Chateau Leoville Barton 1986

Professional reviews

Robert Parker (92)

Still backward (frustratingly so), this wine shows a very dark ruby color with a hint of pink at the rim. The aromatics are beginning to emerge from just pure fruit-driven notes to secondary characteristics. Sweet earth, truffle, black currant, underbrush, and licorice emerge with coaxing. In the mouth, the wine is powerful, dense, with high tannin., impressive concentration, and a formidable, sort of old-style personality. The best 1986 Medocs are terrific wines, but have never been wines that show a lot of charm. Like so many of its siblings from the Medoc, one admires the wines more than actually enjoys them,. I still have high hopes that everything will come together.

Winespectator (90)

Locked up tight with dense currant, spice and cedar flavors framed by tannins. On the finish there are hints of elegance and grace.

Rene Gabriel (18)

Rene Gabriel rates this wine 18/20 points.