The 2013 Langoa Barton has an aromatic bouquet with touches of Asian spice and cedar infusing the black fruit. With aeration, a touch of cold stone surfaces. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, minerally red berry fruit. This description of the wine from Neal Martin applies well. There is delicate tension here, with a simple, nicely balanced, fresh cedary finish. This wine pairs well with various dishes, including roasted lamb, grilled steak, and aged cheeses, enhancing the dining experience.
Today, Léoville Barton is a standout traditional Saint-Julien, showcasing a unique blend of power and finesse. Its ability to age and improve over many years is a testament to its quality. A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc undergoes a 20-month ageing process in oak barrels (50% new). The 2013 Langoa Barton has the potential to age for an impressive 10 to 20 years and, in many cases, even longer. Despite being a lighter and elegant vintage, this 2013 can survive and improve for some years.
The score of WE92, which is a humble yet respectable rating, says, "The wine now in the bottle has maintained the lively character found in the barrel tasting. It also has a firm structure, with layers of wood and intense acidity. This wine will age over the medium term, so drink from 2019." This score indicates that the wine is of high quality and has the potential to age well, making it a good investment for wine enthusiasts. Also, JS92, opined. 'I like the pure, clean fruit with medium to full body, integrated tannins, and juicy finish. A sliced lemon and dark fruit undertone. Long subtle finish.' Edited.
The wine is almost entirely opaque and has a deep, dark ruby-red colour. On the nose, dark fruit aromas are dominant, with earthy notes and toasty oak. The palate offers indistinct black fruit of medium weight, along with attractive cedary oak and vanilla hints. The acidity is a bit flat, and the alcohol is slightly warming. The fruit flavour lingers, but the tannins give length to the finish.
James Suckling awarded it 93 points, describing it as decadently rich with a meaty and ripe fruit aroma. He called it full, dense, and juicy, with round, velvety tannins and a long finish, labelling it a big burly wine. He suggested it should be opened after 2015, as it needs time to mature. Edited.
Neal Martin awarded it 91 points, noting its good deep red-ruby colour and extravagantly ripe, exotic aromas of roasted dark fruits and roasted meat. He described it as large-scaled, fat, complete, and atypically sweet, nicely balanced by harmonious acidity. He praised its smooth tannins and excellent palate-saturating length, stating it's a great vintage for this chateau.
Wine Spectator awarded it 90 points, saying it presents fascinating aromas of crushed blackberry and lightly smoky barrels. It's full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a medium finish. While it may feel tight now, it's a balanced wine that promises to evolve beautifully with time. Edited.
Wine Advocate writes, 'The 2003 Lafon Rochet is fully mature, round, soft, and reasonably complex. It exhibits notes of cedarwood, liquorice, Christmas fruitcake, and a delightful blend of red and black fruits. The tannins are resolved in this medium-bodied, low-acid St.-Estephe, making it a wine to savour over the next 4-5 years. Edited.
The team's optimistic view of the exclusive Pontet Canet 2006 was formed through an impressive vertical tasting on Chateau Pontet Canet, expertly conducted by the renowned Alfred Tesseron at the Hong Kong KCC Wine Society years back. This tasting, which included vintages from 2000 to 2009, showcased the blockbuster style of Chateau Pontet Canet throughout the vertical vintages, mainly benefiting the rigid 2006 vintage. The fruitiness of this vintage was beautifully highlighted, thanks to its not-too-Pauillac and 'Burgundian' nature, allowing the palates to be relaxed enough to appreciate 2007's good balance, minerality, and expressiveness.
Chateau Pontet Canet 2006 has always been viewed favourably by wine critics, wine bloggers and wine merchants. It was awarded high scores consistently. For example, in 95 Points, Decanter writes, 'Tight and unyielding at the moment but with excellent pedigree, texture and definition, this has lots of life to come. Poised and impactful, with juicy and mouthwatering fruit. Punches far above the weight of the vintage, one of those get-a-straw-in-the-glass wines: among the best of the tasting. Here, tension rises, and your mouth waters on the finish. This is delicate but punchy, with perfect balance. (JA) (6/2016). Edited.
RP also gave 95 points from Wine Advocate, saying, '2006 is a wine to stockpile, especially for those in their thirties and forties, as it needs another decade to reach maturity, after which it should keep for an impressive 30+ years. This vineyard, just south of Mouton Rothschild, has produced an opaque bluish/purple-coloured 2006 with an extraordinarily pure nose of graphite, charcoal, sweet creme de cassis, and a hint of scorched earth. Incredible concentration, stunning richness, and a 60-second finish result in a wine that transcends the vintage and this estate's 1855 classification. This enormously endowed, modern-day classic is a legend in the making. 95+ (RP) (5/2016). Edited.
