none better than this one. I give few wines a score above 96. This is different. It is so close to perfect. Some might give it a 100. I struggle to give a wine a perfect 100. I have only done it 4 times in an estimated 25k wines tasted or bottles I’ve enjoyed. One was a port made before 1886 and tasted in Oporto at Taylor Fladgate’s tasting room in 2015, it was their Scion. Only sold there and at the time 5k at bottle. You end up there purchase the Scion taste regardless of the current cost. They put on a tasting show for you. I am half tempted here to give out a 100 but will refrain.

I am not sure what to add to that but will attempt to do so.

The nose is a beautiful, perfectly evolved Napa Cabernet. Nothing overpowers any of its singular components. I think the word I am looking for is harmony. Lush, plush, ruby dark currants/cassis. The best, mid, subtle/gentle/soft, dark spice box I certainly can remember, lush blackberries, both plums, dark, not quite liqueur cherries, a mix of subtle purple fruits, poached to baked strawberries, some light hints of raspberries, dark sweet tarriness, melted dark chocolate, anise to black licorice, steep fruit tea leaning into black tea, sweet/soft leather, moist tobacco, sandalwood, dark, rich forest floor, sweet graphite, hints of dry twig, a flutter note of eucalyptus, dry, withering & slightly candied florals that are; dark, red & blue & framed in light lavender with more pronounced liquid violets.

The palate wire to wire is even & stupidly, gloriously, grand. It mirrors the nose very closely. Lush, plush, ruby dark currants/cassis. The best mid, subtle/gentle/soft, dark spice box w/ some light palate heat, best I certainly can remember, lush blackberries, both plums, dark, kirsch not quite liqueur cherries, a mix of subtle purple fruits, poached to baked strawberries, some light hints of raspberries, dark sweet tarriness, melted dark chocolate, anise to black licorice, steep fruit tea leaning into black tea, beautifully layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanillin, caramel, sweet/soft leather, moist tobacco w/ a hint is ash, sandalwood, dark, rich forest floor, dry, crushed rock powder, dry top soil, crushed limestone powder, sweet graphite, hints of dry twig, a fluttering note of eucalyptus, dry, withering & slightly candied florals that are; dark, red & blue framed in light lavender with more pronounced liquid violets, perfect, rainfall acidity, extremely well balanced, even & subtle tension-structure that stands up on the long set, refined elegance with a finish that goes on and on and eventually lands on spice & beautiful, refined earthiness.

What a bottle! 98 that leans into 99. I paid somewhere between $80-$90 on the secondary market for this bottle. — 7 months ago

John Van Trijp

10

The best vintage ever made — 2 years ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.1

Made for a nice strong wine for Magic: The Gathering night. Aromas of plum, blackberry and dark chocolate. Strong, lingering dark fruit, chalky minerality and cocoa. This one needs to breathe a bit.

🏅95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
🏅95 Points - Antonio Galloni — 2 years ago

with Chad

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Pale lemon with aromas of stone and tropical fruits. Made from 40-year old vines, aged in 100% stainless steel. On the palate flavors of bright lemon citrus with crisp apple and peach notes. This medium-body wine has crisp acidity, good balance and nice mouthfeel, smooth long finish ending with creamy mineral texture. Very Nice! — 5 years ago

Andrew Edson

9.1

Lucious Zinfandel made from vineyards across California averaging over 80 years old. Was ready to drink despite the young vintage. Delightful rose petals and pepper lingering on the finish. Highly recommend! — 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

Ericsson

9.4

I love R Lopez de Heredia wines. Still made the way they were made hundred years ago. Wines for old souls who really appreciate timeless art and low intervention. — 6 months ago

Michael Borrello

9.2

$22 great value hits all the typical notes
2019 — 7 months ago

carmen

9.8

Spicy, tannic and slightly acidic medium body Georgian red. It’s almost carbonic with notes of cherry, plum and clove — paired with jamon iberico — 8 months ago

Sean Townley

9.4

One of the last years Caymus made good wine — 8 months ago

with Mairead

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

1996 vintage. Tasted most recently on 8.2.24 (9.6) and that bottle was slightly better. Tasted out of magnum in 2023 and that rated as highly as the previous mention (9.6). This had a really nice fill, good cork and was decanted (throwing pretty big sed). Tasted after an hour. Gorgeous and with plenty of power but just barely dialed down from 11 with this bottle. Has this exalted winery made a better bottle of red or white wine in their entire existence? Not in my experiences. 9.29.24. — 2 years ago

Doug Powers

9.9

Redfruit aromas and flavors, this is still hopelessly young, though the tannins have softened a bit and it seems to be inching towards maturity, impeccable balance and great depth of flavors, super long, lingering finish, just an absolutely fantastic, old school California mountain Cabernet. I have always believed this to be the best Dunn Howell Mountain ever made (I’ve tasted 1981-1992, with a distinct style change towards riper and higher ABV starting around 1992, after which I stopped buying the wine). $15 full retail when I bought it in late 1984. — 3 years ago

with Jim

Howard Grush

9.3

When is Burgundy not Burgundy? This is such an expertly made Beaujolais that it can compete with some of the lighter Pinot based Burgundies that are priced way higher. Very balanced, fruity and finely textured. Great with poultry. — 6 years ago